About

Formerly a linguistic journal editor in China, Leyi Huang pivoted to impact-driven storytelling in 2021 when she woke up one day and decided to make a documentary film about an underground LGBTQ movement in China. Back then, all she had was a Sony DSLR, an iPhone, and her fervent passion for LGBTQ advocacy.

In 2022, Leyi brought her project, Purple Ballroom, to Chicago and launched a career as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. Below is some of her work.

Writing Clips

Man indicted for assaulting child to retaliate against federal trial witness

An 18-year-old Schenectady man was put behind bars for allegedly assaulting a child of a witness who testified in a federal criminal trial, according to the Northern District of New York United States Department of Justice.

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Man indicted for assaulting child to retaliate against federal trial witness

An 18-year-old Schenectady man was put behind bars for allegedly assaulting a child of a witness who testified in a federal criminal trial, according to the Northern District of New York United States Department of Justice.

Read More

Reels

Documentary Demo Reel

Leyi Huang’s 2023 reel of short docs

Purple Ballroom

Purple Ballroom (work-in-progress) is about a Chinese vogue dancer who founded the LGBTQ+ Ballroom scene in Canton, China, as a shelter for the local queer communities against stigma and alienation.

Two Experimental Dance Videos

Credit: Assistant Director of Photography

Contact

With a focus on gender equity and social justice reporting, Leyi is always looking for creative collaboration on subject matter projects. If you are interested in bringing her to your production team, feel free to contact her through or LinkedIn