David Yáñez Barroso

David Yáñez Barroso

  • Teaching Fellow
Department of Film and Performing Arts
SDGs Focus
Quality Education
Gender Equality
Reduced Inequalities
Responsible Consumption and Production

Biography

David Yáñez Barroso (1982), known professionally as “Gwai Lou,” is a Spanish filmmaker, writer, plastic artist, and educator. The nickname, a playful Cantonese term for Westerners, reflects his immigrant experience and fluid identity. Gwai Lou creates films as personal testaments, exploring themes of detachment and belonging. He gained recognition with his debut feature, Many Pieces of Something (2015), which led to participation in prestigious programs like Berlinale Talents and Locarno Summer School. With a prolific career in the independent circuit, he is currently working on his fifth feature film, We Are the Jungle. 

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Master's in Teaching Arts - University of Zaragoza (2010)
  • Mass Communication Degree – University of Salamanca (2011)
  • Art Degree – University of Salamanca / Jean Monnet University (2006)

Research Interests

  • AI applications in filmmaking
  • Gamification in Learning
  • Cinematography
  • Storytelling
  • Filmmaking

Teaching Areas

  • Cinematography
  • Creative Writing and Screen Writing
  • Directing for film
  • Producing for film

Courses Taught

  • IDC1014 / FLM1014 - Scriptwriting
  • FLM 1064 - Filmmaking: Documentary
  • FLM 3034 / DCG2034 - Digital Cinematography
  • FLM 2054 - Filmmaking: Short Film

Notable Publications

  1. Multiple Authors (2024). Los últimos del Oeste (The Last of the West). Poetry Anthology, Ril Editores, Santiago de Chile. Chile.
  2. Multiple Authors (2017). Piedra de toque. 15 Poetas emergentes en Extremadura (Touchstone. 15 Emerging Poets in Extremadura). Poetry Anthology, Editorial Regional de Extremadura, Mérida. Spain.
  3. Yanez, D. (2015).  Hombres en silencio, mujeres sin maquillaje (Men in silence, women without make-up). Poetry Book, Baile de Sol, Tenerife. Spain.
  4. Multiple Authors (2012). A la sombra del Bonsai (In the shadow of the Bonsai). Short stories anthology, Editorial Comuniter, Zaragoza. Spain.
  5. Multiple Authors (2010).  Literatura Joven 2010 (Young Literature 2010). Poetry Anthology, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza. Spain.
  6. Yanez, D. (2007).  Resistir al Presente (Resisting the present). Poetry Book, Littera Libros. Cáceres. Spain. 

Achievements & Accolades

Feature Films 
  • Gwai Lou. (2022). Somewhere Over the Rainbow
  • Gwai Lou. (2020). Disappear 
  • Gwai Lou. (2017). Side-B
  • Gwai Lou. (2015). Many Pieces of Something
Short Films 
  • Gwai Lou. (2024). Ceci n’est pas une pipe… (Or how to create perfect memories)
  • Gwai Lou. (2023). Kumbang
  • Gwai Lou. (2023). Kuleshov Noir
  • Gwai Lou. (2021). Anomaly
  • Gwai Lou. (2021). The New World
  • Gwai Lou. (2020). Target
  • Gwai Lou. (2020). Reset
  • Gwai Lou. (2019). The Girls Are Alright
  • Gwai Lou. (2019). Wounds
  • Gwai Lou. (2019). Filmmaker’s Notebook #2
  • Gwai Lou. (2019). Cold Winter Tale
  • Gwai Lou. (2018). Goodbye Fellas
  • Gwai Lou. (2014). Portrait of Irina Grecco
  • Gwai Lou. (2013). Inparadise
  • Gwai Lou. (2010). Room 303
  • Gwai Lou. (2009). When We Were Kings 1999-2009
  • Gwai Lou. (2007). The Wanderer
Films as Cinematographer 
  • Perumal, S.-J. (2024). Macai
  • Azizuddin, F. (2024). This Land of Mine
  • Haran & Sobaan. (2023). Simple Manusan
  • Perumal, S.-J. (2023). Fire over Water
  • Hin, S. T. (2023). Ayah
  • Gwai Lou. (2022). Somewhere Over the Rainbow
  • Azizuddin, F. (2021). The Sky Beast?
  • Tan, C. M. (2021). Barbarian Invasions
  • Gwai Lou. (2020). Disappear
  • Yap, J. (2020). Sometime, Sometime
  • Azizuddin, F. (2020). Can You Love Me Most?

Professional Associations

  • Member: Malaysian Society of Cinematographers (MYSC)