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IMDbPro

Lee Isaac Chung

  • Director
  • Cinematographer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Lee Isaac Chung
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
Play trailer2:06
Minari (2020)
6 Videos
6 Photos
A son of Korean immigrants, Chung grew up on a small farm in rural Arkansas and then attended Yale University, majoring in Ecology. During his senior year, Chung dropped his plans for medical school and turned to filmmaking. He studied film at the University of Utah, earning his MFA in 2004.

Chung's first film, Munyurangabo, premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival to great acclaim. Variety called the film "an astonishing and thoroughly masterful debut;" American critic Roger Ebert called it "a beautiful and powerful film - a masterpiece." His second film, Lucky Life, was developed at the Cinefondation at the Cannes Film Festival and premiered at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and 2010 Torino Film Festival.

Chung resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Valerie. In 2007, he partnered with local filmmakers in Rwanda to create Almond Tree Films Rwanda, a successful film production company and academy in Rwanda.
BornOctober 19, 1978
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornOctober 19, 1978
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 31 wins & 81 nominations total

    Photos5

    View Poster
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    Known for

    Youn Yuh-jung, Alan Kim, Noel Cho, Steven Yeun, and Han Ye-ri in Minari (2020)
    Minari
    7.4
    • Director
    • 2020
    Munyurangabo (2007)
    Munyurangabo
    6.7
    • Director
    • 2007
    Abigail Harm (2012)
    Abigail Harm
    5.4
    • Director
    • 2012
    Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters (2024)
    Twisters
    6.5
    • Director
    • 2024

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Director



    • Jude Law and Kerry Condon in Skeleton Crew (2024)
      Skeleton Crew
      7.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2025
    • Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters (2024)
      Twisters
      6.5
      • Director
      • 2024
    • Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Pedro Pascal, Shirley Henderson, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Katee Sackhoff, Amy Sedaris, Omid Abtahi, Emily Swallow, and Katy O'Brian in The Mandalorian (2019)
      The Mandalorian
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2023
    • Youn Yuh-jung, Alan Kim, Noel Cho, Steven Yeun, and Han Ye-ri in Minari (2020)
      Minari
      7.4
      • Director
      • 2020
    • I Have Seen My Last Born (2015)
      I Have Seen My Last Born
      8.0
      • co-director
      • 2015
    • Abigail Harm (2012)
      Abigail Harm
      5.4
      • Director
      • 2012
    • Lucky Life (2010)
      Lucky Life
      6.1
      • Director
      • 2010
    • Munyurangabo (2007)
      Munyurangabo
      6.7
      • Director
      • 2007
    • Los coyotes
      7.4
      Short
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Sex and Coffee
      6.6
      Short
      • Director
      • 2005
    • Highway (2004)
      Highway
      Short
      • Director
      • 2004

    Cinematographer



    • Between Dreamers
      • Cinematographer
      • Post-production



    • I Have Seen My Last Born (2015)
      I Have Seen My Last Born
      8.0
      • Cinematographer
      • 2015
    • Abigail Harm (2012)
      Abigail Harm
      5.4
      • Cinematographer
      • 2012
    • Remnance
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2009
    • Munyurangabo (2007)
      Munyurangabo
      6.7
      • Cinematographer
      • 2007
    • Los coyotes
      7.4
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2005
    • Sex and Coffee
      6.6
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2005
    • Highway (2004)
      Highway
      Short
      • Cinematographer
      • 2004

    Producer



    • Master of Divinity (2019)
      Master of Divinity
      Short
      • producer
      • 2019
    • I Have Seen My Last Born (2015)
      I Have Seen My Last Born
      8.0
      • producer
      • 2015
    • Umutoma
      • executive producer
      • 2015
    • Abigail Harm (2012)
      Abigail Harm
      5.4
      • producer (uncredited)
      • 2012
    • Lucky Life (2010)
      Lucky Life
      6.1
      • producer
      • 2010
    • Munyurangabo (2007)
      Munyurangabo
      6.7
      • producer
      • 2007
    • Sex and Coffee
      6.6
      Short
      • producer
      • 2005

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos6

    Why the 'Twisters' Cast Was Inspired by Director Lee Isaac Chung's Approach
    Clip 3:23
    Why the 'Twisters' Cast Was Inspired by Director Lee Isaac Chung's Approach
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Clip 2:53
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Clip 2:53
    Best Moments From the Golden Globes 2021 Telecast
    Ones to Watch in 2021
    Clip 3:52
    Ones to Watch in 2021
    The Cast of 'Minari' Name Their Favorite Pro Wrestlers of the 1980s
    Interview 2:37
    The Cast of 'Minari' Name Their Favorite Pro Wrestlers of the 1980s
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:06
    Official Trailer
    Munyurangabo
    Trailer 3:22
    Munyurangabo

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative names
      • Isaac Lee Chung
    • Born
      • October 19, 1978
      • Denver, Colorado, USA
    • Parents
      • Han Gil Chung
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Interview
      • 3 Articles
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Directed 2 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Steven Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung. Youn won for her performance in Minari (2020).
    • Nickname
      • Isaac

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