S. Louisa Wei

S. Louisa Wei is a Professor of Cinematic Art at the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, where she has taught since 2001. With a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Alberta and an MA in Comparative Literature from Carleton University, she has taught over 4,000 students in both theoretical and production courses including Documentary 1, Documentary 2, Visual Storytelling, Visualizing Literature, and Chinese Cinema.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Film Studies, University of Alberta, Canada
• MA in Comparative Literature, Carleton University, Canada

Wei's research focuses on Sinophone cinema with particular emphasis on women filmmakers across historical periods, Chinese film history, and documentary practice. Her work often explores the intersections of gender, politics, and cultural identity in Chinese cinema, with special attention to neglected historical figures and transnational connections. She approaches film history through both scholarly research and documentary filmmaking, creating a unique methodology that bridges academic and creative practices. Her research has significantly contributed to recovering the histories of early Chinese women filmmakers and documenting politically sensitive historical narratives in Chinese literary and film history.

Her recent scholarly and creative output shows a consistent focus on biographical documentary work centered on Chinese intellectuals and artists, women's contributions to cinema history, and politically significant moments in Chinese cultural history. Her publications and films often work in dialogue with each other, with documentary projects frequently informing scholarly books and vice versa, creating a rich interdisciplinary approach to her subject matter.

Her notable awards include:

• Hong Kong Book Award 2017 for Esther Eng: Ocean-crossing Film and Women Pioneers
• Distinguished Publishing Prize in the Literature and Fiction Category of The First Hong Kong Biennial Publishing Prize for Wang Shiwei: A Reform in Thinking

As an educator, Wei has advised hundreds of student projects, many of which have won awards in international and local film festivals. She is not currently accepting PhD students but has been instrumental in mentoring emerging filmmakers through her teaching. Her documentary work has gained international recognition from both academic circles and film festivals, attracting media attention from Hollywood trade magazines to major newspapers in Hong Kong and mainland China. She has served as a professional jury member for the Hong Kong Film Awards and became a member of the Hong Kong Director's Guild in 2018.

While she doesn't appear to lead a formal research lab, her work involves extensive collaboration with historians, archivists, and fellow filmmakers across multiple countries, creating an informal network of scholars and practitioners focused on recovering marginalized histories in Chinese cinema and literature.