Cathy Yan

Cathy Yan is a Chinese-born American film director, screenwriter, and producer. She is best known for directing the DC Comics superhero film Birds of Prey (2020), making her the first Asian woman to direct a superhero film.

Yan graduated from Princeton University and later earned her MBA and MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to her career in filmmaking, she worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

Her debut feature film, Dead Pigs (2018), a black comedy drama set in modern Shanghai, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Acting. The film was later acquired by MUBI.

Following the success of Dead Pigs, Yan was chosen to direct Birds of Prey by Warner Bros. This elevated her profile significantly and led to further directing and producing opportunities. She has since been involved in various television projects, including directing episodes of the HBO series Succession. Yan's work often explores themes of identity, cultural clashes, and social commentary through a distinct visual style.