In the dynamic landscape of contemporary filmmaking, few voices resonate as powerfully and authentically as Hsi Cheng’s. Fresh from her recent triumph at DOC NYC U 2024, where her groundbreaking documentary “Find Me” was crowned the competition’s winner, Cheng stands as a testament to the power of storytelling that transcends cultural boundaries and personal limitations. Her journey from Taiwan to New York City has been marked by an unwavering commitment to telling stories that might otherwise remain unheard—stories of identity, resilience, and the profound human experience.
Indie Shorts Mag: Your documentary “Find Me” explores the deeply personal journey of a human trafficking victim. What inspired you to tell this particular story, and how did you approach capturing such a sensitive narrative with both empathy and authenticity?
Hsi Cheng: I’ve always wanted to tell a story about Taiwan. One night, during my junior year at SVA, I stumbled upon Kuo’s story on YouTube. I was shocked to discover that such a crime had happened in Taiwan—the place I call home—and that I had never heard of it. I reached out to several individuals who were victims of the same trafficking case from the 1980s and were still searching for their birth families. Among those affected was Kuo, a female flight paramedic living in Rochester. Through our interviews, I realized that this was a story that could make an impact on the world. It could not only shed light on important issues like human trafficking and trauma from international adoption, but it could also help Kuo in her search for her birth family.
As I was making the edits, I found myself leaning more on the use of vérité, because I realized this needed to be a story about the present. What made Kuo incredible was not what happened to her when she was a child, but her strength in not giving up after 40 years—in being willing to fly 8,000 miles to discover who she truly is. And that’s something truly universal, regardless of whether you’re adopted or not. We are all on our own journey in search of our identities. Kuo’s resilience became the driving force of the narrative, something I believe everyone can resonate with and be inspired by.
Indie Shorts Mag: You’ve worked across multiple genres – from documentaries to historical dramas and experimental shorts. How do you navigate these different storytelling approaches, and what draws you to each unique form of filmmaking?
Hsi Cheng: I think it’s a good practice not to limit yourself, especially when you’re just starting out in the creative journey. I want to experiment with different forms of storytelling, make mistakes along the way, and learn from them. When I have a story I want to tell, I let it take its own course. It could end up being a narrative, a documentary, or something experimental. I approach each story in a way that feels right for it, even if it’s a genre I’ve never tried before.
“Find Me” was my first documentary, but I still treated it like a narrative film because, at its core, it’s about creating a character. Since making this film, I’ve fallen in love with documentary filmmaking. It has a realness and immediacy that other forms of filmmaking don’t, while still allowing you to make artistic choices. That balance between truth and artistry is what draws me to it.
Indie Shorts Mag: As a female director from Taiwan now based in New York City, how have your multicultural experiences shaped your storytelling, and what unique perspectives do you bring to your films that set them apart in the current cinematic landscape?
Hsi Cheng: I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to travel and study in different countries. Being multicultural has given me a unique tool to tell stories that might otherwise remain unheard. It’s not that these stories aren’t being told, but in today’s media-saturated world, where everything is at our fingertips, the abundance of choices can often leave us more secluded in our own comfort zones. I see myself as someone who can help bridge that gap—telling stories from a different perspective, but using familiar storytelling forms and languages to make them more accessible.
I’m also deeply open-minded and fascinated by diverse cultures and human experiences. I believe this flexibility is crucial for a filmmaker—it allows me to approach each story with a wider lens, drawing from different influences and perspectives. I think that’s what helps set my films apart: the ability to navigate between different cultural contexts while still finding universal threads that everyone can relate to.
Indie Shorts Mag: Your script “I Heard a Fly Buzz” explores an unconventional romantic relationship in the Victorian era. Can you walk us through your creative process in developing historical narratives that challenge traditional perspectives?
Hsi Cheng: “I Heard a Fly Buzz” was inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem. My goal was to capture the feeling it evoked in me while adapting it into a film. I loosely modeled the main character on Dickinson herself, as her poetry is so intimate and personal. I began with the visuals, and from there, everything started to come together naturally.
Since the story revolves around death and the act of letting go, I felt there needed to be something that transcends even death—something that lingers. For me, unrequited love seemed like the perfect fit. It’s a powerful, persistent emotion that doesn’t fade with time. The film wasn’t focused on the historical details of the Victorian era, but rather on capturing that enduring emotional truth, something that persists even through the great passage of time.
Indie Shorts Mag: Your work often focuses on underrepresented voices and complex social issues. How do you balance the artistic vision of storytelling with the responsibility of representing marginalized experiences?
Hsi Cheng: I don’t really think of it as a responsibility, but rather as a natural part of my creative process. For me, presenting an artistic vision and representing marginalized experiences go hand in hand. There’s beauty in the mundane, in the small moments we often overlook—they carry the deepest meanings. I’m drawn to these moments, not necessarily out of a conscious effort to seek them out, but because they resonate with me on a fundamental level.
Indie Shorts Mag: From “The Balloons” to “What’s Wrong With Eliza,” your short films tackle nuanced emotional landscapes. What themes or personal experiences continue to drive your creative exploration?
Hsi Cheng: Both The Balloons and What’s Wrong With Eliza are inspired by personal experiences, though they’re dramatized versions of those events. The underlying theme in both films is self-reflection, exploring how certain moments in life made me feel and why they had such a profound impact on me. In many ways, these films are my attempt to find answers or make sense of life through the process of filmmaking.
Indie Shorts Mag: Winning the DOC NYC U competition was a significant milestone for you. How has this recognition impacted your confidence as a filmmaker, and what advice would you give to emerging directors about networking, collaboration, and breaking into the industry?
Hsi Cheng: Attending DOC NYC as a filmmaker was truly a dream come true, and I’m incredibly grateful for all the support I’ve received along the way, especially from my amazing team. Winning the DOC NYC U competition was a big moment for me—it felt like a well-earned pat on the back. I’m often very hard on myself, always feeling like I need to be better or doubting whether I’m good enough. So receiving recognition reminded me that I must be doing something right and heading in the right direction.
These experiences have been invaluable, not just for the recognition, but for the connections I’ve made and the new perspectives I’ve gained on the industry. My advice is to keep improving, keep creating your own work, and most importantly, stay connected. Talk to people, make friends, collaborate, and be open to learning from others. I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without the help and support of my friends and creative partners, especially Anja and Mina.
Indie Shorts Mag: Your sci-fi TV pilot “A Ship Leans on The Beach” suggests a versatility in your storytelling. How do you approach genre-bending narratives, and what excites you about speculative storytelling?
Hsi Cheng: While I love documentaries, I also enjoy letting my imagination run wild from time to time. The TV show Twilight Zone had a big influence on the writing of A Ship Leans on The Beach. What excites me about shows like Twilight Zone is how, no matter how outlandish the plot may seem, they are still grounded in common narrative structures. It’s fun to explore the balance between what seems too ridiculous and what still resonates with a deeper truth.
Indie Shorts Mag: Coming from a culture where women in directing is a relatively recent phenomenon, what challenges have you faced, and how are you working to create space for more diverse voices in filmmaking?
Hsi Cheng: The biggest challenges I’ve faced as a female director have been internal. While there are certainly external challenges, the most difficult part has been developing self-confidence and believing in my own work. Many women filmmakers I know, myself included, struggle with this. A lot of it stems from the fact that the role models we grew up with in filmmaking were almost all men. That historical lack of representation can lead to deep-seated doubts about our ability to succeed.
For a long time, I resented the idea that certain genders or races seemed to have more opportunities to succeed. But over time, I realized that mindset was dismissive of my own efforts and achievements. Focusing only on perceived disadvantages is counterproductive. Instead, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate our progress. To create space for more diverse voices in filmmaking, I believe the first step is to encourage and build confidence within these communities. We need to praise our work, lift each other up, and show that our voices are needed, and no less important than others.
Indie Shorts Mag: Looking ahead, what stories are you most passionate about telling, and how do you see your work contributing to broader conversations about identity, community, and human resilience?
Hsi Cheng: I’d love to expand on my documentary Find Me and potentially turn it into a longer project. Moving forward, I want to continue creating documentaries that make a real impact, whether by telling stories that inspire others or sparking important conversations about social issues. In this fast-changing world, I’m passionate about telling stories that reflect who we are as a community, stories of both ordinary and extraordinary people, and the beauty we carry in our day-to-day lives.
As our conversation draws to a close, it becomes abundantly clear that Hsi Cheng is more than just a filmmaker—she is a storyteller, a cultural bridge-builder, and a beacon of hope for emerging voices in cinema. Her recent DOC NYC U victory is not just a personal achievement, but a milestone for multicultural storytelling and underrepresented narratives. With each film, each story, Cheng continues to challenge our perspectives, invite us into deeply personal journeys, and remind us of the universal threads that connect human experiences across cultures and contexts.
In a world often divided, Hsi Cheng’s work stands as a powerful reminder of the stories that unite us—stories of search, of resilience, of finding oneself against seemingly insurmountable odds. As she looks to the future, one thing is certain: her voice will continue to illuminate the extraordinary within the ordinary, making the unseen seen, and the unheard heard.