Meghan O'Hara

Meghan O'Hara is an Associate Professor of Documentary Film at California State University Monterey Bay. She holds an MFA in Documentary Film & Video from Stanford University (2007–2009) and a BA from Hampshire College (1997–2002). Her work focuses on historical reenactment, cultural memory, and social issues through documentary filmmaking. Notable projects include In Country: Reenacting the Vietnam War (2014) and The Field Trip (2021), which premiered at Sundance and secured a Vimeo Staff Pick award. She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Sundance Institute, and HotDocs, among others. O’Hara has also served as Adjunct Faculty at California College of the Arts (2011–2015) and collaborated with institutions like MassMOCA and DOK.Incubator.

Her research interests center on the intersection of history, memory, and film, often exploring how reenactment shapes public understanding of past events. Awards include the 2014 Sundance Documentary Fellows Program and multiple festival nominations, including at Full Frame and DOC NYC. O’Hara’s work frequently addresses marginalized perspectives and contemporary social themes, blending artistic innovation with rigorous documentary practices.