Jinglin Li

I'm a documentary director and editor. My work grows out of a deep interest in individuals, communities, and social issues, exploring individual lives within a changing social landscape. I'm drawn to the complexity of people and the tensions that emerge where their personal worlds meet the realities around them.

In the edit, I enjoy working through extensive footage to discover stories and build nuanced portraits. I look for contradictions and telling details, shaping these observations into stories with emotional depth and a considered rhythm. I'm also interested in adapting editing techniques from fiction films to documentary storytelling, while remaining attentive to the realities of the people and situations on screen.

For me, directing and editing continually inform each other. Directing helps me approach footage with a deeper understanding of the people and circumstances behind it. Editing, in turn, makes me more attentive when filming—to how a scene unfolds, the details that connect moments, and the possibilities a story might hold.