Holly Mai-kin Kaplan
李美娟
Holly M. Kaplan is a second-generation Chinese-American filmmaker born and raised in New York City. Driven by ties to her mixed Cantonese heritage, her work explores narratives focused on diversity, the Asian diaspora, and femme perspectives. She directs short-form content and music videos and has been featured on the Shiny Awards Creator List.
In 2022, Holly was chosen for NALIP and Netflix's “Narrative Short Incubator for Women of Color” to write, direct, and produce SUNFLOWER GIRL. The film has screened at over 45 festivals worldwide and was nominated for the "Mark Braunstein Award for Best Short Narrative" at the Woodstock Film Festival. It won the "Prix du Public" at France's largest youth film festival, Ciné Junior, where the film was acquired by Benshi. She is currently developing the feature-length script of SUNFLOWER GIRL with Stowe Story Labs.
Holly has served as a Co-Executive Producer/Director's Assistant on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN (HBO Max) and was a former apprentice to the late Independent Producer/Director Ben Barenholtz. She earned her BA in Film & Media Arts from American University and completed a filmmaking program at (FAMU) Academy of Performing Arts in Prague; she is also an alumnus of LaGuardia Arts High School.
PRESS
Photo Credit: Janira Natalie Hernandez
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