SHÉ (SNAKE)

SHÉ (SNAKE)

Directed by Renee Zhan
UK | 15 minutes | 2023 | English, Mandarin Chinese

Fei, a 16 year old British-Chinese girl, is the top violinist in an elite London youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place in the orchestra, Fei’s anxieties and internalized racism grow to take monstrous physical form. They whisper to her, urging her to be the best, no matter the cost.

Director/Writer: Renee Zhan 
Producer: Jesse Romain 
Cinematographer: Adam Singodia
Editor: Armiliah Aripin
Composer: Harry Brokensha
Sound Designer: Ed Rousseau

Cast: Xiaonan Wang, Alina Lew and Simon Paisley Day.

  • Renee Zhan
    Renee Zhan

Festival & Awards:

Premiere – 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (Short Cuts) – Share Her Journey Award

2024 Sundance Film Festival (Midnight Shorts)

2024 London Short Film Festival (Gothic Shorts)

2024 SXSW (Narrative Shorts) 

2024 Go Short Festival

2024 Florida Film Festival 

press quotes

soon

3. Fei and Mei in rehearsal jpg
5. Dinner with Fei's family and guest jpg
1. Fei with violin
6. Fei watches on as Mei rehearses jpg
4. A creature jpg
2. Fei examines neck jpg
Renee Zhan

Renee Zhan is a Chinese-American director and animator from Houston, Texas. Renee graduated with an
BA from Harvard University and an MA in Directing Animation from the National Film and Television School.
In her films Renee is primarily interested in exploring topics of female identity, nature, and sexuality – all
things beautiful, ugly, and squishy. She is an alumnus of the Sarabande Foundation, BAFTA crew x BFI
Network and Berlinale Talents and her short films have screened and won awards at festivals internationally
including Annecy, Locarno, TIFF, SXSW, an Annie Award nomination, BAFTA LA shortlist, and the Jury Prize for
Animated Short at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

FILMOGRAPHY
Soft Animals | 2021 (short)
O Black Hole! | 2020 (short)
Reneepoptosis | 2018 (short)
Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw) | 2016 (short)