anna lei
Director of Events
Photograph taken by Andrew Castro @acastrophoto
Anna Lei studied Creative Producing in Film and Television program at Loyola Marymount University, earning her Masters degree in filmmaking. She also graduated from Arizona State University. Her passion for filmmaking was sparked by her dynamic background in dance. Growing up, she was deeply involved in dance, which developed a love for expressing herself. Filmmaking became a natural extension of this passion, allowing her to combine visual artistry with narrative expression to tell her stories in a powerful way.
Her unique blend of bilingual and bicultural experiences sets her apart. She was raised in the East, influenced by lots of of Asian artistry, and later studied filmmaking within the Hollywood system. This fusion of cultural perspectives enables her to approach storytelling with a diverse and innovative lens, offering fresh and unique ideas to the creative landscape. Her mantra is: “The only way to achieve the impossible is to believe that it is possible.” Anna goes above and beyond on every project she works on, no matter the scale.
Anna had the opportunity to work on lots of great projects, each with its own unique qualities. One memorable project was a thesis film shot in Chongqing, China—a completely new environment for her team. Despite the challenges, including assembling a local crew and securing locations, the project was a rewarding experience that taught her the value of adaptability and resourcefulness in filmmaking. She has produced numerous short films that have been shown at VC Media fest, LA shorts fest, and the Tribeca film festival.
One of her greatest influences is Hayao Miyazaki. His films, filled with magic and love, beautifully merge imagination with nature. Miyazaki’s ability to create worlds that inspire and unite resonates deeply with her. Anna aspires to create stories that evoke similar feelings and foster a sense of connection among audiences like Hayao Miyazaki. His films include Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service and more. His recent film, The Boy and the Heron was nominated and won the best animated feature award at the 2024 Academy Awards (Oscars).
She is enthusiastic about contributing to this magazine because it gives her a fantastic opportunity to support the LMU film community. We have a diverse faculty, amazing professors, and talented students, and she’s eager to help showcase these collective talents within the industry. She looks forward to being part of a project that shares the community’s achievements overall.
When she was younger, she dreamed of becoming a flight attendant, translator, and journalist. These aspirations reflected her early love for travel, communication, and media. After growing up a little more, she discovered filmmaking as a visual art that many people can collaborate on. Today, working as a producer, she finds that these childhood dreams still align with her current career goals—traveling to different locations, engaging in meaningful communication, and telling compelling stories through media.