Ramona S. Diaz

Ramona S. Diaz is an award-winning Asian-American filmmaker and Visiting Professor at Vermont College of Fine Arts, renowned for her character-driven documentaries that explore the Filipino and Filipino-American experience with universal resonance. Her work combines cinematic artistry with potent storytelling, gaining intimate access to subjects ranging from political figures to everyday citizens across global contexts.

Diaz's research focuses on documentary filmmaking as a vehicle for social inquiry, emphasizing cinematic aesthetics and narrative depth. She investigates themes of political power, cultural identity, healthcare systems, and diaspora experiences through observational techniques that reveal nuanced human dimensions. Her practice bridges artistic expression with critical analysis of postcolonial societies, particularly examining Philippine sociopolitical landscapes and their global connections.

Her filmography demonstrates an evolving trajectory from historical biographies to contemporary systemic analyses, consistently centering marginalized voices while maintaining universal emotional appeal. Diaz's work intersects film studies, ethnic studies, and visual anthropology, characterized by immersive access and visual sophistication that transcends cultural specificity.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• Guggenheim Fellowship
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Membership
• Sundance Film Festival Award
• Berlin International Film Festival Award
• Tribeca Film Festival Award
• IDFA Award

Diaz has secured major funding from ITVS, CAAM, Sundance Documentary Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Tribeca Institute, Catapult Film Fund, and Chicken & Egg. She serves on film festival juries and funding panels globally, and as a U.S. Department of State Film Envoy conducts master classes across Iraq, Laos, Morocco, Qatar, Zimbabwe, Brazil, and the United States, demonstrating extensive mentorship in documentary practice. Her_VCFA_role_includes_developing_international_workshop_programs_and_curriculum_in_documentary_arts.