emmanuel_li_

Stories so far... • Directing Reel 2024🔮 Will never take for granted how lucky and privileged I am to get to continue doing this. Endlessly grateful to the friends and found family formed while making these films. Obviously couldn't tag everyone involved in these adventures but you know who you are xx Looking forward to what the vast and unknowable future may bring🥠 Let's get to work! - Song used: 'What We Wanna' by Miya Folick . . . . #director#showreel#indiefilmmaker#shortfilms#musicvideo#fashionfilm

To all the Dick's I had in Seattle🥵 ~ Felt fierce and fantabulous wearing VILIANA KORUEVA on Opening Night @vilianak🥀⚔️~ Words cannot express the love and gratitude I have for my time at @nfftyfilm. So far from home yet I found the most vibrant, supportive and talented community of makers and dreamers to exist and thrive amongst. I return a little intimidated but ultimately inspired by the quality of work and strength of stories on display overseas. I'll always be proud to be among the NFFTY Class of '24, and peer eagerly into my crystal ball at the brilliant things to come for all of us - I hope we meet again in the vast, unknowable future🔮✨ As if this absolute dream of a festival wasn't enough, @fantabulousfilm came home with an Audience Award. Real magic happens not in the hands of the conjurer but in the mind of the spectator, so I'd like to heartily thank all the real magicians who believed in and voted for our film🪄 • - #FantabulousForever#NFFTY#NFFTY2024#FilmStartsHere#IndieFilm#YoungFilmmakers

I'm 20 now. What the fuck. To mark this harrowing occasion, I've decided to finally release MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD after a positively surreal festival run. Linkin bio or just search for it on YouTube x Now, it's my birthday so do indulge me as I get long-winded and soppy... MFTEOTW is easily one of my most personal films, speaking not only to my feelings brought about by the pandemic but also my experience growing up as an 'outsider', a Chinese immigrant (peep the red-yellow colour scheme🇨🇳) who wasn't able to "speak back", as Freddie laments in the film - but finding solace and companionship through imagination, art and creativity. I don't think I even fully comprehended at the time I made this how much of myself I was putting out there. That it's even screened at festivals around the globe and been so warmly received is a huge honour and surprise. Immensely grateful to everyone who helped make or supported this project, not least the artists who lent their tunes to the titular MUSIC🎶 So while MFTEOTW was conceived and made during lockdown, it was never meant to be just about lockdown, Covid or me. Instead touching on more timeless, universal ideas of loneliness, social anxiety and trying to find a connection in a world that seeks to separate and isolate us (with or without a global pandemic). That said, the pandemic forced us all to confront mortality in the face, and perhaps change the way we see the world. It certainly sent my worldview into orbit for it to then come crashing back down, and the result is this film. I wanted to express how crucial art is to our existence; how song, dance, nature and stories can transcend space, time, language barriers... and help us to do the same. Even if it's "just for one day". Even if we have to return to reality at the end of that day. Which is why it's all the more important that we save the arts and protect freedom of expression. Because if we lose that, we lose our humanity. And that would truly mean the end of the world. Drink?🍸

Such a pleasure to be invited back to @onefluidnight as Judge Judy and Executioner this year✨ So proud of what Lex and co have managed to achieve, transforming a bi-monthly one night event (at which @fantabulousfilm was fortunate enough to screen last year) into a fully-fledged weekend-long festival extravaganza, celebrating queer cinema from across the world. Congratulations to all the filmmakers, nominees and winners and thank you to the Queens and performers for serving such exquisite entertainment and joy💖 • 📸@ilaria.schaeren @rogeralarconphoto @daryam_london @senojayat

'An Unexpected Journey' - a film showcasing @jcdecastelbajac's takeover of @sketchlondon with his 'Home of the Braves' installation: A playful, optimistic visual manifesto heralding the Suffragettes' legacy. So grateful to @fitzbrien for trusting me as their first guest director for this, and ever thankful for the incredible crew who worked all through the night and into the morning in order to capture this whimsical wonderland x 🎈👁️🪽 Director: @emmanuel_li_ DOP: @michaelobriendoran Producer: @josephobd Editor: @hectorbell 1st AC: @mireiaalbinyana Gaffer: @ayush.singhhh Production Assistant/B-Cam: @michaelscanlonn BTS: @isaacliphotography Colourist: @emmanuel_li_ Artworks by: @jcdecastelbajac and with the participation of @idaimmendorff Part of @mayfairdesigndistrict and @l_d_f_official Co-curated and co-produced by: @alterprojects_ - A @fitzbrien Production •

Goodness me, I'm 23! • The past year has been one of equal parts tumult and reassurance, of uncertainty and discovery. So grateful to all the wonderful humans I got to share a chat, drink, dance, embrace or set with. Although we've yet to complete our festival run, I've decided to release the final cut of @fantabulousfilm online (link in bio✨), as my birthday gift to myself this year is getting to finally share the hard work of our Fantabulous Family with the world. I've already gushed in the wrap post about our magnificent cast and crew and the safe, inspiring space they created and upheld. Their magic enabled Fei to take flight to corners near and far (incidentally, "Fei" means fly in Chinese); Picking up an Audience Award from across the Atlantic, bringing home gold at the Magic Circle, qualifying for BAFTA consideration and invading stranger's smart TVs by ending up on Channel 4 for a whole year🎪 All this to say I'm endlessly proud and in awe of what we've managed to achieve with this film, deeply touched by the people with whom it's resonated, and oh so honoured that I got to tell such a personal story with the most talented team. Fear not, the Fantabulous journey is yet to be over! More screenings and festival announcements to come soon, plus posters & stickers for our Kickstarter backers (don't worry, we haven't forgotten you!) will be in the works imminently. But for now, and always... May fortune follow your every footstep🔮🐇🪄

3 years since we shot it and 5 years since Isabel and Violet first pedalled into my heart... SPOKES & ROBBERS is now finally FREE and out in the world🛞🍦 Linkin bio to watch▶️ This was a really special labour of love made with the OG @bigtentfilms crew back in 2021. A suburban western borne out of a desire to rage against the chaos of the world by finding one's own definition of freedom and seizing as much out of life as you can, before life could be stolen from you. It was also a little love letter to the gorgeous green spaces Waltham Forest has to offer💚 Much like Issy and Vi we battled rain, wind, mud (lots of mud), mating ducks and even a pop-up funfair to bring this coming of age tale to life, and we sincerely hope it sweeps you along on an exhilarating, cathartic and unforgettable ride🌊 Thank you to @freshinternationalfilmfestival for the funding, to @bfifilmacademy whose 'Best New Talent' prizes were instrumental in making this film a reality, and of course, to the small but mighty cast and crew - our own little found-family x • 🚲SPOKES & ROBBERS🚲 Starring @mollymac.exe as Isabel @the444archive as Violet and @sofshann as Ann Written, Directed, Shot & Edited by @emmanuel_li_ Produced by @emmanuel_li_ @ethanmross @alice_is_late_ @dix19113 Original Score by @fk.aaaaaaaaa 1st AD @alice_is_late_ Sound & Drone @mineypiney_yt a @bigtentfilms production with funding from @freshinternationalfilmfestival •

The Power Posse tearing up the dancefloor in their solos for @caleb_kunle's POWER music video (watch the full thing thru link in bio!)🪩 Shooting these was an absolute highlight of the day - the atmosphere in the room was electric. What joy it was to see our dancers each take centre stage to express their individuality and POWER💥 🎺CREDITS🎺 Director: @emmanuel_li_ Producer: @molly.farnham @enrmrgrs Production Company: @bigtentfilms 1st AD: @ciarankwalker DOP: @harrybasey 1st AC: @roisins_hard_drive Gaffer: @matthewedge_ Steadicam: @nicolas_di_matteo Spark: @scott_tolladay @gonlopess Camera Trainee: @aleck_gardner BTS: @ethanmross Kit: @greenkitlondon Choreographer: @kittypilgrimmorris Stylist: @olivia_snape @slackjack_styling_production Production Designer: @lydiaweston1 @ellamainard Art Assistant: @cuthulhuu @toby.farrant Make-up: @olivia.f.makeup Editor & Colourist: @emmanuel_li_ Label: @theworldtheworldthe.world Artist Manager: @benskerritt Location: @the_old_joinery @ark_creatingspaces Talent: @grandmasterdes, @charlottecaswell_dance, @erinmaytaylorr, @jeremiaholubunmiolusola_, @princejamesthe3rd, @ellen0liver, @meganbaderdance, @_sinnamonb, @_leroyboateng Special Thanks: @mireiaalbinyana @ivowinkley_ @emerson.hampshire A Big Tent Production • . . #musicvideo#freestyle#dance#cinematography#disco

@caleb_kunle - POWER [Music Video]📢💥 The power of the people really pulled through on this one. Everyone brought their a-game and overcame so many obstacles. Couldn't be more grateful and proud❤️‍🔥 LINK IN BIO🎺❗ ✊CREDITS✊ Director: @emmanuel_li_ Producer: @molly.farnham @enrmrgrs Production Company: @bigtentfilms 1st AD: @ciarankwalker DOP: @harrybasey 1st AC: @roisins_hard_drive Gaffer: @matthewedge_ Steadicam: @nicolas_di_matteo Spark: @scott_tolladay @gonlopess Camera Trainee: @aleck_gardner BTS: @ethanmross Kit: @greenkitlondon Choreographer: @kittypilgrimmorris Stylist: @olivia_snape @slackjack_styling_production Production Designer: @lydiaweston1 @ellamainard Art Assistant: @cuthulhuu @toby.farrant Make-up: @olivia.f.makeup Editor & Colourist: @emmanuel_li_ Label: @theworldtheworldthe.world Artist Manager: @benskerritt Location: @the_old_joinery @ark_creatingspaces Talent: @grandmasterdes, @charlottecaswell_dance, @erinmaytaylorr, @jeremiaholubunmiolusola_, @princejamesthe3rd, @ellen0liver, @meganbaderdance, @_sinnamonb, @_leroyboateng Special Thanks: @mireiaalbinyana @ivowinkley_ @emerson.hampshire A Big Tent Production • . . . #musicvideo#indiefilm#cinematography#canonc500mkii#filmmaking

POWER - @caleb_kunle Music Video OUT 24/05💥 • Director @emmanuel_li Producer - @molly.farnham, @enrmrgrs DOP - @harrybasey Gaffer- @matthewedge Spark- scott _tolladay, @gonlopess Steadicam - @nicolas_di_matteo Focus puller - @roisins_hard_drive 1AD - @ciarankwalker Choreographer - @kittypilgrimmorris Styled by @olivia_snape, @slackjack_styling_production Production designer @lydiaweston1, @ellamainard Make up - @olivia.f.makeup Art assistant - @cuthulhuu, @toby.farrant Camera trainee - @aleck_gardner Label - @theworldtheworldthe.world Talent - @grandmasterdes, @charlottecaswell _dance, @erinmaytaylorr, @jeremiaholubunmiolusola @princejamesthe3rd, @ellenOliver, @meganbaderdance, @sinnamonb, @_leroyboateng • #POWER#MusicVideo

Memories of NFFTY - a weekend of real magic✨🫶 • #FantabulousForever . . . . #FilmStartsHere#nffty#nffty2024#youthfilm#youthfilmmakers#youngfilmmakers#shortfilm#gradfilm#indiefilm#londonfilmaker#youngfilmakers#queerfilm#magic#lgbtq+

Herr Maphrodite at your service...• A wonderfully whimsical evening was had celebrating all things student film at @royaltelevisionsociety London Student Awards 🎩🪄 Sooo proud of Phoebe & David for getting their well-beyond-deserved flowers, taking home Best Production Design for @fantabulousfilm!!🎪💥 Held at the Magic Circle, this was an especially meaningful night as I used to train at the @youngmagiciansclub in those very historied halls almost a decade ago. Before realising magic was too sensible a profession and that it was somehow a better idea to pursue film instead... A proper full (magic) circle moment!🌀 So much love to my glam squad for making me feel so Fantabulous: Herr Maphrodite was styled by @the444archive and make-up by @olivia.f.makeup🃏💋 . . . 📷1-3,8 Credit: RTS London/John Stone