James Q. Chan
2027 Eureka Fellow
James Q. Chan is a San Francisco-based documentary filmmaker whose works explore resilience, labor, migration, and place-making in everyday lives. Shaped by his experience as a former refugee and working-class roots, his storytelling practice is rooted in deep listening and lasting relationships, adapting form and method to serve each participant and community's story.
A two-time Emmy-nominated producer and director, his films have aired nationally on PBS, screened globally through the American Film Showcase, and earned audience, cinematography, and grand jury awards at national film festivals. He is a YBCA 100 honoree, recipient of a Certificate of Honor from the SF Board of Supervisors, and served as an inaugural artist-in-residence with the San Francisco Arts Commission's collaboration with the SF Public Library.
James develops projects that continue his commitment to documenting overlooked communities with clarity and care. As a member of the Directors Guild of America and creative producer on Jimmie & Sanora and Chinatown Rising, his work remains grounded in service to community and culture through film.
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