Tian Lan is an independent Chinese filmmaker. Lan graduated from the Communication University of China. He shot and edited behind-the-scenes documentary footage of the making of the feature films The Sun Also Rises (2007) and Hidden Man (2018), both by renowned Chinese director Wen Jiang. As an ethnic minority from Fujian Province, Lan seeks to investigate and portray the living conditions of various Chinese ethnic groups and their cultural integrations. Southern Afternoon is his short film debut.