Director: Emily Dean

Biography: Emily Dean is a creator, filmmaker, and artist from Australia living in LA. She is an Asian-Australian American. Emily started drawing at age 3, making films at age 12, and working professionally as a storyboard artist for TV commercials at age 15. She was awarded BA (Honours I), History and English Major, from the University of Sydney, where I was mentored in Cultural Studies by Professor Richard Waterhouse, Bicentennial Historian of Australia, and Emeritus Professor John Y. Wong in 20th Century Chinese History. Following her academic studies, she pursued animation at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and trained at Pixar in the Story Department. Emily has worked in animated and live action feature films as a Story Artist and Visual Consultant. Her animated short film FORGET ME NOT was nominated for an Australian Academy Award (AACTA) in 2012, and her live action sci fi short film ANDROMEDA was on the festival circuit in 2018 and 2019. Her feature directorial debut, TAO, is described as a female-driven sci-fi adventure story that is set in China. Emily writes, directs and executive produces content for film and television under the new production banner, Grade 8 Productions.