Ying’s, also known as Queenie journey into filmmaking is anything but conventional. Before stepping behind the camera, she spent six years working with children with special needs, a career that shaped her understanding of human emotion, resilience, and storytelling. As a Chinese-Canadian, Queenie’s dual identity was both a source of connection and conflict. Raised as an only child, she was the focal point of her parents’ attention and expectations, facing immense pressure to conform to traditional gender roles. However, she defied these norms, choosing to forge her own path—one that led to filmmaking.
Her passion for storytelling stems from deeply personal experiences. The memory of her late grandfather was a turning point in her artistic journey. She realized that while photographs capture static moments, film breathes life into memories, preserving expressions, gestures, and intonations that might otherwise fade. This revelation propelled her into the world of cinema, where she sought to immortalize fleeting emotions and untold stories. Her debut short film, I’d Like To, reimagined a teenage moment she never had the courage to live out—asking out a crush. It was a testament to the power of film making as both preservation and reinvention of reality.
Queenie’s filmography is defined by its raw, visceral storytelling and unflinching examination of identity, generational trauma, and gender norms. She explores themes that resonate with women navigating fear and resistance. Her works, It Came From Within and swallows燕子, encapsulate the terrifying reality many women endure—fear that lurks in everyday life, the struggle to reclaim agency, and the haunting presence of violence. These films are not just horror; they are confrontations with truth.
Queenie’s signature aesthetic—a fusion of psychological horror and body horror—features imagery of women screaming, covered in blood, their bodies dismembered. Though shocking, these visuals are deeply intentional.
They evoke discomfort and force audiences to reckon with the anxieties women live with daily. Her films do not offer easy catharsis; instead, they demand reflection, dialogue, and a re-examination of societal complacency.
By centering women’s experiences and amplifying voices that have long been silenced, Queenie Zhang is carving a space in the film industry that is both unique and necessary. Her bicultural background allows her to navigate storytelling with depth and nuance, bridging narratives across cultures and generations. As she continues to push boundaries, her work stands as a testament to the power of film—not just as entertainment, but as an urgent and transformative force.
In an industry that often sanitizes difficult realities, Queenie Zhang dares to create films that disturb, provoke, and ultimately, endure. Her stories serve as both mirrors and warnings, illuminating the fears we bury and the resilience we must embrace. With each project, she reaffirms her place as a filmmaker unafraid to challenge, disrupt, and revolutionize the art of storytelling. She is not only a creator but also a catalyst for conversations that demand to be had. Her commitment to authenticity ensures that every film she crafts leaves a lasting impact, compelling audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and inspiring future filmmakers to tell their own daring stories.
Queenie’s short films have been included in more than twenty film festivals across North America. Attending these festivals has given her the opportunity to share her vision and aspirations with diverse audiences. Through these experiences, she has befriended fellow filmmakers from around the world—artists with different backgrounds but a shared passion for storytelling. These interactions have broadened her perspective, reinforcing her belief that film is a universal language that connects people beyond borders and cultures. Queenie’s upcoming projects continue this mission, pushing the boundaries of storytelling while fostering meaningful conversations within the global filmmaking community. She is not just creating films—she is shaping the future of cinema.
FilmmakerLife is proud to be a global team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about the world of filmmaking.
