Starr Zhao is a Sydney-based cinematic director and Unreal Engine artist working across film, animation and real-time game cinematics.

He holds a Master of Animation and Visual Effects from UNSW and develops character-led work through Unreal Engine, combining cinematic direction, virtual cinematography, real-time lighting, MetaHuman performance and post-production. His practice moves from planning and previs to Sequencer, motion capture and final edit, with an emphasis on atmosphere, performance and clear visual storytelling.

His approach places story and atmosphere before technology, using real-time tools to shape performance, lighting and camera language. The same workflow extends to in-engine cutscenes, trailers and narrative content for games. He is currently open to Unreal Engine and cinematic roles across film, animation, virtual production and game development.