Jinyoung Lee
Directing
Biography
Jinyoung Lee, an award-winning journalist-turned-filmmaker with a degree in Journalism and Multimedia from Ewha Womans University, founded the nonprofit film studio Now Production Films in 2012 with the mission of honoring her heritage and sharing untold Korean American stories. Her debut film, The Words of Wisdom from the Rainbow State(2021), garnered international acclaim and is now preserved in South Korea's National Archives. In her latest project, Songs of Love from Hawai‘i (2024), Jinyoung masterfully bridges cultures through the universal language of music. She continues to create impactful work that connects the past with the present, while also serving on the board of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.
Known For
Told in three unique stories, Songs of Love from Hawaii is a hybrid historical drama that uncovers the journeys of Hawaii's first Korean immigrants. From picture bride Lim Ok Soon to those isolated in Kalaupapa, their tales of love, sacrifice, and resilience come alive through stunning performances by world-class musicians and rare archival images against Hawaii's breathtaking landscapes.
Songs of Love from Hawaii
The film aims to touch upon not only the general history of Korean immigration, which is full of twists and turns, but also the underexplored history of the national liberation movement carried out by Korean women in Hawaii.