Shiilā Seok Wun Au Yong is a multifaceted individual, excelling as a filmmaker, educator, and underwater cinematographer. Currently, they are pursuing a Ph.D. fellowship in Cultural Foundations of Education at Syracuse University, bringing a distinctive perspective to their research.
With a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Syracuse University, Shiilā's expertise is further augmented by their experience as a Fulbright grantee. Their areas of interest encompass a wide range of disciplines, including disability studies, dialogic pedagogy, autobiography, narrative, transnational feminism, and postcolonial studies.
Born in Malaysia as a third-generation Chinese descendant, Shiilā's passion for filmmaking stems from their ability to seamlessly integrate fiction and non-fiction elements to tell captivating human stories. Their films explore themes of identity, LGBTQ issues, family dynamics, and a sense of belonging, earning recognition at film festivals across Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Canada, and the United States.
In addition to their filmmaking achievements, Shiilā has also conducted community workshops and taught acting and filmmaking to underprivileged children in Malaysia. Currently, their focus is on their scholarship, utilizing personal narrative and reflexivity as powerful tools for healing and promoting positive change.
When not immersed in their work, Shiilā enjoys cycling and capturing the beauty of sunsets with her camera phone.
