C R E A T I V E
Writer/Director
[screen]
Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien is an AACTA nominated writer and director. Proudly Chirish (that's Chinese-Irish), she grew up in Sydney and is committed to telling inclusive stories that champion authentic, diverse representation on screen. Her work combines off-beat comedy with emotional depth - the result is irreverent, playful, and unexpectedly moving, with a lavish visual style that elevates everyday reality.
Her screen credits include the smash-hit online webseries Pleasant Avenue (2024), financed by Screen Australia and Screen NSW, and starring an ensemble cast including Heather Mitchell, Ursula Yovich and John Batchelor. Pleasant Avenue reached over 1 million views on Facebook and saw Aimée-Lee nominated for an Australian Directors Guild Award for Best Directing Online Shortform.
This was followed up by Not Russian Anywhere (2025). Financed by Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, the series has had over 1 million views on Instagram, was nominated for a 2026 AACTA Award for Best Online Drama or Comedy, and won Best Comedy at the Australian Women’s Film Festival 2025.
Aimée-Lee's debut short film Jump won Best Short Film at the Academy Award-accredited Palm Springs International ShortFest 2013 and Provincetown International Film Festival 2013. The film went on to play at 25 international film festivals and was licensed by Tribeca Film Festival for American Airlines. Her follow up short, The Palace That I Live In, had its world premiere at Palm Springs International ShortFest, 2014.
Commercially, Aimée-Lee is signed with Rabbit in Australia, and Rattling Stick in the UK, and has directed TVCs for some of the biggest brands in Australia and the world. She was invited to be a judge at the 2025 D&AD Awards in London.
Aimée-Lee has had the benefit of two directing attachments. The first with drama heavy-hitter Kim Farrant, on the 2014 feature film Strangerland, starring Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving and Joseph Fiennes. The second was in 2024 when she shadowed Trent O'Donnell on Colin From Accounts season two, and honed her comedy chops.