Holly Mai-kin Kaplan
李美娟 • (she/her)
Holly M. Kaplan is a second-generation Cantonese-American filmmaker born and raised in New York City. Her short films and music video work have been featured on Omeleto, TELUS, the Shiny Directors List, and have screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide.
In 2022, Holly was selected for NALIP & NETFLIX's “Director Incubator,” where she wrote, directed, and produced SUNFLOWER GIRL starring Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja (AFTER YANG). The short premiered at the Uppsala Short Film Festival and was nominated for the Oscar-qualifying "Mark Braunstein Award for Best Short Narrative" at the Woodstock Film Festival. Holly is currently developing SUNFLOWER GIRL as her debut feature as a 2025 BendFilm: Basecamp Fellow and Stowe Story Labs Participant (SAGindie Fellowship Finalist).
Holly was an apprentice to late independent Producer/Director Ben Barenholtz (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) and served as a Co-Executive Producer/Director's Assistant on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN (HBO Max). She attended LaGuardia Arts High School (Fine Art), American University (BA Film & Media Arts, Anthropology), and FAMU International at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
PRESS
Photo Credit: Janira Natalie Hernandez
HOLLY MAIKIN © | 2026