Yayu Zheng is a rising second-year Ph.D. student and Annenberg Fellow in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She graduated from the Dual Degree Program between UC Berkeley and Sciences Po where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and Politics with a specialization in Europe-Asia relations. At UC Berkeley, she majored in Film & Media Studies at UC Berkeley with a certificate in New Media. As an independent film critic, she has reported film festivals around the world. Her articles have appeared in a number of Chinese media outlets. She also works as a programmer and jury in several independent film festivals.