Helen Lee, a Korean-Canadian filmmaker, was born in Seoul, South Korea, and migrated to Canada at the age of four, settling in Scarborough, Ontario. Her passion for cinema emerged early, leading her to pursue film studies at the University of Toronto and later at New York University. Influenced by gender and minority theories during her university years, these themes resonated in her inaugural short film, "Sally's Beauty Spot" (1990). Amid her academic pursuits, Lee crafted two additional films before embarking on a five-year hiatus in Korea starting from 1995. Upon her return, Lee unveiled another short film and her maiden feature, "The Art of Woo" (2001).

Although her filmography has slowed in pace, Lee persists in creating compelling cinema. Her works often delve into gender and racial complexities, offering poignant reflections on the contemporary experiences of East Asians. A recurring motif in her oeuvre is sexuality, with interracial relationships prominently featured across several of her films.