FILMMAKER BIOGRAPHY

KIRSTEN TAN is a New York-based Singaporean filmmaker. A cultural nomad, she has lived in Berlin, South Korea, and Thailand, and has now been based in New York City for over a decade. Repped by CAA, she's a Cannes Cinéfondation and Sundance Institute Fellow, earning her MFA at NYU Tisch’s Grad Film Program, granted by the Tisch Fellowship.

Her debut feature, POP AYE, was the opening film for the World Dramatic Competition at Sundance Film Festival 2017, where it won the Special Jury Prize for Screenwriting, the VPRO Big Screen Award at Rotterdam and Best International Film at Zurich. To date, POP AYE has screened at 50+ festivals and was distributed in 30+ territories worldwide, including a U.S. release by Kino Lorber. It was also Singapore’s official entry for the Oscars.

Kirsten is currently developing her second feature film, HIGHER, recipient of the Sundance Institute NHK Award. She has also been hired by FX as creator/executive producer of a TV adaptation of Ha Jin’s short story collection, A GOOD FALL. Her third feature, CROCODILE ROCK, has picked up a Gen Z Special Mention Award at Berlinale’s Co-Production Market and a VIPO Award at Busan’s Asian Film Market.

Beyond film, Kirsten has helmed branded campaigns for luxury fashion houses and iconic cultural institutions. From Giorgio Armani, Tiffany & Co, Raffles Hotel, and Marina Bay Sands to national ad campaigns in Singapore, her branded work has reached over 4 million views worldwide. ELLA, her fashion film for Giorgio Armani, is housed in the permanent film collection at MoMA, NYC.

Kirsten has been honored with Singapore’s National Arts Council Young Artist Award, Her World's Young Woman Achiever of the Year Award and was nominated for The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year. She was also featured on CNN International’s flagship program Ones to Watch. Her work has been featured across major publications such as The New York Times, LA Times, Variety and The Guardian.