The second feature directed by Celine Song, Materialists, premiered on 13 June 2025, following the success of her 2023 debut, Past Lives. A filmmaker and playwright who bridged the gap between theatre and cinema, Song gained recognition for exploring themes of identity, language, and cultural transition through both stage productions and critically acclaimed screenwriting projects based in New York City.
Early Development and Education
Born in South Korea in 1988, Song moved to Markham, Ontario, at the age of 12. During her time at Queen's University, she studied psychology and philosophy before shifting her focus toward writing. After graduating in 2010, she pursued an MFA in playwriting at Columbia University, completing the program in 2014. Her early creative output included an adaptation of Prometheus and a 2009 play, Sound Utterly Serious.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Playwriting and Off-Broadway
Song developed her craft through fellowships with Ars Nova and The Public Theater. Her play Endlings premiered in 2019 and eventually reached an off-Broadway run at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2020. During the pandemic, she experimented with digital formats, directing an adaptation of Chekhov's The Seagull performed entirely within the video game The Sims 4.
Transition to Screenwriting and Directing
In 2021, Song served as a staff writer for the Amazon series The Wheel of Time. Her transition to film direction with Past Lives drew inspiration from her personal experience sitting between an English-speaking husband and a Korean-speaking friend. The film received nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards, making Song the first Asian woman recognized in the latter category.
Fast facts
- Born: 1988, South Korea
- Citizenship: Canada, South Korea
- Education: Queen's University (2010), Columbia University (2014)
- Directorial debut: Past Lives (2023)
- Notable stage play: Endlings (2019)
- Second film release: Materialists (2025)
- Professional affiliation: Writers Guild of America West
- Major award: Crystal Award (2023)
Questions readers ask
What inspired the film Past Lives?
The film was inspired by a dinner Song had with her English-speaking husband and a Korean-speaking friend, which prompted her to reflect on translating between different cultures and parts of her own identity.
What is the film Materialists about?
Materialists is inspired by Song's professional experience working as a matchmaker in New York City.
Achievements
- Worked as playwright, screenwriter and film director
