Mattie Do

Born to Lao refugees, Mattie was raised in Los Angeles, but returned permanently to Laos a decade ago. Her debut film, Chanthaly, was the first Lao film to screen outside of SE Asia. Chanthaly's festival success led to Mattie's selection for the Cannes' Fabrique des Cinemas du Monde, TIFF's Directors Talent Lab, Berlinale Talents, and BIFAN's Fantastic Film School. Afterward, Mattie worked with the Ministry of Culture to create the infrastructure necessary to introduce foreign co-production to Laos, including a framework for managing the country's rigid censorship. Mattie produced Laos' first American and Japanese co-productions. Her second film, Dearest Sister, received Special Jury Mentions at Sitges and Fantasporto, and was later selected as Laos' first submission for the Foreign Language Film Award at the 90th Academy Awards. Mattie Do is Laos' first, and only, female filmmaker.