Biography

Ran Li is a bilingual Chinese Canadian writer and director whose work bridges China and North America. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts MFA program and a BAFTA Connect Member, he writes cross-cultural film and television stories shaped by power, identity, technology, and human connection.

Originally from Nanjing, China, Ran began his career writing and directing commercial campaigns before moving to Los Angeles for graduate study. His work spans feature screenplays, television pilots, animation, comics, and games. He has written for Hanson Robotics’ Sophia the Robot projects and co-wrote an episode of Yao - Chinese Folktales Season 2, part of a widely viewed animated anthology series in China.

Ran’s writing combines classical dramatic structure with cultural specificity and an international perspective. He is especially drawn to character-driven stories that resonate across borders while remaining rooted in distinctive worlds, from historical drama and social issue features to science fiction.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ran Li