Cathy Yan

Cathy Yan (also credited as 阎羽茜, 염우천, 閻羽茜) is a China-born filmmaker and director whose career bridges international perspectives and contemporary American cinema. Based in New York City, Yan has become known for sharp, character-driven storytelling and a bold visual sensibility.

Born on January 25, 1983, she spent her formative years moving between Hong Kong and Washington, DC, experiences that helped shape her cross-cultural voice on screen. That global upbringing continues to inform the way she approaches identity, community, and modern urban life in her work.

Yan drew major attention with Dead Pigs (2018), a breakout feature that showcased her ability to blend social observation with dark humor and emotional detail. She later expanded to large-scale studio filmmaking by directing DC’s Birds of Prey (2020), bringing a distinctive energy to the superhero genre and cementing her place as a notable modern director.