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Seagh Kehoe is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Westminster's School of Humanities, joining in 2019. Previously, he taught at the University of Leicester, University of Nottingham, and University College Dublin. His research focuses on cultural dimensions of social and political transformation in modern China, particularly Chinese media representations of ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, nationalism, and military. He holds a BA from University College Cork, an MA from Leiden University, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham, with additional studies in Mandarin and Tibetan. His academic work spans journal articles in China Quarterly , positions , and Media, Culture & Society , as well as edited volumes like Cultural China . His research interests include Tibet-China relations, critical university studies, and abolition theory. He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations on diverse socio-political topics. Kehoe has presented at conferences such as the British Association of China Studies and contributed to workshops on decolonizing Chinese studies. His recent work examines temporal politics in post-2008 Tibet and queer cinema in China. Education: BA Chinese Studies & Sociology (University College Cork) MA East Asian Politics (Leiden University) PhD (University of Nottingham) Mandarin Studies (Sichuan University) Tibetan Studies (Rangjung Yeshe Institute) Grants & Labs: Active in the Contemporary China Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary research on modern China.

• Chinese Media Representations
• Ethnicity and Race Studies
• Gender and Sexuality Studies
• +5 more

Dr. Luke Robinson is an Associate Professor in Film Studies at the University of Sussex's School of Media, Arts and Humanities, where he has been since 2014. Previously, he taught at the University of Nottingham's Department of Culture, Film and Media. He holds a BA from the University of Cambridge, an MA and PhD from SOAS (University of London), and a certificate from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. His research focuses on Chinese independent cinema, film festivals as sites of cultural translation, and the global circulation of documentary media. Robinson is co-editor of influential volumes like Chinese Independent Cinema and Chinese Film Festivals , and his work bridges cultural studies, visual anthropology, and media policy analysis. He maintains the Chinese Independent Film Archive and has published widely on topics ranging from Taiwanese subimperialism to the cultural politics of Sundance and CNEX. His teaching spans global cinema studies, film festival curating, and East Asian media aesthetics. Education: BA, History, University of Cambridge MA, Chinese Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London PhD, Film and Media Studies, SOAS Certificate in Chinese Studies, The Hopkins-Nanjing Center Research Themes: Chinese independent film ecosystems, transnational film festival circuits, documentary as public culture, and the intersection of politics with audiovisual media. Recent work examines humanitarian intervention narratives in documentaries and the evolving role of non-state cultural agents in soft power dynamics.

• Chinese Independent Film
• Cultural Studies
• Film Festivals
• +4 more

Dr Nikki Ji-Yeon Lee is a Senior Lecturer in Asian Media at Nottingham Trent University's Department of Humanities, School of Social Sciences. With prior academic appointments at Yonsei University and Korea National University of Arts in Seoul, her career bridges UK and Korean academic spheres. She co-founded the London Korean Film Festival in 2001 and maintains active industry connections as a former independent documentary filmmaker and film event interpreter. Her educational background includes: BA and MA in Sociology from Yonsei University, Seoul MA in TV Documentary from Goldsmiths College, University of London PhD in Cultural Studies from Goldsmiths College, University of London Lee's research specializes in transnational East Asian cinema with emphases on Korean and Chinese film industries, film festival circuits, and cinematic soundscapes. Her work critically examines globalization's impact on film production, auteur branding, audience reception, and co-production models, particularly investigating how cultural specificity navigates global markets. Current projects explore Korean film sound design, China-Korea media collaborations, and East Asian television drama formats. Analysis of her 2018-2025 publications reveals evolving research trajectories: early work focused on film festival politics and auteur studies (e.g., Park Chan-wook), while recent scholarship increasingly engages with sound studies and occult genres in Korean cinema. Her output consistently bridges industrial analysis with cultural criticism, demonstrating expertise in both Korean cinematic traditions and transnational media flows. Lee has significantly contributed to academic discourse through editorial projects including co-editing The Korean Cinema Book (BFI/Palgrave Macmillan) and Japanese Cinema (Routledge). Her publications in Cinema Journal and Screen establish her as a key voice in East Asian film studies, with Korea Film Council (KOFIC) recognizing her expertise through commissioned research on UK distribution patterns.

• Transnational Film Studies
• East Asian Cinema
• Film Festivals
• +5 more

Dr. Philippa Lovatt is a Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of St Andrews, specializing in artists’ moving image, sound studies, eco-criticism, and Southeast Asian independent film cultures. She leads a monograph project on sound politics in artists’ film and co-directs the oral history project Parallel Practices: Oral Histories of Southeast Asian Film and Video Cultures with Prof. Jasmine Nadua Trice (UCLA). Her research bridges ecological crises, audiovisual practices, and regional art histories. Her key awards include a 2020 Carnegie Research Incentive Grant for studying environmental responses in Hanoi and Chiang Mai. Research outputs include edited dossiers for Journal of Cinema and Media Studies and Screen , alongside publications in Southeast of Now and Antennae . Collaborative projects emphasize transnational Southeast Asian film networks and decolonial art methodologies. Her work interrogates intersections of ecology, sound, and regional identity through case studies like Nguyen Trinh Thi’s mycological film practices and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s therapeutic narratives. Current projects explore material histories of extractivism and anthropocentric critiques in moving image art.

• Film Studies
• Sound Studies
• Eco-criticism
• +3 more

Sarah Cooper is Professor of Film Studies at King's College London. Her research explores film theory, philosophy, and critical plant studies, with a focus on French cinema and documentary film. She has published extensively on the intersections of Buddhist philosophy and film theory, examining how Eastern thought reframes cinematic ontology and media ecology. Her research interests include: History of film theory and its philosophical foundations Cinema's relationship to Buddhist philosophy and plant studies French and Sinophone cinemas Queer theory and documentary practices Cooper's publications demonstrate a consistent engagement with cinematic representation, perception, and consciousness. Her recent work examines floral imagery in cinema, Buddhist approaches to visual media, and Hong Kong's cinematic extraterritoriality. She has also contributed to documentary theory and phenomenological approaches to film.

• Film Theory
• Film Philosophy
• Critical Plant Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Lisa Lin is a Lecturer in Screen Industries and Cultures at King’s College London, based in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. She holds a PhD in Media and Communications from Royal Holloway, University of London, alongside an MA in International Broadcasting and a Diploma in Factual Development and Production from the National Film and Television School. Her research focuses on Chinese television and digital streaming industries, emphasizing convergent production cultures, media work precarity, and documentary storytelling. Key projects include investigating environmental documentaries’ role in highlighting social injustice linked to air pollution (GCRF-funded, 2019-2020) and analyzing Tencent Video’s impact on creative freedoms in Chinese talk shows. She has extensive industry experience as a documentary producer for networks like National Geographic, BBC, and Channel 4. Teaching specialties include Global Media Industries, TV Platform Studies, and Chinese Media. Her pedagogical approach integrates critical theory with industry practices, emphasizing student-centered learning. Notable grants include a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the UK Antarctica Heritage Trust (2022-2023) and leadership on the Sustainable Futures Research Fund project (2022). Recent academic contributions include chapters in Streaming Video: Storytelling Across Borders (2023) and her monograph Convergent Chinese Television Industries (2022). She actively engages with public events such as organizing screenings of independent Chinese documentaries to discuss societal issues like rural education.

• Chinese Television Industries
• Digital Streaming Cultures
• Documentary Storytelling
• +3 more

Xiang Fan is a Lecturer in the Department of Culture, Media & Creative Industries (CMCI) at King's College London since 2025. Previously, she worked at Goldsmiths, London College of Communication, and City, University of London. She holds a postdoctoral background from Newcastle University (2022-2023) for the AHRC-funded project on Chinese Independent Cinema. Her research bridges film studies, cultural studies, and digital anthropology, focusing on alternative film cultures in China and their negotiations with state-market dynamics. She teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in CMCI. Her research interests include Asian media industries, informal distribution networks, online exhibition culture, and gender/race in media. Her 2024 monograph Contemporary Art Cinema in China explores 21st-century art cinema networks, while recent publications analyze piracy, film festival practices, and independent cinema's evolving role in the digital age. She serves as Associate Editor of Chinese Independent Cinema Observer and contributes to public-facing media criticism. Xiang’s work emphasizes ethnographic methods to study intermediaries like independent programmers and fan translators, revealing hidden cultural practices that shape distribution and reception. Her publications reflect a focus on curatorial practices, digital platforms, and state-market intersections in media ecosystems. She actively participates in academic dialogues, such as the 2025 workshop on vulnerability in research hosted by King’s. Her advisory and grant activities are not explicitly detailed in the text, though her editorial role and funded research suggest significant scholarly engagement. She is affiliated with the Chinese Independent Film Archive and contributes to transnational media discourse through collaborations and publications.

• Asian media industry
• Informal distribution and piracy
• Online exhibition culture
• +3 more

Murat Akser is a Senior Lecturer in Screen Production at the School of Communication and Media, Ulster University. He holds a PhD in Communication and Culture from York University, Canada, and has taught at institutions including Bosphorus University, Ryerson University, and the University of Toronto. His research focuses on independent filmmaking, film genre storytelling, and Turkish cinema, with notable works including New Cinema, New Media: Reinventing Turkish Cinema and Alternative Media in Contemporary Turkey . Akser is also an accomplished filmmaker, with his short film The Gift winning Best International Short Film at the Dublin Silk Road Festival. He has supervised PhD projects on topics ranging from queer filmmaking to transnational horror audiences. Education : PhD in Communication and Culture, York University (2010) MA in Cinema and Media Studies, York University (2002) BA in English Language and Literature, Bogazici University (1995) MA in Screenwriting, IADT, Dublin (2023) Research Interests : Independent cinema practices (Dogme, New Turkish Cinema), film parody, media democracy, and alternative media production. He explores themes like intertextuality, cultural identity, and political resistance through film studies. Awards : Winner, Best Short Film (2018) for The Gift . Recognized in Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab (2014) for Rise and Fall . Teaching & Supervision : Current PhD supervision includes projects on Kurdish documentary cinema and post-2001 Chinese women directors. Teaches Screenwriting, Editing, and Short Film Production. Previously taught modules like Web Series and Feature Screenwriting. Professional Memberships : Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS), European Communication Research Association (ECREA), and others. Served on the Executive Board of the European Communication Association (2016–2021).

• Film genre storytelling
• Independent cinema
• Film parody
• +7 more

Roter Su is a Lecturer and Subject Leader in Film and Moving Image Production at Kingston University. He holds a BA (Hons) in Film and Moving Image Production and a practice-based PhD focusing on cultural identity through documentary. His work bridges artistic practice with academic research, emphasizing postcolonialism, postmodernism, and the intersection of cultural resistance and adaptation. Education: PhD in Practice-Based Research (Documentary Filmmaking) – Kingston University (2017) BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production – Kingston University Research Interests: Roter explores cultural identity formation in liminal spaces, particularly among first-generation Taiwanese immigrants in the UK. He employs documentary as a tool to examine how individuals balance cultural heritage with local adaptation. Current research investigates athletes' and body performers' identities through psychology, sports science, and sociology, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with specialists in these fields. Projects & Collaborations: Director of Be Your Own Competition (2019-), exploring body performance through a meta-ethnographic lens. EU-funded Safe You Plus (2018-19) and Safe You (2017), addressing youth safety via video production. Collaborations with Imperial College London, Hammersmith United Charity, and institutions across Europe on community-focused projects. Teaching & Advising: Roter emphasizes technical, theoretical, and conceptual development in students, guiding them to create work reflecting real-world engagement. He advises on documentary practices and cross-disciplinary methodologies. Labs & Teams: Engages in collaborative networks including ERASMUS+ initiatives and UK-based charities, leveraging filmmaking to address societal issues.

• Cultural Studies
• Documentary Filmmaking
• Postcolonial Theory
• +5 more

Professor Chris Berry is a leading scholar in Film Studies at King's College London, specializing in Chinese and East Asian screen cultures. With a PhD from UCLA, he previously held positions at Goldsmiths University and UC Berkeley, and has held visiting professorships at institutions including Fudan University and Seoul National University. His research examines: Chinese and East Asian cinema in global context Gender and sexuality representations Documentary film practices Theories of transnational cinema Professor Berry has curated major film exhibitions including 'A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire: The Cultural Revolution in Cinema' at Film Archiv Austria. He has received prestigious awards including the Philip Leverhulme Prize and serves on editorial boards for leading film journals.

• Chinese and East Asian cinema
• Screen cultures
• Gender and Sexuality in Cinema
• +2 more

Victor Fan is Reader in Film and Media Philosophy at King's College London. His research examines Chinese and Sinophone cinemas through comparative media philosophies, particularly exploring how Buddhist thought can reframe film theory. He holds a PhD from Yale University and an MFA from the University of Southern California. Fan's research focuses on: Comparative film theories between European, North American, and Asian traditions Chinese and Sinophone media studies Queer and Trans Cinema Media archaeology and transnational cinema His publications demonstrate consistent engagement with Buddhist approaches to cinema, Hong Kong's cinematic extraterritoriality, and early Chinese film history. Recent work explores spatial consciousness in Chinese cinema and anthropotechnogenetic mediation in early films. Fan maintains active film festival consultancy work and has presented at international venues.

• Chinese Cinema
• Sinophone Media
• Film Philosophy
• +3 more

Dr. Kiki Tianqi Yu is a Senior Lecturer in Film at Queen Mary University of London's School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, where she contributes significantly to both teaching and research. She serves as a core faculty member in Film Studies, convening modules including FLM4205 Decolonising Approaches to Film Analysis and FLM7216 Creative Documentary. Her academic journey began with an MPhil in social political science at Cambridge University, followed by doctoral research on documentary film and personal cinema with a focus on China at CREAM, University of Westminster. Her educational background has shaped her interdisciplinary approach that bridges film studies with cultural sociology and philosophy. Dr. Yu's research explores three interconnected strands: cinema through eastern philosophies (particularly Daoism), documentary film and nonfiction practices from non-western perspectives, and women's cinema across Asia. Her work challenges Western-centric film theory by constructing comparative dialogues with film phenomenology and posthumanist thinking through Daoist philosophy. She examines how philosophies in non-western cultures enhance our understanding of global cinema, with particular attention to ethical considerations in documentary filmmaking. Her scholarly output reveals consistent focus on decolonizing film studies, with recent publications examining Daoism's conceptual capacity to expand how we experience moving images and intervene in Western-centered post-humanist theorization of cinema. Her work demonstrates increasing engagement with environmental humanities, East Asian art history, and feminist studies. 8 awards for documentary 'China's van Goghs' (2016) Best Audience's award at Royal Anthropology Institution Film Festival 2021 for 'Two Lives of Li Ermao' Keynote speaker at European Network for Cinema and Media Studies (NECS) annual conference 2018 Founding co-convener of BAFTSS East Asian Screen Cultures Special Interest Group Dr. Yu actively supervises PhD students on diverse topics including embodied trauma in women's filmmaking, psychogeography in Chinese cinematic cities, and representations of space in Asian slow cinema. Her curatorial projects such as 'Dancing with Water: Women's cinema from contemporary China' (2024) demonstrate her commitment to promoting underrepresented voices. She has produced significant documentary works including 'China's van Goghs' (2016), which received international distribution and critical acclaim in publications like Hollywood Reporter and Artnet, and 'Two Lives of Li Ermao' (2019), which premiered at IDFA. Her leadership extends to organizing film seasons and festivals, including 'The Spirit of Mountains and Water: Gao Shiqiang's Moving Image Art through Cosmological Thinking' at BLOC (London 2023), reflecting her commitment to connecting Eastern philosophical traditions with contemporary moving image practices.

• Decolonial film studies
• Cinema and Eastern philosophies
• Daoism and film
• +8 more

Andrew White is a Senior Lecturer in Cultural Policy at King's College London, with previous positions at Queen's University Belfast, University of Ulster, and Oxford Brookes University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham and an M.A. from the University of Amsterdam. His research examines cultural policy, creative industries, and the digital economy, with regional expertise in the UK and China. Research focuses on: Cultural policy and creative industries development Digital economy inequalities and universal basic income Chinese media industries and intellectual property Music streaming economics Digital media's societal transformations Publication trends reveal sustained focus on Chinese cultural industries, intellectual property reforms, digital inequalities, and media policy. Recent work increasingly addresses platform economics, algorithmic governance in creative sectors, and welfare solutions for digital labor markets. Teaching includes cultural policy, digital media, and critical approaches to media industries at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has developed innovative curricula addressing instrumentalism in media education. Public engagement includes commentaries in The Conversation, Washington Post, and The Guardian on creative industries and digital policy, alongside expert contributions to UK parliamentary inquiries on music streaming economics.

• Cultural Policy
• Digital Economy
• Music Streaming Industry
• +3 more

Jinhee Choi is Professor of Film Studies and Head of Department at King's College London's Faculty of Arts & Humanities, with a PhD in Philosophy and Film Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Research focuses on Korean and East Asian cinema, film aesthetics, shojo culture, urban space, and culinary cinema. Key contributions include studies on South Korean girlhood representation, Ozu's transnational influence, and food in cinema. Publications exhibit sustained engagement with Korean genre cinema (gangster films, horror), transnational adaptations, and philosophical explorations of cinematic time and space. Recent work (2023-2025) emphasizes cultural identity in transnational remakes and necropolitics of girlhood.

• Korean Cinema
• East Asian Film
• Shojo Culture
• +2 more

Kevin Wong is a Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), Manchester Metropolitan University. He leads PERU's work on criminal and community justice, with over 25 years of experience across research, policy, and practice. He chairs the Criminal Justice Alliance, a network of 160 organizations, and serves as a trustee for Back on Track, a Manchester-based charity aiding disadvantaged adults. He founded the Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival to engage the public with crime and justice narratives. His consultancy roles include membership in the Advisory Panel on Probation Learning (HMPPS) and the Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid (2021). Research focuses on criminal justice system evaluations, including projects funded by the Ministry of Justice, Home Office, and charities. He teaches a third-year undergraduate module on 'Working with Offenders: Research, Policy, and Practice,' emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration among criminal justice agencies. Key projects include evaluations of youth diversion programs, probation services, and justice reinvestment pilots. His work integrates academic research with practical initiatives, such as promoting Chinese art and film through cultural festivals. Grants and partnerships span government agencies, local authorities, and NGOs, reflecting his dual commitment to evidence-based policy and community engagement.

• Criminal Justice
• Community Justice
• Policy Evaluation
• +3 more