Alice Gu

Alice Gu is an American documentary filmmaker and cinematographer. She is known for directing and serving as cinematographer for projects such as The Donut King, Really Good Rejects (2022) and Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print.

Career Gu’s cinematography credits include Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton (2017), directed by Rory Kennedy. In 2020, She directed her first feature documentary, The Donut King, which examines the life of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who established a donut business in California. Inspired by a remark from her children’s nanny about “Cambodian donuts,” the film premiered at the South by Southwest. In 2022, she was selected as a Concordia Fellow.

Gu’s second documentary, Really Good Rejects (2022), premiered at South by Southwest in 2022. The film focuses on Los Angeles luthier Reuben Cox, who crafts custom guitars for musicians such as Jackson Browne, Carrie Brownstein, and Andrew Bird. In 2024, she directed and shot Shimmer, Inspired by Eva Young, a narrative short starring Harry Shum Jr. In 2025, she co-directed Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print with Cecilia Aldarondo and Salima Koroma, a feature documentary exploring the history of Ms. magazine through its iconic covers, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival. She is currently directing The Elephant Odyssey, a feature documentary in production about the 2020 journey of Asian elephants across Yunnan, China, filmed with IMAX cameras.

Select filmography YearTitle Contribution Note 2017 Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton Cinematographer Documentary 2019 Epiphany Cinematographer Feature film 2020 The Donut King Director, writer, cinematographer and producer Documentary 2021 As I Am Director Documentary series 2022 Really Good Rejects Director, writer, cinematographer and producer Documentary 2022 Walk with Obi Director Documentary short 2023 AKA Mr. Chow Cinematographer Documentary 2024 Shimmer, Inspired by Eva Young Director and producer Short film 2025 Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print Director and cinematographer Documentary TBA The Elephant Odyssey Director Documentary

Awards and nominations YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.2020 WonAsian American International Film FestivalEmerging Director AwardThe Donut King WonSan Diego Asian Film FestivalBest Documentary Feature WonBentonville Film FestivalBest Documentary NominatedPhiladelphia Asian American Film FestivalBest Documentary WonSouth by SouthwestSpecial Jury Award 2022 NominatedAudience AwardReally Good Rejects 2024 WonBentonville Film FestivalBest Short FilmShimmer, Inspired by Eva Young