Story-obsessed creator of premium television and film.
Builder of international storytelling and production teams across Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Midwest and beyond.
Proud daughter of an immigrant.
Former dragon boat racer.
Born and raised near Chicago, lived in China’s Sichuan province, now based in Los Angeles.
About
Xan Aranda is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who recently adapted a bestselling novel slated to become a drama series for Exile Studios in Mexico City. She is the showrunner and Co-Executive Producer of Netflix’s My Love, which filmed in six countries and was named among the best of 2021 by IndieWire.
An episode Xan envisioned and shepherded as an Executive Producer of HBO's Room 104 inspired a critic to be “hopeful about the future of television,” and received accolades from The Hollywood Reporter (Ten Favorite Episodes of 2017), The New York Times (Memorable TV Episodes of 2017), and Vox (Best 35 Episodes of 2017).
Ms. Aranda’s Emmy nomination was for Transparent: This Is Me on Amazon, for which she served as Producer and Co-Executive Producer.
Ms. Aranda co-produced Blue Jay, starring Sarah Paulson, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and sold to Netflix.
After its world premiere at New York Film Festival and Lincoln Center, Xan's directorial debut Andrew Bird: Fever Year screened in 90+ festivals, and took home nine awards.
Music videos Xan directed for Grammy-nominee Neko Case are positively reviewed by Rolling Stone, Billboard, Spin, Pitchfork, Paste, StereoGum, and numerous others.
Xan is a producer of the award-winning Kartemquin Films (Hoop Dreams) release Milking the Rhino, which filmed in Kenya and Namibia and screened on five continents.
“There is no ‘foot in the door.’ You’re the door.”
Xan is a popular featured speaker on a wide range of topics. She’s been a guest of SXSW, HBO, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, BAFTA, Nike, Film Independent and countless film schools.
As the founder and Executive Director of the Chicago Short Film Brigade, Xan curated and hosted screenings of international short films from 2003-2012. The Sundance Institute recruited her for their ShortsLab in 2011.
She has served on competition juries and grant panels across the U.S.
Member:
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Producers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
Film Fatales