Sen-I Yu

Sen-I Yu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media Arts, Sciences and Studies at Ithaca College's Roy H. Park School of Communications. She is a New York-based Taiwanese filmmaker with a focus on narrative and documentary film production. Her work explores themes of immigration, cultural adaptation, and human connections, particularly within Asian communities in urban environments. Yu holds an MFA from NYU Tisch Graduate Film Program.

Education:

• MFA in Film Production, New York University Tisch School of the Arts

Research Interests: Yu's creative and academic work centers on immigrant narratives, cross-cultural storytelling, and the intersection of film with sociological themes. Her films blend documentary realism with narrative techniques to explore contemporary issues faced by diasporic communities.

Recent Film Projects: Her feature debut MY HEAVENLY CITY (2023) has been widely praised for its portrayal of Taiwanese immigrants in New York City, winning recognition at the Hawaii International Film Festival and screening in seven countries. The film's short version received grants from the NYC Mayor's Office and NYFA.

Awards & Honors:

• 2023 NETPAC Award Nomination (Hawaii International Film Festival)
• 2020 NYC Women’s Fund Grant
• 2015 HAF/Fox Film Development Award

Industry Contributions: As an editor, Yu contributed to the NAACP Award-nominated documentary THROUGH THE FIRE: THE LEGACY OF BARACK OBAMA (2017) and collaborated on projects like SEQUESTRADA and LYLE. She has also directed commercial work for brands including Bristol Myers Squibb and L’Oreal.

Labs & Collaborations: Yu's screenplay development has been supported through Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and SFFILM grants, reflecting her transnational creative network.