Directing

Renee Zhan

Renee Zhan is a Chinese-American director and animator from Houston, Texas. In her films Renee is primarily interested in exploring topics of the body, nature, sexuality - all things beautiful, ugly, and squishy. Her short films have screened and won awards internationally.

Known For

Soft Animals

Soft Animals · 2021

Two ex-lovers bump into each other on their daily commute.

Reneepoptosis

Reneepoptosis · 2018

MovieAnimationAdventure

Three Renees go on a quest to find God, who is also Renee. As they cross the mountains and valleys of Renee, they discover all the great joys, tragedies, and mysteries of being Renee.

Shé (Snake)

Shé (Snake) · 2023

Fei is the top violinist of an elite London youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place in the orchestra, Fei’s anxieties and internalised racism grow to take monstrous physical form. They whisper to her, urging her to be the best, no matter the cost.

Ghost Strata

Ghost Strata · 2019

MovieDocumentary

Filmed in various places over the globe, Ghost Strata explores the differing scales of impact that humanity’s presence has on the earth in the past, present and into the future. Found sound and text create a meditation on time, memory, leftovers and extinction.

Fish Juice

Fish Juice · 2014

Short animation by Renee Zahn

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw)

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw) · 2016

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw)

MovieAnimationComedy

Flap flap flap flap. A large bird and a small boy cohabit in an unhappy relationship, trapped by four walls and a mutual codependence. The fragile balance of their relationship is cracked by a new arrival.

O Black Hole!

O Black Hole! · 2020

MovieAnimationFantasy

A woman who can't stand the passing of time turns herself into a black hole. A thousand unchanging years pass inside her warm and dark embrace until, finally, the Singularity awakens inside.

Filmography

Sort

Soft Animals

Soft Animals · 2021

Two ex-lovers bump into each other on their daily commute.

Director

Reneepoptosis

Reneepoptosis · 2018

MovieAnimationAdventure

Three Renees go on a quest to find God, who is also Renee. As they cross the mountains and valleys of Renee, they discover all the great joys, tragedies, and mysteries of being Renee.

Director

Shé (Snake)

Shé (Snake) · 2023

Fei is the top violinist of an elite London youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place in the orchestra, Fei’s anxieties and internalised racism grow to take monstrous physical form. They whisper to her, urging her to be the best, no matter the cost.

Director

Ghost Strata

Ghost Strata · 2019

MovieDocumentary

Filmed in various places over the globe, Ghost Strata explores the differing scales of impact that humanity’s presence has on the earth in the past, present and into the future. Found sound and text create a meditation on time, memory, leftovers and extinction.

Fish Juice

Fish Juice · 2014

Short animation by Renee Zahn

Director

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw)

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw) · 2016

Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw)

MovieAnimationComedy

Flap flap flap flap. A large bird and a small boy cohabit in an unhappy relationship, trapped by four walls and a mutual codependence. The fragile balance of their relationship is cracked by a new arrival.

Director

O Black Hole!

O Black Hole! · 2020

MovieAnimationFantasy

A woman who can't stand the passing of time turns herself into a black hole. A thousand unchanging years pass inside her warm and dark embrace until, finally, the Singularity awakens inside.

Director