DAYYAN ENG

DAYYAN ENG (known as Wu Shixian in Asia) is a director, writer, and producer who made history as the first American to direct a Chinese feature film, and the first and only foreign director nominated for Best Picture at the Chinese academy awards. Known for character-driven storytelling and a commercially savvy directorial voice, Eng has worked with major stars in both Asia and Hollywood—many of whom received recognition for their performances in his films.

Of Chinese, English, and Persian heritage, and raised across three continents, Eng studied film at the University of Washington and later graduated in directing from the Beijing Film Academy. He began his career directing TV commercials across Asia and international markets, developing a strong visual style before transitioning into narrative filmmaking.

Eng gained early international acclaim with his breakout film Bus 44, which won awards at Venice and Sundance and was invited to Cannes. The film continues to find new audiences online, drawing millions of views across social platforms, underscoring the lasting power of its story and social impact. His debut feature Waiting Alone—starring some of China’s leading young talents and featuring a cameo by the legendary Chow Yun-Fat—earned three Chinese academy award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress. The film became a cultural touchstone for a generation of audiences, and remains the highest-rated romantic comedy in China to date on major audience and critic platforms.

He followed with the genre-bending psychological drama Inseparable, starring Hong Kong superstar Daniel Wu and Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey—then one of Hollywood’s most prominent actors. The film was the first fully Chinese-financed feature to star a major American lead. It premiered at Busan and was named one of The Wall Street Journal’s “Top 10 Most Notable Asian Films of the Year.”

In 2017, Eng directed and produced the fantasy comedy Wished, co-written with Justin Malen (Yes Day). The film exceeded box office expectations for an indie and topped China’s streaming charts after reaching over 100 million paid views in just two weeks. It was optioned for a Hollywood remake following its festival run.

Since then, Eng has focused on building a slate of English-language projects designed with global appeal. Now based in Los Angeles, Eng stands out as one of the only filmmakers with a cross-cultural perspective shaped by experience in both the U.S. and the world’s second-largest film market. He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Farsi.