杨天乙，原名杨荔娜，女，1972年生于吉林，少年学习舞蹈，做过舞蹈演员、节目主持人、话剧团演员等。1996年开始纪录片工作。是中国新生代民间纪录片代表人物之一，《老头》是她的第一部纪录片。

Yang Lina studied dance as a teenager, and has worked as a dancer, program host, and drama troupe actor. Started documentary work in 1996. She is one of the representatives of the new generation of folk documentaries in China.