Chinese director Lai Yuqing dead at 23
Chinese film director Lai Yuqing has died aged 23.
Despite only being 23, Yuqing’s first feature film, Whisperings of the Moon, a queer romantic drama, was released in 2025.
Nimbus Films and Inwave Films, who backed Whisperings of the Moon, confirmed Yuqing’s tragic passing in a joint statement, which reads, “We are deeply saddened to share that filmmaker Lai Yuqing, writer-director of Whisperings of the Moon, with whom we had the privilege of working, has left us at the age of 23.”
The statement also confirmed that Yuqing “passed away due to an incident” which took place on December 30th, 2025.
It continued, “The case is still under investigation and her family is at Phnom Penh preparing her funeral as well as working closely with local authorities.”
Nimbus Films and Inwave Films also stated that “her family will make an official announcement once the case is resolved”.
According to Hong Kong publication Dimsum Daily, the director fell to her death from an apartment building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Although Yuqing was born in Tianjin, China, she moved to North America in order to pursue filmmaking, studying in New York, Los Angeles and Toronto.
In addition to making Whisperings of the Moon, she also created two short films, Two Suns and Love Is a Book. Notably, Whisperings of the Moon had its premiere at the Busan Film Festival last September.
Per Variety, Nimbus Films and Inwave Films have pledged to treat Whisperings of the Moon with “care and respect so that Yuqing’s work and voice can continue to be seen and heard around the world”.
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