Directing

Jiayang Liu

Jiayang Liu is a Chinese-American director/producer driven by real, sentimental narratives and bold, poetic moving images. Over the years, he has directed and produced over 60 short narrative and documentary films, many of which have won awards and screened at Academy Award®-qualifying festivals. His latest film Teenhood world premiered and won Best Wyoming film at the Wyoming International Film F…

Known For

Pick Up

Pick Up · 2026

MovieThrillerCrime

An uber driver’s day spirals into chaos when a passenger reveals the dark truth about his missing daughter.

TURKISHAMERICAN

TURKISHAMERICAN · 2024

TURKISHAMERICAN

After years of estrangement a Turkish father and an American son reconnect... live and on camera.

Empty Canvas

Empty Canvas · 2022

MovieDramaThriller

A social media celebrity gets kidnapped and is forced to make a viral video in a desert, where he tries to rebuild his estranged relationship with his father through Chinese calligraphy.

Teenhood

Teenhood · 2025

Following an unintended pregnancy, a troubled Chinese-American boy faces the crushing responsibility and emotional weight of fatherhood, past and present.

Inner Colors

Inner Colors · 2024

In a high-stakes art world, a struggling painter faces a deadline for her exhibition that threatens her career. She must confront her fears and redefine her art before the world judges her new creation—ultimately discovering that true artistry lies in self-acceptance.

There Is Only One

There Is Only One · 2022

There Is Only One

Two kids stumble upon a sword that tells them the tales of a prominent place in the Midwest.

Take the Field

Take the Field · 2025

A musical depicting the age-old rivalry between football players and musicians as they struggle to find common ground.

Amon

A boy responds to letters for his illiterate grandmother, when he is confronted with a letter with news of her failing health. He must make the decision to disclose the truth or keep the letter's contents to himself.

Filmography

Sort

Pick Up

Pick Up · 2026

MovieThrillerCrime

An uber driver’s day spirals into chaos when a passenger reveals the dark truth about his missing daughter.

Director

TURKISHAMERICAN

TURKISHAMERICAN · 2024

TURKISHAMERICAN

After years of estrangement a Turkish father and an American son reconnect... live and on camera.

Camera Operator

Empty Canvas

Empty Canvas · 2022

MovieDramaThriller

A social media celebrity gets kidnapped and is forced to make a viral video in a desert, where he tries to rebuild his estranged relationship with his father through Chinese calligraphy.

Writer

Teenhood

Teenhood · 2025

Following an unintended pregnancy, a troubled Chinese-American boy faces the crushing responsibility and emotional weight of fatherhood, past and present.

Director

Inner Colors

Inner Colors · 2024

In a high-stakes art world, a struggling painter faces a deadline for her exhibition that threatens her career. She must confront her fears and redefine her art before the world judges her new creation—ultimately discovering that true artistry lies in self-acceptance.

Director of Photography

There Is Only One

There Is Only One · 2022

There Is Only One

Two kids stumble upon a sword that tells them the tales of a prominent place in the Midwest.

Director

Take the Field

Take the Field · 2025

A musical depicting the age-old rivalry between football players and musicians as they struggle to find common ground.

Producer

Amon

A boy responds to letters for his illiterate grandmother, when he is confronted with a letter with news of her failing health. He must make the decision to disclose the truth or keep the letter's contents to himself.

Producer

Our Last Time

Our Last Time · 2026

MovieDramaRomance

After a college student returns to China and his grandparents, he begins exploring the idea of death in an introspective journey to understand what it means to exist.

Director

Missing at Sea

Missing at Sea · 2024

MovieDramaCrime

During a research trip, an international marine biology student uncovers his lab partner's scheme.

Producer

City uf Meat

City uf Meat · 2024

MovieScience FictionAnimation

A society of oppressed entities discovers instant bliss.

Director

A Young Owl

A Young Owl · 2022

After falling asleep, a young teen drifts into the downtown night, exploring his deepest insecurities and desires.

Screenplay

A Beautiful Shadow

A Beautiful Shadow · 2023

A Beautiful Shadow

MovieHorrorDrama

A male escort mistakes a disfigured narcissistic serial killer for his client.

Director

Melodies of War

Melodies of War · 2024

Melodies of War

In 1944 rural China, two young musicians, trapped inside an abandoned building by enemy soldiers, share one last song together.

Director

The Sun Rises Differently

The Sun Rises Differently · 2022

The Sun Rises Differently

After one gets accepted into a top university, both brothers grapple with the prospect of change as they struggle to accept their futures.

Editor

The Summer Field

The Summer Field · 2021

The Summer Field

MovieDramaWestern

After being drafted to a pro track team, a midwestern young teen needs to decide between his future career and his dementia-ridden grandfather.

Producer

A Piece of Ranch

A Piece of Ranch · 2022

A Piece of Ranch

MovieDocumentary

After moving back to their hometown in Wyoming, a family starts a ranch for special needs children, hoping to provide a sanctuary where everyone can feel like they belong.

Director of Photography

Pieces

While struggling to finish a painting, a young girl finds herself lost in the world of perfection and objectivity.

Director of Photography

Echoes of the Sea

Echoes of the Sea

Echoes of the Sea

MovieFantasyDrama

Two students stumble upon an oil-stained bird, a dragon in disguise, by the beach, and it leads them on a journey to uncover the myth hidden beneath the ocean and in their hearts.

Associate Producer

The Bystander

The Bystander · 2023

MovieThrillerHorror

After witnessing a murder, a YouTuber follows and records the killer for content.

Director

Hermit Crab

MovieDramaComedy

A recently divorced office worker longs for the quiet embrace of solitude, which seems impossible to attain in the clamor of an indifferent world.

Associate Producer

Blue Dusk

Blue Dusk · 2021

MovieWesternDrama

A wounded European settler gets aid from a Native American but soon finds out that the same boy could be part of the slaughter of his entire family.

Producer

The Reunion

The Reunion · 2020

MovieDramaThriller

A rich kid returns to his hometown only to find his childhood best friend in deep trouble.

Producer

Tongue Twister

Tongue Twister · 2024

MovieCrimeThriller

When a young bike thief gains the power of shape shifting his tongue, his world takes a surreal turn into a whirlwind of chaos.

Director