Shirley Yip is a writer-director who explores human relationships and cross-cultural experiences in her work. Born in China and immigrated to Canada at the age of 4, Shirley grew up moving back and forth between two continents. Her stories are fueled by unresolved emotions and relentless struggles formulated at the intersection of her Asian roots and Western education. She took her first step in becoming a storyteller, when she went against Cantonese parents’ wishes by turning down business schools to pursue a drama degree at the University of Toronto. After graduation, Shirley lived a nomadic life while working in advertising in China. In 2016, she landed in Los Angeles and has since completed UCLA’s certificate programs in screenwriting and directing. Her scripts have been placed in Austin Film Festival and Script Pipeline. She is a Finalist at the 2021 ATX Pitch Competition and 2022 ISA TV Pilot Pitch Challenge. Recently, Shirley is a participant in 2022 BIPOC TV & Film Episodic Drama Writers’ Lab with her crime family drama House of Fortune. Shirley is currently developing on her feature project Orchid Dream through the 2022 Reel World Emerging 20 program.