Sai thao

convergence filmmaker

biography

Sai Thao is an accomplished Hmong American filmmaker, teaching artist, and community leader based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Born and raised in St. Paul, she discovered her passion for filmmaking at the young age of 13, producing her first videos as a teenager. By 18, she received her first grant as a filmmaker, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to using film as a tool for cultural storytelling and social change.

For over 20 years, Sai has produced experimental and documentary short films that have garnered national recognition and international audiences. Her work has been exhibited across the United States, Thailand, and Laos, demonstrating her commitment to sharing authentic Hmong and immigrant stories with viewers around the world. Her films often explore complex themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and generational experience, pushing the boundaries of documentary form to create deeply personal, emotionally resonant work. Currently, she is in production on Hidden in my Heart (an unwritten letter), a 30-minute experimental documentary examining Hmong identity and the fragile bonds of family within her culture.

Beyond her own filmmaking, Sai is dedicated to building creative platforms for others. She is a co-founder of In Progress, a Minnesota-based nonprofit focused on amplifying the voices of young artists from rural, tribal, and migrant communities. Through her leadership and teaching, she has helped nurture new generations of filmmakers and artists, empowering them to share their own stories and perspectives. Sai served on In Progress’s board of directors from 2000 to 2009 and returned to the board in 2014, demonstrating her long-term commitment to the organization's mission and sustainability.