Yen Tan

Yen Tan
Yen Tan in 2013
Born	(1975-03-12) March 12, 1975 (age 49) Malaysia
Occupation(s)	Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years active	2002–present

Yen Tan (born March 12, 1975) is a Malaysian-born American[1] independent film producer and director.

Early life

Tan emigrated from Malaysia at the age of 19 and is based in Dallas, Texas.[2]

Career

He is known for award-winning films Happy Birthday (2002) and Deadroom (2005). He also directed the gay-themed Ciao (2008) that he had co-written with the film's lead actor Alessandro Calza.

His screenwriting lab semi-finalist screenplay Pit Stop was selected by the Outfest Screenwriting Lab. The film also screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He was also a finalist for the prestigious Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise.

Personal life

Tan is openly gay.[3][4]

Filmography

Director

Feature films

• 2002: Happy Birthday
• 2005: Deadroom (Co-directed with James M. Johnston, David Lowery and Nick Prendergast)
• 2008: Ciao
• 2013: Pit Stop
• 2018: 1985

Shorts

• 2001: Love Stories
• 2008: Coda
• 2011: Wanted
• 2016: 1985

Producer

• 2005: Deadroom
• 2008: Coda (short)
• 2008: My Mom Smokes Weed (short)

Actor

• 2011: 3 Thumbs Up as himself (documentary)

Awards

For Happy Birthday

• 2002: Won the Jury Prize for "Best Feature - Gay Male" at the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
• 2002: Won New Directors Showcase - Bets Feature award at the Portland LGBT Film Festival
• Also earned an honorable mention at Image+Nation in Montreal

For Deadroom

• 2005: Won Director's Award at the Texas Film Festival (sharing with James M. Johnston, David Lowery and Nick Prendergast)

References

1. Kohn, Eric (October 25, 2018). "Yen Tan Has Been Making Movies For Over 15 Years, But Says 'Being a Queer Asian' Has Hurt His Career". IndieWire.
2. Buchanan, Kyle (December 10, 2008). "So Long, Farewell". The Advocate.
3. Dallas Voice: 'Ciao' now available on DVD
4. Queerious: Yen Tan's Pit Stop

External links

• Yen Tan at IMDb