Sara Jin Li is an essayist, playwright, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. Her writing (often about the intersection of identity, politics, and art) has been published in New Yorker Magazine, Elle, Paper Magazine, InStyle, Glamour, and many other leading outlets. She is also the founder of Heretics Club, a literary salon for creative writers.
THE LATEST
• Bad Actor
After 3 years of deep reporting, Sara’s investigation into the acting cult was published on The Cut in May of 2023. It was named New York Magazine’s ‘One Great Story’ and Apple News’ Editors’ Choice Pick. Bad Actor is now in conversation to be developed further.
• Leap of Love
Sara’ssshort film—a satire about ableism through the lens of a dating show—won the Disability Film Challenge in 2023. Leap of Love is now playing at Hollyshorts and other film festivals across SoCal.
• HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Sara is getting getting her masters in Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School; she is studying love as a peacebuilding tool in conflict.
About
Sara Jin Li is a 27-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. 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 is being optioned for further development.
Additionally, 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.
In 2023, she founded Heretics Club: a literary salon for creative salons. Their ethos is to help writers develop their craft while bridging the accessibility gap through creative programming a hybrid membership. Sara is currently studying at Harvard University for her masters in Religion and Public Life, working on her second book, and more.
For context, Sara is a Virgo.
[What I’m Recommending]
Reading
Giovanni’s Room
by James Baldwin
Listening
Ocean Vuong on Being with Krista Tippett
Watching
The Bear (2020)
Awards and Appearances
We the Women Collective Artist in Residence
Universal Standard’s IWD 2020 Campaign
NPR: All Things Considered (Guest)
Kansas City 30 Under 30
Webby Award Winner
United Nations Youth Delegate
Her Campus 22 Under 22
2022
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
"Out of touch leftist with designer hair." —A fan in 2020.