We were lucky to catch up with Kathleena Lin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kathleena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Purely by coincidence, I got into the liberal arts studies in NYU Florence and had a wonderful creative writing professor, Elisa Biagini, a Florentine poet. She inspired me into writing fiction and poetry. It all started with people watching, then gradually turned into spending nights at the Arno with a fountain pen, a journal, the purple sunset and a bottle of Chianti.
Eventually, I fell in love with rivers and always traveling alone to see them. The Danube, the Isar, the Amstel, the Bosporus… Their waves flicker silently, and whisk me into a white space which houses thousands of untold stories. I become a chronicler and a storyteller, being forever intimate with this realm of familiar strangeness.
Early spring. The Danube. Brisk wind, light rain. I was sitting at the bank and it cried out to me. Suddenly, I had an urge to embrace it. I jumped into the river and made love with it. At that moment, I felt being coalesced into it, into the water, the air, the soil. All I saw was the Danube’s grayish blue. I believe this experience is the earliest awakening that the centre of the world is not love or myself, but moods which paint the surrounding world in imperceptible yet impassioned colors.

I want to capture these colorful moods and moments and I believe film is the most sensorially informative art form and medium for this purpose. I would like to show beautiful moments to the world through magical stories.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m an independent Chinese Canadian narrative director and producer with a deep focus on the fantasy and horror genres. My work is driven by a passion for blending the theatrical with the cinematic, creating narratives that seamlessly blend realism with the fantastical. I’m fascinated by the magic hidden within the ordinary, and I strive to bring that enchantment to life by intertwining the worlds of theater and film.

My short film The Tale of a Cavity, which I wrote and directed, has garnered multiple awards and nominations, including recognition from the Panorama International Indie Film Festival, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, Madrid Film Awards, and Vienna International Film Awards.

Beyond film, I love exploring storytelling in other mediums as well. Currently, I’m working on a children’s book about a young girl and a garbage lady, as well as a glass sculpture project that allows me to experiment with narrative in new and creative ways.

I believe in the power of stories to transform and transport, and I’m constantly seeking new ways to spark imagination and bring a touch of magic to the everyday.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to influence and inspire others—the chance to share ideas that can ignite a spark in someone’s mind. In a world where many of us spend our days working from 9 to 6 in tall, glassy buildings, shuttling up and down in metal boxes, our identities reduced to just a name on a business card, a small, silent figure at the end of a long row of desks.
But I believe that even in the midst of wars, economic challenges, and the aftershocks of a global pandemic, there is still so much light to be found. As a storyteller and writer, I see it as my duty to bring that light to others—to create moments that remind people of the beauty, tiny miracles, and magic that still exist in the world. I believe in a better world, and through my stories, I hope to inspire others to believe in it too.
I don’t feel the need to change laws or address equality directly through my work. I simply want to light up someone’s face or give them a moment of peace and inspiration, knowing that even small sparks can contribute to a brighter world.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to create strange, unforgettable stories that bring the impossible to life, crafting alternate realities for others to explore.
Just as learning a new language can shift your way of thinking and reshape your logic, I would like to offer my audiences a similar transformative experience through my stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vimeo.com/kathleenalin/reel
• Instagram: kathleenav3