about
Dan is an Emmy-nominated director, writer, and producer. His character-driven cinematic work explores outsiders and underdogs fighting flawed systems, human nature, and the passage of time.
He is the son of Chinese immigrants and grew up in small town Manhattan, Kansas, where developed his love of horizon lines, portraiture, and do-it-yourself filmmaking. He then studied fine art film photography in college, graduating from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, focusing on cinematography and directing.
His films have been featured on Vimeo Staff Picks and Short of the Week, and (among others) at Slamdance Film Festival and Tribeca Festival, where he premiered his documentary feature film debut Accepted to critical acclaim, theatrical and digital distribution, and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.
On the Internet, his directing work for Jubilee Media has garnered over 100+ million views on a variety of unscripted shows exploring mortality, political division, and modern love.
Dan is based in Los Angeles, working on new projects as he prepares to direct his first narrative feature film.
Management
Achieve Entertainment | Diego Arrambide
Direct
Select Press
Deadline ‘Accepted’ Filmmakers On How They Pivoted When “Miracle School Story” They Thought They Were Making Suddenly Exploded: “The S**t Hit The Fan”
The Guardian Accepted: behind a US college admissions scandal and the students affected
Talkhouse Why Media Representation Alone Will Never Make You Feel Accepted
The Black Cape Mag How ‘Accepted’ Director Dan Chen Shines A Light On Students Amidst A Broken System
Deadline Tribeca Doc ‘Accepted’ Acquired By Greenwich Entertainment, Gets Summer Release Date
The Hollywood Reporter ‘Accepted’: Film Review | Tribeca 2021
Filmmaker Magazine Dan Chen on his Tribeca-Debuting High School and College Admissions Doc, Accepted
Final Draft How Accepted exposed the realities of a 21st century student and the American education system
The Moveable Fest Tribeca 2021 Interview: Dan Chen on the Hard-Earned Education of Accepted
Mutha Magazine The Hype and High-Stakes of Education: A Conversation with the Filmmaker Behind Accepted
Short of the Week Ella Online Premiere
Adolescent Ella: behind the new American coming of age story
Short of the Week Giselle Online Premiere