Dr Qiao Li
| Biography | I am a Lecturer in Film at Edinburgh Napier University and Screen Academy Scotland, where I also serve as an Executive Member of the BA in Film program and Departmental Lead for International (Screen and Performance). In these roles, I am committed to enhancing program delivery, fostering international partnerships, and teaching across both film theory and production. The BA in Film program at ENU is ranked No. 2 in the UK by subject by The Guardian in 2025, a testament to the strong academic environment I contribute to. Before joining ENU, I held Associate Professor positions at the University of Wollongong Malaysia and Taylor’s University. In addition to my academic roles, I have gained valuable experience as a film festival curator and filmmaker. Currently, I supervise PhD research that explores Chinese-language cinema, film authorship, and the intersection of national and cultural identities. As Chief Editor of the UNESCO Cities of Film Network's commissioned book series, I lead key volumes such as "Development of Global Film Industry: Industrial Competition and Cooperation in the Context of Globalization" (Routledge, 2020), "The Global Film Market Transformation in the Post-Pandemic Era" (Routledge, 2023), and "Innovation through Convergence: Technology, Art, and Commerce in the Global Film Industry" (in press, Routledge). These works contribute to significant global film policy discussions at forums like UNESCO and the 2024 Cannes Global Film Forum. In my international academic journey, I curated the 2018 Chinese Diasporic Film Festival in French Polynesia, which culminated in the bilingual publication "Migration & Memory: Arts and Cinemas of the Chinese Diaspora" (2019, MSHP), where I served as Chief Editor. I also had the privilege of being a Visiting Professor at Paris 1: Sorbonne from 2017 to 2020, where I curated the Tahiti Film Festival and contributed to cultural heritage studies in French Polynesia. My creative work includes films such as "In Pursuit of Truth: Once Upon a Time in China" (Cannes AVIFF, 2023), "Save Malayan Tiger" (Official Screening, World Tiger Day, 2019), and the socially impactful documentary "In A Different Key" (2019), which was selected for the Cleveland State University and Ohio Arts Council's Official Selection. I currently supervise two PhD projects: - “Whose Memory: Documentary as Practice Exploring Identity Among the Chinese Diaspora in Scotland” (Zijin Wan) - “Pursue, Interpret, and Present: A Reflection on Documentary Practice” (Han Hu) Recent book chapters I’ve contributed to include: - "Rethinking Rural China: Zhang Yimou’s Red Sorghum and the Roots-Searching Movement" (Routledge, 2021) - "Confucian Family and the Image of the Father in Ang Lee’s Cinema" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) - "The Creative Process and the Auteur Director: A Case Study of Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love" (in French), in "Comparative Study of Creative Processes between East and West" (MSHP, 2024) My academic work is deeply integrated with creative practice and social impact, aiming to foster cross-cultural understanding and interdisciplinary collaboration. I am passionate about advancing international partnerships, contributing to global film policy development, and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers and scholars both inside the classroom and through my professional network. |
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| Research Interests | My research interests lie at the intersection of cinema, cultural identity, and global film industries, with a particular focus on Chinese-language cinema, diasporic film cultures, authorship, and cross-cultural exchange. I am especially interested in how film serves as a vehicle for cultural memory and heritage in transnational contexts. I also examine the dynamics of the global film market, having edited several volumes commissioned by the UNESCO Cities of Film Network on industrial transformation and policy. My practice-based work includes socially engaged documentaries and festival curation, bridging academic inquiry with creative outputs that contribute to public discourse and international film policy. |
| Teaching and Learning | My teaching spans both film theory and production, with a focus on international and interdisciplinary perspectives. At Edinburgh Napier University, I deliver modules such as "Asian Cinema", "World Cinema", "Scholarly Research for Production", and "Film Adaptation" etc. I have contributed to curriculum development and innovation, introducing new modules that reflect evolving global film practices. As Departmental Lead for International (Screen and Performance) and Executive Member of the BA in Film programme—ranked No. 2 in the UK by subject in The Guardian 2025—I support programme delivery and foster global partnerships that enhance student learning. My teaching is informed by my research and professional experience in filmmaking, festival curation, and international collaboration. |
| PhD Supervision Availability | Yes |