Sarajin
Li
Sara Jin Li is an essayist, playwright, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. Her cultural analysis (often about the intersection of identity, politics, and art) has been published in Elle, The Cut, Paper Magazine, InStyle, Glamour, and many other leading outlets.
Most Recently [WHAT I’M WORKING ON]
• Bad Actor
Her three year cult investigation about an abusive acting studio is being optioned. It was named New York Magazine's One Great Story, The Cut's top trending feature, and Apple New's Editor's Pick read.
• Leap of Love
Her short film—a satire about ableism through the lens of a dating show—won the Disability Film Challenge. Leap of Love is now playing at Hollyshorts and other film festivals across SoCal.
• One-Year Masters Program
She is attending Harvard University (2023-2024) for a one-year masters program to study the role religious institutions play in the Western carceral system.
Selected Works [What I’ve Done]
Gut Feelings
[MY NEWSLETTER]
Gut Feelings is a Subtack-backed publication about emotional mess. It curates personal essays and cultural criticisms. You can subscribe for free or upgrade to be a paid reader for $5/mo.
Press
Press
Sara is available for editorial assignment.
About
Sara Jin Li is a 26-year-old artist based in Los Angeles, CA by the way of the Midwest. As an immigrant and a queer woman of color, Sara's work centers marginalized identities and has been described as 'radical, clever, and gut-twisting.' She has written several short films and plays, including Leap of Love (2023)—a satire about ableism—which won the Disability Film Festival and is now premiering at film festivals across SoCal. In her formative years, Sara founded an advocacy based organization for sexual assault survivors and won a Webby Award for its "Consent is Simple" campaign in 2017. Her investigation into the Gracemoon Studios acting cult was named New York Magazine's 'One Great Story' and has been optioned for further development.
Additionaly, Sara studied theatre at the Stella Adler Conservatory and has appeared in stage productions of Stupid Fucking Bird (as Nina) and This Is Our Youth (as Jessica). Her cultural reporting has been featured in New York Magazine, Elle, Vogue Magazine, and other leading publications. Sara's first book, Growing Up Powerful: All Things Friendship (Penguin House Teen), is now available for pre-order. She is currently studying at Harvard University for her masters, writing on her Substack, and being a cat-momanger. For context, Sara is a Virgo.
[What I’m Recommending]
Reading
Giovanni’s Room
by James Baldwin
Watching
The Bear (2020)
Listening
Ocean Vuong on Being with Krista Tippett
Wearing
Typology Tinted Lip OIl
Awards and Appearances
Cosmopolitan’s Political Correspondent
National Public Radio
Facebook Watch
We the Women Collective Artist in Residence
Webby Award Winner
United Nations Youth Delegate
2020
Year
Year
Year
2023
2023
"Out of touch leftist with designer hair." —A fan in 2020.