Holly Mai-kin Kaplan
李美娟
Holly M. Kaplan is a 2nd-gen Chinese-American filmmaker born and raised in New York City. Driven by ties to her mixed Cantonese heritage, Holly directs and writes films that highlight underrepresented narratives with a focus on the Asian diaspora and femme perspectives. Her work has been featured on Omeleto, the Shiny Awards Creator List, and has screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide.
In 2022, Holly was selected for NALIP and NETFLIX's “Narrative Short Incubator for Women of Color,” where she wrote, directed, and produced SUNFLOWER GIRL starring Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja (AFTER YANG). The film was nominated for the Oscar-Qualifying "Mark Braunstein Award for Best Short Narrative" at the Woodstock Film Festival and won the Audience Award at France's largest youth film festival, Ciné Junior. As a 2025 BendFilm: Basecamp Fellow and Stowe Story Labs Participant, Holly is currently developing SUNFLOWER GIRL into a feature film.
Holly was a Co-Executive Producer/Director's Assistant on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN (HBO Max). Additionally, she served as an apprentice to late independent Producer/Director Ben Barenholtz (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM). Holly earned her BA in Film & Media Arts from American University and attended FAMU International in Prague; she is a fine art alumna of LaGuardia Arts High School.
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Photo Credit: Janira Natalie Hernandez
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