Head of the Class

By Alex Kabat '24, July 13, 2022

Alum takes home Directors Guild of America award.

Justin Li ’21 won the Directors Guild of America’s (DGA) 2021 East Region Jury Award for his film, “Moments Fleeting.”

(Photos submitted)

This past spring, Justin Li ’21 won the Directors Guild of America’s (DGA) 2021 East Region Jury Award as the Best Asian American Student Filmmaker.

Li won the award for his film, “Moments Fleeting,” and received a prize of $1,000 — although it took a while to find out.

“I was actually Facetiming with my roommate when DGA tried to call me a few times,” Li chuckled. “I eventually called them back, and when they told me I had won, it felt amazing.”

In “Moments Fleeting,” two strangers cultivate a complex relationship throughout a night spent walking the streets of Hong Kong. Li shot it during a gap semester that he spent in Hong Kong, living with his grandmother. His love for the city drove him to incorporate significant cultural aspects into the film.

The film tells the story of two individuals who develop a relationship over one night.

He also had to adapt the film to the realities of the coronavirus pandemic. Rather than doing traditional casting calls, Li utilized social media to find his cast and crew.

Even the film’s tones reflect the times. Li wanted to emphasize themes of chance and luck in relationships and highlight the isolation the pandemic brought to countless people. The characters wear masks throughout most of the film, but as they get to know each other better, they remove their face coverings.

“It was almost like the movie was telling me what it wanted to be.”

Justin Li ’21

“It was almost like the movie was telling me what it wanted to be,” Li said.

The film also served as Li’s senior thesis, and he expressed gratitude to his advisor, Cathy Crane, professor of media arts, sciences, and studies, for her support.

“She was always available, even though classes were on Zoom at the time,” he said, speaking of the resilience of their relationship even through the COVID pandemic.

Since winning the award, Li has been asked to attend premiers and received additional opportunities, and he’s excited for what might be coming next.

“Keep an eye out for my name,” he said, “There might be another movie coming out in the next year.”