LOS ANGELES · NEW YORK · CYPRUS
photo by Erica Urech
Liz Sargent is a Korean-American adoptee whose award-winning work explores themes of adoption, disability, and family. As a writer-director, she incorporates her background as a choreographer into visual storytelling that channels complex human emotions that are an extension of her experience as the middle child of eleven and recognize her intersectional identity.
Her film TAKE ME HOME won the Julia S. Gouw Fellowship with CAPE and Janet Yang Productions, a Reel Sisters Fellowship, Asian Women Giving Circle grant and raised 30K on Kickstarter. Festivals: Sundance Santa Barbara IFF, SXSW, with Academy Qualifying wins at LAAPFF Golden Reel Best Short & deadCenter Film Festival Special Grand Jury Best Film.
The short film STRANGERS’ REUNION about an adoptee reunion was one of five films chosen by Ritz-Carlton and Hearst to be made with mentorship by Mike Figgis and production by RSA Hong Kong. The film was released online, worldwide in 6 languages and won Best Director at Diversity in Cannes and Best Screenplay at Brand FF London.
Trained in modern dance at North Carolina School of the Arts, a unique sense of movement is always present in her commercial and experimental work. The short film SLOW DOWN: River To River was broadcast on PBS and won a NY Emmy. Experimental dance film collaborations include work with Pam Tanowitz and Fisher Center at Bard, Eiko Otake and Jacob’s Pillow, and Adrienne Westwood and Angelica Negron.
The extension of her personal stories have been told through podcasts and in her award winning story slam at the Korean American Story ROAR in Chicago. She is a two time Ryan Murphy HALF Initiative Mentee, NBCU Directing Fellowship Semi-Finalist 2023, AICP Mentee with Edward Grann at mssg pces, a member of the Gold House Creator Network, and producer with Cyprian Films New York.
SPEAKING, EDUCATIONAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation l Mercer Island, WA l NOV 3
Sibling Leadership Network & AHRC l New York, NY l JUNE 12
Courageous Conversations l Virtual Worldwide l May 12
Beyond Film Festival l Asheville, NC
Female Voices Rock l Brooklyn, NY
Sundance l Sunrise Panel l Park City, Utah
Sundance l Northern California Asia Society l Park City, Utah
AWARDS
NBCU TV Directing Fellowship l Semi-Finalist 2023
Gold House Futures Network 2023
Ryan Murphy Half Initiative l Brad Buecker 2023 & Tori Garrett 2022
AICP Mentee l Edward Grann at MSSNG PCES 2023
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (Academy Qualifying) WINNER GOLDEN REEL BEST SHORT
deadCenter Film Festival (Academy Qualifying) WINNER SPECIAL GRAND JURY BEST SHORT
Julia S Gouw Short Film Competition w/ Janet Yang Productions & CAPE 2022
Arts Special, New York EMMY l THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES 2022 l Flowstate: NBK Artists Series
Commercial Diverse Directing Program (CDDP) Semifinalist 2022
Top 3 Finalist for Shondaland Directing Mentorship 2022
Best Director l Diversity in Cannes Film Festival 2020 l Strangers' Reunion
Arts Special, New York EMMY l THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES l 2020 l SLOW DOWN: River To River
Best World Actor & Best World Short l Soho International Film Festival 2020
Best Screenplay l Brand Film Festival London 2019 l Strangers' Reunion