XIONA LI  (she/her). Personal Website - IMDB - LinkedIn - Instagram

PROFILE

Motivated, enthusiastic and visionary film director and producer with 5 years experience in directing screen fiction, 1 years experience in documentary film production. Most recent works have been selected by BIFA qualifying festivals, nominated and screened both online and at venues in person. Specialised in creative storytelling and method, currently researching and working on incorporating AI into visual storytelling as a medium.

EXPERIENCE

Director / Producer of ‘Friction' (Dec 2023 – Jan 2025), MA project, London

  • Directed, produced, and edited a 21-minute documentary that brought visibility to gender and queer experiences under repression.

  • Managed full production cycle—from research and scripting to cinematography and post-production—integrating experimental techniques and AI-generated visuals. 

  • Garnered strong engagement from trans communities and initiated conversations around AI in the arts through screenings in China and London; currently on festival run.

Co-director / editor of 'A Date with the Ocean’ (Jan – Apr 2024), UNESCO, London 

  • Co-led a multidisciplinary team on a short film focused on ocean sustainability.

  • Refined narrative structure and visual design to align with UNESCO’s Ocean Decade 

  • Challenge, showcased to 500+ attendees during LCC Earth Week. 

  • Earned recognition from UNESCO for innovative environmental storytelling.

Director / Cinematographer of 'Tropical Night’ (Oct 2020 – May 2021), BA project, London 

  • Conducted in-depth research to ensure cultural authenticity and compelling creative direction. Led a cross-functional team, balancing individual talents while maintaining a cohesive narrative tone. 

  • Reduced production costs by 20% through innovative set design and VFX integration.

Director / Writer of 'The Artist’ (Oct 2020 – Oct 2021), Self-Employed, London

  • Developed & executed the screenplay from concept to final draft, defining the film’s thematic & emotional core. Coordinated closely with producers, composers, and technical teams to enhance narrative depth. 

  • Secured multiple Best Student Film awards and earned a nomination at LWIFF 2021.

Documentary Director / Editor for ‘Wake Up’ (Jan – Mar 2025), Wake Up Event, London

  • Captured the inaugural WAKE UP event, an avant-garde showcase of queer art. 

  • Explored themes of gender fluidity and identity; documentary acclaimed by queer and contemporary art communities.

INTERN & VOLUNTEER

Video Producer Intern, Soul Art Centre (Jul 2023 – Aug 2023, Beijing)

  • Produced artist portrait documentaries that increased online engagement by 50% and boosted art sales by 15%. 

Volunteered Videographer, Queer China UK (Apr 2024 – May 2024, London) 

  • Captured authentic classroom dialogues and interviews to enhance documentary narratives.

SKILLS

Filmmaking & Directing:  Screen Fiction, Documentary Production, Creative Storytelling

Production: Concept Development, Scripting, Cinematography, Editing, VFX Integration

Technical & Digital: Camera Operation, Post-Production, AI-Generation Literacy

Research & Communication: Interviewing, Narrative Analysis, Visual Innovation

Collaboration: Team Leadership, Cross-Functional Coordination, Multidisciplinary Management

Additional: Social Media Content, Festival Submissions, Award-Winning Project Management

ACHIEVEMENTS

Friction – Official Selection, Unrestricted View Film Festival, London (2025)

A Date with the Ocean – Winning Team, UNESCO Climate Academy Programme, London (2024)

Being Xion – Winning Team, Doc in a Day Challenge, London (2024)

Tropical Night – Best Queer Film Nominee, Lone Wolf Film Festival (2022)

The Artist – Best Student Film Winner (London Independent Film Awards, Infinity Film Festival, 2022), Best Original Concept & Best Cult Film Nominee, Lone Wolf Film Festival (2022)

EDUCATION

MA Documentary Film - University of the Arts London, (Oct 2022 – Feb 2025): Distinction

BA Film, Television & Digital Productions - Royal Holloway University of London, (Sep 2018 – Oct 2021): First Class Honour