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Conversation and connection: Sunny Liu sparks meaningful dialogue through documentary filmmaking
Liu’s debut feature, ‘Pianoman’—created in collaboration with former Arts Academy classmates—has brought the powerful story of piano craftsman and undocumented immigrant David Avendano to audiences at film festivals and beyond.
Sunny Liu (center) talks with the media at a recent film festival appearance.
In the documentary film Pianoman, David Avendano pursues his dream of opening a piano factory in Yonkers, New York while navigating the social challenges of living as an undocumented immigrant. It’s a deeply personal story about craftsmanship, overcoming adversity, and finding a place in a new world—themes that struck a chord with filmmaker Sunny Liu (IAA 09-11).
Born in China, Liu came to the United States to study piano at Interlochen Arts Academy. She discovered Avendano’s story during a transitional period of her own life: as she shifted her focus from music to filmmaking following a hand injury.
“As a pianist, I’ve always viewed the piano as a vessel for emotional connection,” Liu says. “David’s reference to the piano as ‘my family’ echoed my own feelings about the instrument. I felt compelled to share his story because it mirrors my own quest for meaning through artistic expression and highlights universal themes of perseverance and connection.”
Liu collaborated with a team that included several former Arts Academy classmates to chronicle Avendano’s story in her debut documentary feature, Pianoman. The film has screened at film festivals across the United States, garnering accolades including the Carole Joyce Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking and Best Feature Documentary Film at Nepal American International Film Festival. Additional screenings are forthcoming—and Liu and her team are eager to see Avendano’s story reach new audiences.
Watch the trailer for Pianoman
“Our goal is to inspire meaningful conversations and foster connections within communities,” Liu says. “By sharing David’s story, we hope to spark dialogue about the immigrant experience and how the arts can serve as both a refuge and a platform for expression.”
Growing as a musician and a storyteller
During her time at Interlochen, Liu refined both her approach to creativity and her artistic vision. She credits three instructors, in particular, with helping shape her as an artist.
“A key influence was Dr. Michael Coonrod, my piano teacher,” she says. “He emphasized not just technical skill, but the importance of interpreting a composer’s true intentions.”
Coonrod’s emphasis on understanding both the piece and its composer helped Liu appreciate the past and honor traditions—which she says humbled her as an artist.
“I vividly remember our lunchtime expeditions to hunt down Urtext editions of scores, highlighting his belief that music is a dialogue between the composer and performer,” she says. “This experience taught me the value of authenticity and responsibility in art—principles I now carry into my filmmaking.”
Liu was also encouraged by two of her academic instructors—Instructors of English as a Language Marvine Stamatakis and Eleanor Liu Robinson—who instilled in her the value of innovation, creativity, and finding her own individual voice.
“Struggling with language, I created a 3D book filled with images instead of a traditional presentation,” Liu says. “Rather than seeing this as a limitation, Ms. Stamatakis celebrated my creativity, sharing my work with other teachers in the cafeteria. This reinforced my belief that artistic expression transcends conventional boundaries.”
“Ms. Robinson, my grammar teacher, supported my unconventional learning methods, such as coloring textbooks,” Liu continues. “Her encouragement nurtured my creative spirit and taught me the importance of exploring one’s voice.”
After Interlochen, Liu earned a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College and a Master of Music from The New School. She earned a second master’s degree in documentary filmmaking from the School of Visual Arts after pivoting her artistic focus from piano to film.
“Music was my first language, allowing me to express emotions beyond words through the piano,” Liu says. “It was my refuge and voice, providing deep insights into my inner world. However, as I matured, I felt a need to connect with the world on a broader scale. Filmmaking emerged as a natural extension of this desire—a way to engage with others and tell impactful stories.”
Although filmmaking and piano are very different art forms, Liu says the transition “felt seamless.”
“Both art forms demand a meticulous focus on detail and an understanding of the larger narrative,” she says. “Just as I crafted each musical phrase with care, I approach filmmaking with the same attention to rhythm, structure, and emotional resonance. My goal is to create work that deeply connects with audiences—whether through music or film.”
Liu draws the parallels between the art forms even further, highlighting how her musical background informs every aspect of her work as a filmmaker.
“I bring a sense of musicality to my films—there’s a rhythm to editing, a melody to dialogue, and an emotional arc that mirrors the structure of a piece of music,” she says. “At their cores, both music and filmmaking are about connection: connecting with oneself and with the audience.”
Collaborating on 'Pianoman'
Left: Liu (left) with Jasmine Moni Guo (right) at the Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. Right: Liu (center) with Trevor Misplay (left) and Gaga Won (right) at the Atlanta Film Festival.
As Liu began work on her debut feature, she engaged three Arts Academy friends as collaborators: Jasmine Moni Guo (IAA 10-12), who composed the film’s evocative score; Trevor Misplay (IAC 07-09, IAA 08-12), who served as the post-sound mixer; and Gaga Won (IAC 10-11, IAA 10-12), who supported the team by maintaining their morale and focus. Liu describes the collaboration as a “full circle” moment for the four artists.
“Creating Pianoman with my friends from Interlochen felt like a reunion of not just individuals, but of shared passions and dreams,” Liu says. “Many of us had arrived at Interlochen with limited English skills but a deep love for music. Despite the separate paths we took after graduation, the connections we built during those formative years remained strong.”
The strength of those connections was evident in both the ease of collaboration and the beauty of the finished film.
“Our shared background and understanding of each other’s creative strengths made the process both seamless and fulfilling, contributing significantly to the film’s immersive and impactful quality,” Liu says.
With Pianoman now playing at festivals around the world, Liu and her classmates are enjoying the opportunity to see audiences respond to the film.
“The success of Pianoman has been both humbling and gratifying,” Liu says. “I am deeply moved by how the film has connected with audiences worldwide.”
“Seeing the film spark conversations about immigration and the arts is incredibly rewarding,” she continues. “Through Pianoman, I want people to see the immigrant experience not just as a statistic or news headline, but as a deeply personal, human story. David’s journey embodies perseverance, passion, family, and belonging, highlighting how individuals find their place in a world that can sometimes seem indifferent. By sharing stories like his, I hope to inspire audiences to look beyond the surface, ask questions, and engage with the world in a more thoughtful and compassionate way.”
In addition to film festivals, Liu and her team are also working with national organizations including Film Fatales, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, and the Asian American Documentary Network to bring the documentary to new audiences.
“These partnerships help us not only share the film but also highlight its broader themes of perseverance, cultural resilience, and the transformative power of the arts,” Liu says. “We’re particularly eager for these upcoming showings, as they provide a space for audiences to engage deeply with the film and its message."
Shining a light, challenging the status quo
Liu is currently working on three new projects—two for PBS, one for Hulu—all of which connect to her personal vision as a filmmaker.
“At the core of my work is the belief that storytelling is a powerful tool for empathy, understanding, and change,” she says. “I’m drawn to stories that challenge the status quo and shine a light on experiences often overlooked or misunderstood. With Pianoman and my other projects, my hope is that audiences gain a deeper connection to the human experience—especially the stories of those who have been marginalized or underrepresented.”
Liu’s two projects for PBS are Hiding in Plain Sight—a groundbreaking documentary about Black queer representation in the music world directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Luchina Fisher—and a not-yet-named documentary on the legacy for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Elan Bogarin and Emmy Award-winning journalist Karishma Vyas. She is also involved in a Hulu documentary that explores the complexities of personal relationships with race from emerging filmmakers Protee Williams and Tevin Teixeira.
“These projects allow me to continue my mission of using storytelling as a means of connection and transformation,” Liu says. “I’m excited to see where these new narratives take us.”
