Biography
Born and raised in Taiwan, Wenhwa Tsao is a prolific and award-winning filmmaker. Her films have received funding from numerous prestigious granting organizations, including the Kodak Faculty Scholar Award, the Individual Artist Support Initiative Artists Fellowship, the Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Media Artist Fellowship, and the Appalshop Southeast Media Program Fellowship.
She has also received project grants from the City of Chicago Community Arts Program, the Columbia College Faculty Development Grant, and Ilford Imaging Inc. In 2011, the American Film Institute recognized her achievements and selected Wenhwa for the prestigious American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women.
Since the mid-90s, Wenhwa's films have been showcased at numerous prestigious film festivals worldwide, including the Palm Springs International ShortFest, Montreal World Film Festival, San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, Creteil Festival International de Films de Femmes, Vancouver International Film Festival, MadCat Women's International Film Festival, Mill Valley International Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Victoria Independent Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival. Her work has also been featured in festivals and showcases in China, Romania, Mexico, Ecuador, Korea, Iran, Italy, Africa, Australia, Bermuda, and the Netherlands.
Wenhwa's work focuses on themes related to the Chinese American experience, particularly the experiences of immigrants. She creates stories that are personal and meaningful to her. An energetic and passionate storyteller using film as her medium of choice, Wenhwa is driven to tell stories of ordinary people living extraordinary lives. She is dedicated to tackling important social issues through her film projects, with her latest works focusing on the experiences of the Asian community, including the impact of racism and the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants.
In addition to her filmmaking accomplishments, Wenhwa is certified as an Intimacy Coordinator by the Intimacy Professionals Association, adding another layer of expertise to her extensive career in the film industry.
Tsao is widely recognized for her achievements in both film and education. She has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Tainan University of Technology and the Excellence in Teaching Award from Columbia College Chicago and the University Film & Video Association. As a tenured professor at Columbia College Chicago, she has held key leadership roles, including Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies. Additionally, she has served as Conference Vice President and President of the University Film & Video Association, which supports media professionals and educators. Currently, she is the Interim Co-Director for the School of Film and Television.For more information about her work, you can visit her websites at:https://www.novastudio.org/https://www.intimacycoordinatorforscreens.com/
Instructional Areas
Cinema and Television Arts - Cinema Directing, Moving Image Production, Producing, Image Design, Ideation and Theme, Script Analysis, Intimacy Coordination
Creative Practice and Research Interests
Tsao’s work focuses on issues related to the Chinese American experience, especially the immigrant experience.
Degrees
A.A., Tainan University of Technology 1984
B.A., Fine and Applied Arts University of Oregon 1987
M.F.A., Photography & Film Virginia Commonwealth University 1990