Zhang Xiaoan is a writer and director born in Xinjiang, China, and is currently based in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Master’s Degree in Film and Media Study at the State University of New York at Buffalo in the USA and further studied in the School of Film and TV at The University of Melbourne.

Zhang was inspired by Chinese urban legends to create the short horror “When the Eyes Are Closed”, which won the “Best Writer” in the Alternative Film Festival and was officially selected by several international film festivals. His short thriller “Overload” and short film “Woken” focus on current social issues about the safety of oversea students, immigrates, racism, and sexism, which have been screened worldwide. He also collaborated with artist Su Yang on her feminist videos and co-directed the short experimental film “Beauty” that was the winner of the Melbourne International Film Festival's Powershorts Film Competition in 2017.