Ann Anlan Tao
Welcome to my world of cinema.
About Me
Director, Writer, Editor
Ann Anlan Tao is an award-winning director, writer and editor originally from Hangzhou, China. She graduated from The Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China, with a major in Theater Directing. Currently, she is a graduate student majoring in Film Production at the University of Southern California.
Ann grows up in a family with contrasting beliefs and temperaments, Ann's curiosity was sparked, leading her to write poems and direct short radio plays, which motivated her to pursue filmmaking later on. Ann worked in the film industry with companies such as Sony, Phoenix Pictures, and Huayi Brothers Media. Her short films have garnered international recognition and awards at film festivals.
As a director, writer and editor, several of Ann's short films went to film festivals internationally: Her short film: Ten Thousand Poems, Won the Award of Outstanding Short Film at the Vancouver Chinese Film Festival; her Short film: Steel Forest Won the Award of Best Narrative Short Film at the Chinese Dream Online Competition. Her short film: She & He, Screened & Nominated as “Best Director Short Film,” “Best Original Script Short Film,” at The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. Ann was also selected to direct the finale of a TV series in which its previous series won a Student EMMY.
Ann loves to tell stories centered around children, animals, women, and elderly people. She strives to combine technologies, including VFX, Virtual Production, and AI Tech, to convey universal emotions and conflicts using visual and auditory elements, aiming to resonate with audiences. Ann is a storyteller focused on children, animals, women, and the elderly. She blends technology with narrative to create complex, emotionally rich, and bittersweet stories.
Cinematic Works
Kingdom of Songs
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Fantasy
Elements: Children/Family/Immigrants
Steel Forest
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Family
Elements: Left-Behind Children
Ten Thousand Poems
Genre: Drama/Comedy/Family
Elements: Left-Behind Children
She & He
Genre: Drama/Romance/Comedy/Musical
Elements: Seniors/Immigrants/Woman
Links for all projects are available upon request.
Diamond Heist
Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller/Adventure
Elements: Woman/People with Color/Virtual Production
Thorn of Love
Genre: Animation/Comedy/Romance
Elements: Cartoon/Virtual Production
