A Berkeley-born daughter of Chinese-Malaysian and Vietnamese heritage, Jennifer is a graduate of the M.F.A. Directing program at the American Film Institute. Jennifer received AFI’s Holleigh Bernson Memorial Award and the Dreamworks World Studio Foundation Scholarship.
Jennifer’s thesis film "Love Ltd.," a suburban dramedy, was screened at over thirty international film festivals and is co-distributed by Hypnotic, NAATA, and Frameline.
As an Honoree for Film Independent’s "Project: Involve," Jennifer worked under the mentorship of acclaimed director Tony Bui ("Three Seasons"). She was awarded the Talent Scout Writing Contest’s First Prize for co-writing the original one-hour pilot "Simi Valley."
"Half-Life" (2008) was developed at the Film Independent Directors' Lab under Rodrigo Garcia, and is Jennifer’s first feature film. "Half-Life" made its world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and was an official selection of the 2008 South By Southwest, Gen Art, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Outfest Film Festivals. "Half-Life" won the Grand Jury Award at the 2008 Gen Art Film Festival.
Television
Heroes
"Half-Life" at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival
Cast and Director with Project: Involve's Francisco Velasquez (2nd from left) at LAFF
Writer-Director Jennifer Phang and star Sanoe Lake at the 2008 LAFF
Written and Directed by Jennifer Phang
Produced by Reuben Lim, Alan T. Chan, and Robert Zimmer Jr.
Executive Producers: Dylan Shields, Mark E. Lee
Fade to Blue Prods. in association with Mark E. Lee Prods. and Lane Street Pictures
A precocious boy and his jaded sister use their imaginative powers to escape a confining home-life, save their self-destructive mother from her charmingly manipulative boyfriend, and finally reinvent their world in a mind bending conclusion.
"An imaginative and deeply affecting effort...'Half-Life' marks the debut of a promising, truly independent film artist."
"It's films like this that remind us why Sundance was launched and why it continues to have value."
"Phang has scored a triumph."
"Bottom Line: This specialty item has all the makings of a cult favorite." -Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter
"An "Asian-American Beauty" set against a backdrop of global decay and illuminated by splashes of "Waking Life" -style animation...evinces the sort of imagination that is necessary for human survival in the world as we know it." - Variety
"...refreshingly entertaining and original...beautifully audacious, taking hold of all its risks and letting them run free to flourishing ends." - Indiewire
"'Half-Life' exists on a whole other, higher level of cinematic ambition than any other film at Sundance this year...It is inventive, deeply personal and emotionally compelling." - Mike Ryan, Hammertonail.com
Hey, has this film been released yet? Looked it up on Netflix, but don't see it there yet, even to just "Save" to my queue until it's released. I really would like to see it sometime! :D
Im so glad u guys came 2 Austin this was one of my top fave movies I wish you the very best with it It was creative,unique, and very wery entertaining loved it:):):)
Hi, how are you? Thanks for the friend request, it's always great to meet fellow filmmakers! Your film sounds very interesting, I hope I will be able to see it sometime! :)
