Filmmaker Spotlight: Jay Liu (Hail, A Taxi Home)
September 10, 2025
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Every year, the Charlotte Film Festival brings bold voices to the screen—but some voices echo off-screen too. In this spotlight, we’re getting to know Jay Liu, whose work caught our eye and stuck with us.
What led you to creating Hail, A Taxi Home?
I first met Joe in 2023 when I asked to use his car as a prop in my previous film. One year later, I started to think, “how the hell did he get this car to the U.S.?” I realized there’s more story to tell in his car so I reached out to shoot a documentary about its journey so far. Though separated by our vastly different upbringings – I grew up in Hong Kong, while he grew up in San Gabriel Valley, California – Joe and I are both Hong Kongers by birth, and more importantly, both of us care deeply about Hong Kong culture and strive to promote it overseas through our work. That is why we decided to make this film together.
What were some inspirations going into the creative process?
The primary inspiration going into the creative process was my own identity crisis. Post-2019 Hong Kong protests, I considered myself an international student in the U.S., not a migrant; I’ve never had to apply for any new visa or citizenship scheme. But as I slowly decided to stay in the Anglosphere after graduating, I realized, whether I had intended it or not, I was part of a newly formed global Hong Konger diaspora. Coming to that realization is a big part of why I made my first outwardly Asian American film.
And I slowly picked up on the gulf emerging between the diaspora and those who stayed in Hong Kong. When I was trying to preserve and spread Hong Kong culture overseas with my diasporic friends, people in Hong Kong were becoming disillusioned and preoccupied with survival. I felt the differences most during conversations with my friends, when politics have become a topic non grata. So I decided to explore these complicated emotions in the only way I know how – by making a film.
Tell us what you hope the audience gets from Hail, A Taxi Home?
I hope the audience reflects on the meaning of diaspora, how culture travels from one area to another, and the efforts and sacrifices made by those who carry that culture. I hope to let Americans know that a minuscule story like this – and people like Joe and me – exist on American soil, trying to make an effort for a homeland many miles away.
Why is a story like this important to tell?
A story like this is important to tell because the attention on the Hong Kong issue has been dwindling, but the efforts made by the people have not diminished. Many Hong Kongers abroad are still keeping theflame alive – fighting to preserve an identity or culture before it’s completely gone.
What do you want your legacy to be as a filmmaker?
I want my legacy to be a filmmaker who cared about the communities of his identities and strove to amplify his people’s voices. I want to be a thoughtful, compassionate filmmaker who tells stories and makes films with artistic merit and careful consideration into every part of the frame. While I don’t purport that movies can change the world, I hope they can give some solace to the people who want them, and make even just one person in the audience feel seen.
