Stephanie Liu is a documentary director and editor based in San Francisco. She’s drawn to stories that illuminate our shared humanity and help us imagine what the world could be.
FILMS
CLIENT WORK
After college, inspired by the vibrant public service community at UNC-Chapel Hill, I got my Masters from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and pursued development work, filming in places like Cote d’Ivoire, the Comoros, and China before transitioning to journalism and eventually finding a home in documentary film.
Since then, as the co-founder of Xerophile Studios, I’ve directed projects for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Supermajority, and the International Rescue Committee. My most recent film, La Orquesta, screened at festivals around the country, including DC/DOX, DOC NYC, and the New Orleans Film Festival, and is currently streaming on PBS as part of POV Shorts.
Collaborators often describe me as steady, kind and upbeat — someone who can put people at ease in front of the camera and stay light on my feet. In the edit, I’m sensitive to subtext and oriented towards feeling, always searching for how to make the most of this visual medium we love.
Please say hi if you'd like to collaborate! stephanie.f.liu@gmail.com
2026 Sedona International Film Festival Marion Herrman Award for Excellence in Filmmaking for La Orquesta
2025 Chimaera Project Award
2023 Latino Public Broadcasting Digital Media Grant
2021 Southern Documentary Fund Production Grant
2020 Southern Documentary Fund Research & Development Grant
2020 Warner Media Creative Residency