Xinyan Yu

Director · Producer · Writer

Biography

Xinyan Yu is an Emmy-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker with nearly 15 years of experience crafting intimate, character-driven films across continents. From factory floors in rural Ethiopia to wildfire zones in Hawaii, she specializes in vérité and investigative storytelling that blends cinematic intimacy with journalistic rigor through a deeply human lens. A former BBC producer and now an independent filmmaker, Xinyan has directed and produced work for major broadcasters including PBS, BBC and NHK. Her recent projects include Made in Ethiopia, which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, and Maui's Deadly Firestorm for PBS Frontline, which won an Emmy Award and a Scripps Howard Award.