hello, i am kayleb lee. former USMC combat videographer & photographer turned Filmmaker/Production Specialist
STORY
Kayleb Lee's journey in film began as a Marine Combat Videographer and Photographer. Born into a diaspora family that had escaped genocide, he grew up as part of a first-generation Southeast Asian household in America. During the genocide, artists, educators, and politicians were systematically targeted and massacred, leaving an enduring stigma around artistic pursuits within his family. Despite this taboo, Kayleb spent years secretly exploring creative outlets—writing poetry, drawing, editing anime music videos on LimeWire, participating in breakdancing crews, and experimenting with hacked software on a donated HP PC. Unbeknownst to him, these hidden passions helped shape a unique voice through various creative mediums.
To escape poverty, Kayleb joined the Marines, where he pursued studies in engineering and mechanics. However, his love for the arts never faded. One pivotal day, after a four-hour conversation under the stars in the Afghanistan desert, Kayleb was mentored to leave military service, pursue higher education, and reach his artistic needs.
AWARDS & HONORS
Origami (Short, Script)
2023 Filmmatic Sci-Fi/Fantasy Awards (Finalist)
2023 We Script Competition FF (Selection)
Minivan (Short, Script)
2023 Rome Prisma Film Awards (Best Short Screenplay)
A Theory in Sepia (2022)
2022 Marine del Rey Film Festival
2022 Bali FilmDays
2020 Romance Film & Screenplay FF (Best Short Film)
WARSOL (2021)
2021 Boston Asian American FF (Official Selection)
Le Coup (2020)
2021 Top Indie Films (Best Student, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Original Idea)
2020 Detroit Black FF (Best Student Film)
2020 Genre Celebration FF
2020 Romance Film & Screenplay FF (Best Film)
2020 Couch FF (Semi-Finalist)
Cupid Hates You (Short, Script)
2020 Script Summit (Top 32%)
Sub·li·mind·al (Short, Script)
2020 Script Summit (Top 38%)
All in Sepia (Feature Script)
2020 Screenwriting Master Contest (Finalist)
Fifty & Five (2019)
2019 Alternative FF (Semi-Finalist)
2019 Super Duper Diversity FF
2019 Veterans FF
2019 LACMA's Veterans Make Movies
Papaya (2019)
2022 Sacramento Asian American FF
2022 Boston Asian American FF
2020 Rome Prisma Awards
2019 Seattle Asian American FF
2019 Los Angeles Asian Pacific FF
2019 Los Angeles Film School Veterans FF (Best Short)
2019 Blazing Sun Independent Shorts FF
2019 AI FF (Semi Finalist)
2019 Top Indie Films (Best Sound, Best Original Idea, Best Short, Best Director)
2019 Saigon FF
2019 Asian Cinematography Awards (Best Production Design)
2019 Philadelphia Asian American FF
2019 Indie Short Fest (Finalist)
AICP Mentoring Program 2023
Minority in Film's Directing Lab 2022
The Academy Gold Program 2020
Cannes Student Program 2020
LACMA's Veterans Make Movies 2019