About
William Duan (he/they) is an award-winning filmmaker based in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia. As a queer Chinese-Australian, they are inspired by stories heralding from other queer and cultural diasporas - particularly those from Asian voices.
They are ADG & AWG Award nominated, selected as one of SPA's Ones To Watch and an alumni of MIFF's prestigious Accelerator Lab and SFF's Platform Lab.
—
I live and work on the stolen country of the Wurundjeri & Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. I acknowledge and sit in awe of the vast history of storytelling that came before me, and pay my respects to Elders past & present.
Sovereignty was never ceded.
Projects
short film / writer-director & producer
Supported by the Creative Victoria
art film / producer
Artist: Rainbow Chan
short film / producer
Made with the support of the City of Yarra
World premiere at the 73rd Melbourne International Film Festival
Winner of Best Short Drama at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
short film / writer-director
Made with the support of Queer Screen, the City of Melbourne & the Australian Cultural Fund
World premiere at the 70th Melbourne International Film Festival
Winner of Best Film at the 30th Mardi Gras Film Festival
Nominated for Best Direction in a Short Film by the Australian Directors Guild
Nominated for Best Screenplay in a Short Film by the Australian Writers Guild
Nominated for the Iris Prize
Winner of Queer Screen's Pitch Off
short film / producer
Commissioned by the ABC with support from Screen Australia
Available nationwide on ABC ME & iView
Official Selection of the 40th Chicago International Children's Film Festival
tvc / producer
producer
For Campari in collaboration with Melbourne International Film Festival
music video / 1st ad
Artist: Troye Sivan
music video / producer
Artist: Jennifer Loveless
tvc / producer
fashion film / producer
Finalist at Melbourne Fashion Festival Fashion Film Award
Made for Multicultural Museums Victoria with the support of Creative Victoria
web-series / costume designer
Funded by Screen Australia x Google YouTube
short film / producer
web-series / costume designer
Funded by Screen Australia, Film Victoria and AFTRS Talent Camp
feature film / producer
music video / director
Artist: Willing
music video / producer
Artist: Gabriel LCR
music video / producer
Artist: May Lyn
As seen on ABC Rage
web-series / showrunner
As seen in i-D VICE & NOWNESS
short film / costume designer
WINNER of Best Film & Best Genre Film at Deakin University
short film / producer
Official Selection at the 67th Melbourne International Film Festival
Official Selection at ReelGood Film Festival 2019
fashion film / producer
As seen in Vogue Australia & i-D VICE
fashion film / director, cinematographer, editor
Official RMIT University runway film
art film / cinematographer
Commissioned by Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
short film / producer
art film / director, cinematographer, editor
Shown at Alliance Francaise Melbourne
fashion film / director, cinematographer, editor
Official RMIT University runway film
independent arts festival / director, producer, curator
Presented at the Athenaeum Theatre, Collins St VIC 3000
art film / writer-director, producer, cinematographer
Premiered at the Centre Pompidou in Paris as a part of ASVOF International Film Festival
Awards
NOMINEE
《推拿》Tuī Ná was nominated for Best Screenplay in a Short Film at the 56th Annual AWGIE Awards by the Australian Writers Guild.
NOMINEE
《推拿》Tuī Ná was shortlisted for the prestigous Iris Prize, the world's largest short film prize.
FINALIST for the Iris Prize Audience Award
Selected as 1 of 14 filmmakers nationwide to participate in Sydney Film Festival's pioneer incubator lab program. Facilitated by For Film's Sake.
《推拿》Tuī Ná was awarded Best Film at Queer Screen's 30th Mardi Gras Film Festival as a part of Sydney WorldPride 2023.
NOMINEE
《推拿》Tuī Ná was nominated for Best Direction in a Short Film by the ADG Awards.
Selected to participate in the Southern hemisphere's most prestigious filmmaking lab in order to develop the Tuī Ná feature
Selected as one of Screen Producer Australia’s Ones To Watch, highlighting the most exciting upcoming producing talent in the industry
WINNER of the Queer Screen narrative film pitching competition for Tuī Ná
Selected as one of the Victorian Talent Campers as a part of the AFTRS Talent Camp program
Speaking
Speaking alongside Lara Köse, Cindy Clarkson & Dani Raulli. Moderated by Mark Poole.
Speaking alongside Meg Duncan, Jim Muntisov, Tali Polichtuk & Alex Cardy. Moderated by Tanisha Hewa.
Guest Speaker at Top Screen Premiere event at ACMI.
Speaking alongside Hannah Ngo, Ruby Schmidt & Stephanie Dower. Moderated by Hayley Adams.
Features
Interviewed regarding the making of Yaz Queens
Profiled in an article called “Meet the Asian-Australian Filmmakers Here to Change the Narrative” for international publication i-D Magazine, alongside industry peers such as Jill Nguyen & Fiona Choi
Work Experience
Lecturer and Course Co-ordinator
Visual Communication & Presentation
BACHELOR OF DESIGN (FASHION)
RMIT SCHOOL OF FASHION & TEXTILES
COLLEGE OF DESIGN AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
RMIT UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA