KAO CHOUA VUE

documentary filmmaker / photographer / curator

documentary filmmaker . photographer . curator

BIOGRAPHY

Kao Choua Vue is a dedicated documentary filmmaker whose work focuses on preserving and uplifting Hmong history and culture through the medium of film. With deep roots in community storytelling, Kao Choua has spent years capturing the lived experiences, spiritual practices, and intergenerational narratives of Hmong people, both in the United States and abroad.

Her projects include a powerful visual documentation of the Hmong soul release ceremony (plig kev)—a sacred ritual honoring the transition of the spirit—as well as intimate films addressing the struggles of Hmong women and girls, including the realities of sex trafficking among Hmong girls in Vietnam. In another personal and historical piece, she has documented her father’s war stories, preserving his legacy and offering a rare firsthand account of Hmong involvement in the Secret War in Laos.

Kao Choua’s passion for cultural preservation continues to guide her current work. She is researching and developing a documentary about the Hmong whistle language—a poetic and endangered form of communication used traditionally in courtship and ritual. In addition, she is writing her mother’s memoir, grounded in her mother’s own voice and stories, offering a matriarchal perspective that is rarely recorded in written form.

A long-time artist with In Progress, Kao Choua values mentorship and community-driven media. Her work is shaped by a strong sense of cultural responsibility and a desire to pass on Hmong knowledge to future generations through compelling, visually driven storytelling.

Qualifications

Kao Choua Vue brings a well-rounded set of technical and creative skills to her filmmaking practice. She is proficient in shooting both staged and documentary footage in diverse settings, sound recording with a focus on field audio using boom and lavalier mics, and video editing. Her work demonstrates a commitment to authenticity, detail, and cultural sensitivity—qualities that make her an important voice in Hmong media arts.

skills

  • software applications: Premier Pro

  • DSLR camera operation

  • audio recording

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