Natalie A. Chao

Natalie A. Chao

Hong Kong

Natalie Archambaud Chao is a filmmaker and cinematographer who recently finished her B.A in Film Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she searched for a means to articulate her thoughts and attitudes in a city that was caught in perpetual change. Her goal is to bridge the gap between realism and poetic imagery in order to tell stories through the female gaze.

Most Known for...

Movie Picture

To Know Her 2021

A poetic exploration of the camera's gaze and a family's relationship with the filmmaker's mother.
Movie Picture

Searching For Her 2016

A young woman reminisces on the life of her mother years after her untimely death. “Searching for Her,” is an intimate exploration, told through old photographs and home videos, of a daughter coming to terms with a person she hardly knew. “For some reason I forgot you had emotions,” says the daughter, filmmaker Natalie A. Chao, in a present day hypothetical letter to her mother, “your own style, friends, a love life.” Her reflections form a moving tribute, a poetic re-evaluation of family history, memories, culture, love.
Movie Picture

Talking to her 2018

The second part of her trilogy. A short documentary by Natalie A. Chao, reflecting about her memories through the subtitles while she visits a mall. Then, her memories come alive through old family video tapes.