About me
Life is a journey, everyday a step to be a better version of myself.
ZhiMin Hu, a Chinese Canadian independent filmmaker based in Toronto (Canada), is a Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema (Concordia University) and WIDC (Women In Director’s Chair) alumna.
She is fascinated by stories that explore human nature and psychology, promote humanity and enlightenment, and provoke reflection on social aspects. Over the years, she has grown into a blending genre storyteller with a flavour of Magic realism and symbolism.
She had written, produced, directed and edited one feature documentary and seven shorts, including fiction, documentary, and experimental film.
Her works have been presented in many international and local film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, Montreal World Film Festival, Shnit International Short Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, and the CBC FaceOff Short Film Competition, amongst others.
- In 2014, Sophie’s Letter , selected by Prime Centre and won Special Mention Award at TopShorts Film Festival.
- In 2016, A Cold Summer Night (28min) was supported by NFB and later became part of BAnQ’s collection;
- In 2018, I’m Waiting for Mama won the Best Canadian Short at RIFFA (Regina International Film Festival and Award);
- In 2019, Ketchup & Soya Sauce, a feature documentary, was broadcasted on CBC, it’s now available on CBC GEM.
- In 2020, 63mins version of Ketchup & Soya Sauce was nominated as The Best Canadian Feature, The Best Director for Feature film, and was spotlighted at 2020 Vancouver Asian Film Festival
In 2021, her first feature film script, Under the Red Umbrella, was optioned.
In 2022, her second feature film script, Never Alive, Already Dead, which was selected and supported by Canada Council for the Arts was completed. It’s ready for development.
Currently, her short film, The Teacup, which is also selected and supported by Canada Council for the Arts, is in the making
In order to refine and improve her director and storyteller’s skills, she has been working as a professional editor in fiction, documentary, reality TV, comedy productions and television documentaries. She is praised for her attention to details and an ability to shine the essence of the story.
Besides directing and editing, ZhiMin is quite active in other fields. She is a passionate photographer, she was a jury member for the 2020 Ontario Art Council in Media Art , 2020 Black Bird Film Festival, and the 2012 Amérasia Film Festival, a film critic for a Chinese weekly newspaper, a TV host and researcher for the TV show Sino-Montreal on CJNT, and 2008 Montreal Sichuan earthquake fundraising event organizer.
- Film Critic from Cold Tea Collective
KETCHUP AND SOYA SAUCE IS AN INTIMATE EXPLORATION OF INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIP IN CANADA - CBC Vancouver –
Vancouver Asian Film Festival – Filmmaker talk
Ketchup & Soya Sauce - Broadcast Interviews
Global Television
From Behind the Scenes to A Close-Up - Magazine Interviews
CinéWomen
My Color - Art Therapy – ZhiMin Hu
TopShorts Film Festival
Sophie’s Letter - Radio Interview
Inside the Artists’ Shanty