Mel Sangyi Zhao

Mel Sangyi Zhao

DIRECTOR

FIRST YEAR - LOS ANGELES

Mel Sangyi Zhao is a Chinese film director based in LA. She lived and studied in France for seven years before pursuing an MFA in Film Directing at the California Institute of the Arts. Fluent in three languages and well-traveled, she likes to think of herself as a world citizen. 

She is passionate about telling the story of female sexuality and societal isolation from the female perspective. Her alternative horror short Last Days in North Hollywood, was selected for the 2020 CalArts showcase. Her short drama scripts were selected in Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival, Ivy Film Festivals and the BlueCat Screenplay Contest. In addition, Becky and Collin Stafford’s next feature slasher film Manifest that she produced will premiere in 2023.

She is an alum of the 2022 Gotham Film & Media Career Development Program. Currently, she is interning for Justin Lin’s production company Perfect Storm Entertainment.