YER HER
Qhia Dab Neeg Spotlight Filmmaker
The biggest thing about filming for me is the cultural aspect. And I believe that each generation, it’s our duty to preserve what we have for the next generation.
Yer Her is a Hmong filmmaker, educator, photographer, and videographer who began working in film in 2012. Originally trained in elementary education, Her developed his filmmaking practice through acting before moving behind the camera to create projects of his own. Central to his work is a commitment to documenting Hmong culture, family histories, and everyday experiences so they remain accessible to future generations. He has extensively recorded his father sharing cultural practices and knowledge, continuing a family tradition that began when his father documented their lives with a VHS camera and photographs. Her also teaches filmmaking to middle school students, encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones, recognize the value of their own experiences, and use film to preserve and share their stories.
Qhia Dab Neeg: 50 Years of Hmong Film in Minnesota has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.