From South Sudan to Lebanon and beyond, Shanshan Chen has a flair for gaining access to original stories and engaging characters, directing documentaries about complex and sensitive issues in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S.
With over 13 years of experience covering under-reported global stories, Shanshan explores diverse narratives with a keen focus on social issues, dedicating herself to in-depth storytelling that sparks conversations and drives change. Having spent over a decade making humanitarian documentaries for Reuters, she brings incredible journalistic skills to her work.
As a self-shooter and editor, Shanshan is well renowned for her visually-led storytelling and understanding of sound. Her films have appeared on platforms including the BBC, PBS, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and TIME, and have garnered international accolades.
Shanshan is a member of the 2024 Breakthrough Leaders cohort with BBC, Fremantle, ITV, Prime Video, Sky and TV Collective in the UK. She was a 2018 International Women’s Media Foundation Fellow covering conflict and migration in South Sudan and Uganda, and a 2017 One World Media Fellow.
Main areas of work: Documentaries, Unscripted, Development, Directing, Producing, Self-shooting, Under-reported global stories, TV, Digital, Long-form, Original series and films
Languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin)
