Mel Sangyi Zhao is a Chinese director based in the United States. Originally from China, she pursued her academic journey in French culture and psychology before venturing into the world of film. She studied film at Université Paris Sorbonne-Nouvelle and Université Paris 8 in France before making her way to the U.S., where she earned an MFA in Film Directing from the California Institute of the Arts. She is also a Gotham EDU alum and a current BAFTA Newcomer Fellow. Fluent in three languages and well-traveled, she embraces the role of a global citizen.
Mel's artistic passion lies in exploring themes related to female sexuality, sexual identity, and the nuances of consent within the framework of female bodily autonomy. Her current project, "Cougar," a proof-of-concept short film, has secured its place as a finalist for the prestigious Roy W. Dean Short Film Grant. Her most recent work, "Return to Youth," received an Honorable Mention for Best International Short at the Oscar-qualifying Kortfilmfestivalen and has been selected for screening at the New Orleans Film Festival, with more screenings to be announced soon. Previously, her short screenplay, "Through The Holes," earned second place in the Ivy Film Festival's Short Screenplay Competition and reached the semi-finals of the BlueCat Screenplay Contest. Her alternative horror creation, "Last Days in North Hollywood," was featured in the CalArts Film School showcase.
Mel's industry experience includes an internship at Justin Lin's production company, Perfect Storm Entertainment. She also served as the Creative Producer for Beck and Stafford Collins' debut slasher feature, "Red Night" (2023). Currently, while teaching at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in the Media, Art, and Design department, she is actively developing both her short film and her first feature-length project.