FINDING YINGYING

2020
Feature Documentary

Directed by Jiyan “Jenny” Shi
Edited by John Farbrother
Producers Diane Quon, Jiyan “Jenny” Shi, Brent Huffman
Co-Producer Shilin Sun
Cinematography by Jiyan “Jenny” Shi, Shilin Sun
Music by Nathan Halpern, Chris Ruggiero
Executive Producers Mark Mitten, Ken Pelletier, Jolene Pinder, Gordon Quinn

MTV Documentary Films

Yingying Zhang, a 26-year-old Chinese student, comes to the U.S. to study. In her detailed and beautiful diaries, the aspiring young scientist and teacher is full of optimism, hoping to also be married and a mother someday. Within weeks of her arrival, Yingying disappears from the campus. Through exclusive access to Yingying’s family and boyfriend, Finding Yingying closely follows their journey as they search to unravel the mystery of her disappearance and seek justice for their daughter while navigating a strange, foreign country. But most of all, Finding Yingying is the story of who Yingying was: a talented young woman loved by her family and friends.

Emmy Nominee for Outstanding Investigative Documentary
China Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language Documentary
China Academy Award Nominee for Grand Jury Prize
China Academy Award Nominee for Global Impact Award
SXSW Special Jury Recognition for Breakthrough Voice (World Premiere)
IDA Documentary Screening Series
DOC NYC
Chicago International Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
Best Documentary Feature Loudoun Arts Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature Alula DC Chinese Film Festival
Best Feature Film DOCUTAH international Documentary Film Festival
Special Jury Award for Documentary Debut BendFilm Festival
Emerging Filmmaker Award Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Special Jury Mention San Diego Asian Film Festival
Best Documentary and Best Director CentreFilm Festival

“Finding Yingying traces those two years from the anguished perspective of the young woman’s family, fiancé and friends — and from the point of view of director Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, who didn’t know Yingying Zhang but whose identification with her lends the documentary its thoughtful and haunting tone…The unfolding investigation is presented with a level of suspense that’s involving and never exploitive (the fine editing is by John Farbrother).”
–Hollywood Reporter

“Jenny has helmed an intense and heartbreaking work that tenderly tells the story of Yingying Zhang. Jenny herself narrates the film, both with a voice-over that bridges a few gaps not filmed, as well as reading fro Yingying’s diary, to help get the viewer into her headspace. The interweaving of photos of Yingying, lines from her diary, her family’s pleas for information, and the investigation into what happened to her craft a hypnotic, assured film that does justice to its subject’s life and legacy…It is amazing but it will break your heart.”
–Film Threat