ABOUT | shih ting hung

Shih-Ting Hung is a LA/Taipei-based director and visual artist whose work blurs the lines between fantasy and philosophical inquiry. A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts with a background in fine arts, she first gained international recognition with her student short VIOLA: The Traveling Rooms of a Little Giant, which won the Gold Medal at the 35th Student Academy Awards® and became part of the Academy's permanent archive. The film went on to screen at over 200 film festivals worldwide.

Born in the Pescadores archipelago and fluent in both English and Mandarin, Shih draws deeply from dreams, memory, and her multicultural identity. She has directed projects across the U.S., Europe, and South East Asia, with visuals showcased at institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York. As the first and only Taiwanese director signed by RSA Films (Ridley Scott Associates), her creative range spans animation, narrative films, commercials, and music videos—collaborating with artists and teams from Kenshi Yonezu (Tokyo Olympics music video) to Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood. Shih has been described by a Hollywood producer as “Werner Herzog in high heels”—a remark that inspired her to found Herzog On Heels Productions, celebrating her unique blend of poetic vision and fierce directorial presence. She is currently developing her debut feature film.

Shih takes her social duty to heart. In 2022 and 2023, she spoke twice at the UN CSW (Commission on the Status of Women), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and top universities, sharing her experiences. Shih tells stories that channel the surreal logic of reality—always with emotional resonance, technical precision, and a sly sense of humor. Also: never far from a bowl of Taiwanese street noodles.