Sonya Chi was born and raised in Miami, Florida and studied film at the University of Miami. After graduating with a B.S. in Communications (Motion Picture and Graphic Design), she began her career as a boom operator on commercials and narrative films. She then went on to work as a videographer and interviewer for Steven Spielberg's documentary, "The Survivor of Shonah." Following this project, she moved to London to produce her first feature length film, "Melody's Her 2nd Name." In 2000, she served as a board member of the Film, Print and Broadcast Advisory Board in Miami. Ms. Chi earned her MFA in producing from the American Film Institute (AFI).

Ms. Chi's interest in film began as a child born into a family with a multi-cultural background. Raised in a traditional Chinese home that was heavily influenced by both the Latin and American cultures, Ms. Chi developed a desire to produce films about her unique upbringing and cultural roots as a Chinese-Cuban-American woman. "Shui Hen," Ms. Chi's thesis film at AFI is based on her mother's journey as a teenage girl raised in China who had to cope with rejoining her estranged family in Cuba after fifteen years of separation. Ms. Chi is thrilled to be the recipient of the Caucus grant and looks forward to completing her film.