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 the Asian diaspora and underrepresented perspectives. Her work has appeared on the Shiny Awards Creator List and has screened at over 50 film festivals worldwide.
In 2022, Holly was chosen 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 "Mark Braunstein Award for Best Short Narrative" at the Oscar-Qualifying Woodstock Film Festival and won the Audience Award at France's largest youth film festival, Ciné Junior, where it was licensed in Europe to Benshi. As a 2025 BendFilm: Basecamp Fellow and Stowe Story Labs Participant, Holly is currently developing the feature-length SUNFLOWER GIRL.
Holly served as a Co-Executive Producer/Director's Assistant on PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN (HBO Max) and was an apprentice to the late independent Producer/Director Ben Barenholtz (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, BARTON FINK). She earned her BA in Film & Media Arts from American University and attended FAMU International Prague; she is also an alumna of LaGuardia Arts High School.
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Photo Credit: Janira Natalie Hernandez
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