About

Hoping to build a better world through the art of film and television.

Telling stories together with joy.

Once complimented that her works are like gelato, Soorim Lee is a film & television writer/director and photographer based in NYC and LA. Focused in producing, writing, and directing, her works have been recognized or awarded by major festivals including the Austin Film Festival, IMDB Independent Shorts, and the College Television Academy Awards. Lover of collaboration and storytelling, she has created narrative shorts and documentaries as well as live television shows and music videos. Although she explores various genres, her most recent works have focused on telling heartfelt coming-of-age stories, gently mixing the balance of comedy and drama, of comfort meeting adventures.

Her film and media studies professors at Columbia University may know her better for her papers with creative titles and one too many em dashes, her sociology professors probably know her for always incorporating the arts into discussions, her former bosses hopefully remember her for saying random comments that made them laugh, and her friends were puzzled when she teared up watching the “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2” docuseries. It’s all a part of the creative process—yes, including trying to hide tears during movies—and she looks forward to what is ahead while cherishing the now.

Select Awards &
Recognitions:

The Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts,
for full length screenplay, “Sewol Is” (2021)
[Columbia University] Leadership & Excellence Awards: Community Building, (2021)
[Columbia University] Phi Beta Kappa, top 10% of graduating class based on academic performance and faculty recommendations (2021)
[IMDB’s Independent Shorts Awards] BRONZE AWARD for Best Music Video, “Move On” (October 2018)
[Los Angeles CineFest] SEMI-FINALIST, “Finding Valdez” (2018)
[Columbia Undergraduate Film Festival] 3RD PLACE, “Finding Valdez” (2018)
[OC Register: Artist of the Year] HONORABLE MENTION, top 3 (2017)
[OC Register] Artist of the Week (December 2016)
[Seoul International Youth Film Festival] 1ST PLACE, “Axiom” (2016)
[Austin Film Festival] TOP 12, Official Selection in Youth Division (2016)
[Los Angeles Film Festival] “Future Filmmaker” Official Selection (2016)
[Newport Beach Film Festival] Official Selection for OCSA FTV feature (2014-2017)

OCSA Film & Television (2014-2017)

Director’s Award (Top award for OCSA Film & TV)
Iron Filmmaker MVP Award (2015, 2016)
Vision Award (2017)
Best Student in: 3rd Year, 2nd Year, 1st Year, Industrial Video, Film History, TV
Production I, Production I
Best Director, nominee (2016)
Best Picture, nominee (2017)