Who is Kuan
Kuan Wei Yu (He/They) is a queer Asian immigrant writer-director whose work explores LGBTQ themes.
Raised as a queer individual in a conservative society, Yu’s experiences have instilled in them a critical perspective on societal norms and discriminatory practices. These foundational instincts have shaped their unique artistic identity and pursuits.
During their teenage years, Yu spent most of their free time in a video store, developing a deep passion for cinema as an art form. His passion for films, coupled with a desire for further education in the cinematic arts, prompted Yu to depart their small island nation of Taiwan and move to Los Angeles. As an undergraduate student at California State University Northridge, Yu honed their storytelling abilities through directing multiple projects and forming a close-knit circle of fellow artists who provided invaluable inspiration and encouragement. Their most recent work, “I Don’t”—a short film about a bisexual man who passes as straight unexpectedly encounters his past gay lover when marrying a woman—was selected for screening at the Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival, NewFilmmakersNY, and received the Silver Award for best LGBT Short at the Independent Shorts Awards in July, 2024.
Through their art, Yu merges their unique queer sensibility with their keen observation of social injustices, crafting narratives that aim to resonate with audiences and inspire positive change.