Lulu Wang

Based on an actual lie.

Lulu Wang is a Chinese-born American filmmaker born in 1983. Best known for writing and directing the comedy-drama films Posthumous (2014) and The Farewell (2019), she has built a career blending documentary roots with narrative storytelling. For The Farewell, she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, and the film won Best Feature; it was also named one of the top ten films of 2019 by the American Film Institute. Before her feature breakthrough, Wang produced short "day in the life" videos for legal firms to capture injured victims' struggles. She initially worked in legal video production before pursuing writing, and moved to Hollywood in 2007 after studying literature and music.

Quick Facts

Born

25 February 1983

Birthplace

Beijing, China

Education

New World School of the Arts

Alma mater

Boston College

Occupation

Film director
screenwriter
producer

Spouse

Barry Jenkins (2024)

Years active

2005–present

Lore & Background

Wang's journey began in Beijing before she emigrated to Miami at age 6, where her father pursued a PhD at the University of Miami. A classically trained pianist since age four, she attended the New World School of the Arts and practiced daily at a local church before her family could afford a piano. She eventually chose filmmaking over music after watching Steven Shainberg's Secretary during her senior year at Boston University, graduating in 2005 with a double major in literature and music. Her early career involved creating evidence videos for court mediations. In 2008, she interned alongside Bernadette Bürgi; their shared love for romantic comedies led them to found Flying Box Productions. This partnership birthed Posthumous (2014), an American-German co-production set in Berlin starring Brit Marling and Jack Huston. Wang wrote a heartfelt letter to Huston that secured his role, proving her dedication to the project despite being a first-time director.

Reader's Guide

Wang's approach to The Farewell required an inquisitional style similar to journalism to extract raw emotions from her family regarding the "actual lie." With few cinematic comparisons available, she relied on her father to vet the script for authenticity, asking repeatedly if it properly represented everyone. This process highlighted a tension: her father questioned why the narrative wasn't dramatized further to suit Western audiences, yet Wang insisted on maintaining the mundaneness of their reality. In 2017, she participated in Sundance Institute's FilmTwo Initiative while developing this second feature. Her dedication paid off with a 99% Critics Consensus rating on Rotten Tomatoes and votes for Best Director and Best Screenplay from IndieWire critics. At the 35th Independent Spirit Awards, Wang dedicated her speech to highlight the lack of female nominees, urging the industry to make the same bets on women as they do men.

Did You Know?

Wang spent her early years in Beijing living with her paternal grandmother for a year in Changchun, Jilin.
She won the Best Beginning Film Award at Boston University for Storyteller (2005) and Best Picture for Pisces (2006).
The Farewell opened in four US theaters averaging $87,833 per theater, which was higher than Avengers: Endgame's opening average of $76,601.
Wang cast actress Zhao Shuzhen to play Nai Nai in The Farewell.
In January 2021, she directed the 11-minute short Nian entirely using an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lulu Wang?

She is a Chinese-born American filmmaker recognized for blending documentary techniques with narrative storytelling. Her work primarily focuses on personal family histories and cultural identity.

What is her relationship with A24 Films?

A24 distributed her breakthrough feature film, The Farewell, which gained significant critical acclaim in 2019. This collaboration helped establish her reputation within the independent cinema community.

What roles does she fulfill on set?

Wang typically works as both the director and screenwriter for her projects. She maintains creative control to ensure her stories remain authentic to her vision.

Why is The Farewell considered a key work?

The film received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Director and was named one of the top ten films by the American Film Institute. It successfully brought her unique perspective to mainstream audiences.

What early experience shaped her filmmaking style?

Before directing features, she produced short videos documenting injured victims for legal firms. This background helped her develop a keen eye for capturing genuine human struggles on camera.