Renee Zhan

Renee Zhan
Trolli
The Gooniverse Factory
Renee Zhan
Whiskas
Purr More II
Renee Zhan
Lunchables
Crispy Grilled Cheesies
Renee Zhan
Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection
What’s that lurking in the basement?
Renee Zhan
SHÉ (trailer)
Renee Zhan
Reneepoptosis
Renee Zhan
Soft Animals

Renee is a Chinese-American director and animator from Houston, Texas now based in London. Like many Blinkink directors, Renee honed her craft at the National Film & Television School.  Her short films have screened and won awards internationally including Annecy, TIFF, SXSW, and the Jury Prize for Animated Short at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Her work explores a range of topics such as the body, nature and sexuality. Yet all of her films are incredibly balanced between the lovely and the visceral; they are deeply satisfying to watch.

Renee uses a wide range of techniques in her work that have a tactile feel, breathing life into the audience’s senses. From hand drawn 2D to watercolour and claymation, she expresses something new and pushes boundaries on each project.

Awards & Recognition

'SHÉ (Snake)'
TIFF 2023 - Short Cuts: Share Her Journey Award

Trolli ‘The Gooniverse Factory’
Young Arrows Animation: 2D, Stop Motion & CGI: Shortlisted
Vimeo Staff Pick

O Black Hole!
Annie Award Nomination  
Student BAFTA shortlist 
TIFF Special Jury “Share her Journey” award  
SXSW Special Jury award for Vision 
Aspen Shortsfest Jury Award for Best Animation 
Poitiers Film Festival Jury Special Prize Award (2020)
Piccolo Festival D'Animazione Main Competition first prize (2020) 
Locarno, 
Zagreb, 
Hiroshima, 
Edinburgh, 
London Short Film Festival, 
Chicago, 
Flickerfilm, 
Indy Shorts Heartland, 
Tampere Official Selections

Reneepoptosis
Sundance Award for Best Animated Short Film
Dallas International Film Festival Best Animated Short Tricky Women/Tricky Realities 
Jury Award  
SICAF Jury Award  Locarno, 
TIFF, 
SXSW Official Selection 
Vimeo Staff Pick

Hold Me (ca Caw CA Caw)
Slamdance Award for Best Animated Short Locarno, 
SXSW Official Selection 
Vimeo Staff Pick

Soft Animals
Sundance - Grand Jury Prize - Short Film: Nominated
SXSW - Grand Jury Award - Animated Short: Nominated
Annecy - Cristal - Best Graduation Film: Nominated
AFI Fest - Grand Jury Prize - Animated Short Film: Nominated
Toronto International Film Festival - IMDbPro Short Cuts Award for Best Film: Nominated
1.4 - In The Making - Animation: Gold
Ciclope - No Logo: Shortlisted
Chicago International Film Festival - Gold Hugo - Best Animated Short: Nominated
Zagreb World Fest of Animated Films - Best Student Film: Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival - Short Film Award - Animation: Nominated

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