Born in Beijing, she grew up fascinated by Western pop culture and storytelling. She moved to the UK for high school and later to the US, studying political science at Mount Holyoke College and film production at NYU. Her directorial debut, "Songs My Brothers Taught Me," premiered at Sundance. Gaining critical acclaim with "The Rider," she won the Academy Award for Best Director for "Nomadland," becoming the second woman and first Asian woman to achieve this honor. Known for her naturalistic style and focus on marginalized communities.