Work — Emily Qiu

Emily Qiu

Eternal Mother
Just The Two of Us
M.E.L
Paper Hawk
Ashes to Ashes
Damon Sawyer, Demon Lawyer
While Waiting

Back! The Evil-minded Shrink
(coming soon)
The Best Man Is My Billionaire Ex
(coming soon)
A Hollywood Match
Secretly Married to My Billionaire Boss
Guber!
Beneath the Deep Water

About

Eternal Mother (2025)

Genere: Sci-fi, Drama
Role: Writer & Director
Status: Post-Production

The story follows the journey of Louise, a terminally ill mother, who chooses to enter a cryo chamber in an attempt to stay in her daughter Kathy’s life. Every few years, Louise awakens from cryogenic sleep, but the timing is unpredictable, cauwsing her to step back into Kathy's life at different and often challenging stages of her daughter's development.

As Louise reunites with Kathy at critical moments—Kathy's childhood, teenage years, young adulthood, and beyond—their relationship evolves each time, marked by the conflicts, sacrifice and love. Each unpredictable reunion presents Louise with the challenge of reconnecting with a daughter who has grown in her absence while confronting her own identity shift.

This unique journey delves into the complexities of the mother-daughter bond, exploring the inner workings of what it means to be, or strive to be, a mother.

Just the two of us (2024)

Genere: Sci-fi, Drama
Role: Writer & Director
Status: Completed. Festival Submission in Progress.

The story carries the theme of human’s eternal longing for love regardless of time and space.

On the eve of an impending asteroid impact, Kiko, a young girl, is on a desperate quest to find her grandmother who disappeared mysteriously. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Joe, a kind-hearted cab driver with a solitary past.

As the final hours tick down, this unlikely duo embarks on a heartfelt journey. Together, they forge a bond of friendship and understanding through the roadtrip while uncovering the profound meanings of home, belonging, and the significance of cherishing the fleeting moments of life.

M.E.L (2023)

Genere: Sci-fi, Rom-Com
Role: Director
Awards: Official Selection at LA Shorts, Semi-Finalist at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

A sci-fi rom-con short film, directed by me in 2023, explores the intersection of love and logic in modern relationships.

MEL (Machine Engineered Love) is a company that tests compatibility for potential couples and aims to find the perfect match for you without wasting time on the wrong ones. Arthur is a loyal client of MEL as he shares MEL's philosophy - rational and logical. There are usually no surprises in his life, except for one day, he meets Stephanie, a lovely waitress, and falls in love with her at first sight.

They meet at MEL for their compatibility test. During a series of intercuts between them in separate test rooms, we see a glimpse of Stephanie and Arthur's personalities and values. The result makes not only them but also us, the audience, start to reflect on the nature of relationships. What matters the most, love or compatibility? And when these two factors conflict, are you still willing to start this journey?

Paper Hawk (2022)

Genere: Sci-fi, Psychological
Role: Writer & Director
Awards: Semi-Finalist at Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival

A sci-fi psychological short film, written and directed by me in 2022, exploring the struggles of a writer and the existential traps of artistic creation.

Devin, a struggling novelist, is confronted by Eric Huxley, the charismatic protagonist of his unfinished manuscript, who mysteriously comes to life. As Eric challenges his creator’s authority, Devin is forced to question his own agency, creative control, and the blurred line between fiction and reality.

Through a tense battle of wits, the film delves into the torment of artistic obsession, the fear of losing control over one’s work, and the haunting question—does an artist shape their creation, or does the creation ultimately shape them?

Ashes to Ashes (2024)

Genere: Drama, Family, Comedy
Role: Director
Awards: Official Selection at Wheaton Film Festival.

A dramedy TV pilot, directed by me in 2024, exploring the messy, complicated bonds of family, grief, and identity.

After the death of their mother, three estranged sisters—Jane, Sarah, and Frances—reunite to fulfill her unconventional final wish: to scatter her Catholic ashes over their Jewish father’s grave. What starts as a simple act of closure spirals into chaos, buried resentments, and unexpected revelations as they navigate their family’s religious tensions, personal struggles, and the absurdity of grief.

Balancing dark humor and raw emotion, Ashes to Ashes delves into family dynamics, loss, and the inevitability of confronting our past—whether we’re ready or not.

Damon Sawyer, Demon Lawyer (2023)

Genere: Drama, Comedy
Role: Director
Status: Completed. Festival Submission in Progress

Daemon Sawyer, a washed-up lawyer turned demon, now defends doomed souls in Hell’s court system—despite never having won a single case. When a naive young man sells his soul for rent money, Daemon takes on his defense, only to uncover corruption, rigged trials, and a sinister conspiracy within Hell’s legal system.

Mixing absurd humor with existential stakes, Daemon Sawyer: Demon Lawyer explores redemption, second chances, and the ultimate question—can a damned soul ever find its way back?

While Waiting (2024)

Role: Director (Official Trailer)
Developer: Optillusion

A comedic puzzle adventure game where the only way to win is by doing nothing.

From birth to death, players encounter absurd and thought-provoking scenarios, discovering the hidden power of acceptance, patience, and embracing the moment.

The game received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam and was praised by gaming media as a "brilliantly absurd puzzle game." Its unique concept and humor have resonated with indie game fans, making it a standout title in the genre.

TV Mini Series

Platform: Short Max
Role: Casting Director
Story: To pay her mother's medicine bills, Leila Noriss sells her marriage to a stranger. Unexpectedly, she doesn't know she secretly married her billionaire boss.

Platform: Short Max
Role: Casting Director
Story: Brooke is an A-list publicist, and Ethan has always been there as a friend. She doesn't know that he has secretly loved her for ten years. After a kidnapping, she finally recognizes her feelings.

Films

Guber! (2024)
Genre: Comedy
Role: Casting Director
Story: After getting dumped, a nerdy young man tries a new ride-share dating service—only to be caught in a series of absurd misadventures.
Awards: Official selection at Oscar-qualifying festivals - Cinequest Film Festival

Beneath the Deep Water (2024)
Genre: Drama, Coming of Age
Role: Casting Consultant
Story: A high school girl, struggling with uncertainty about the future, finds solace in an abandoned building. One night, she lets go of a fish tank in a pool and impulsively jumps in, only to be pulled back to the surface by her friend—a quiet moment of rescue, reflection, and acceptance.