Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, MARIE JAMORA joined the DGA in 2021. In her first year, she directed episodes for Ava DuVernay’s award-winning QUEEN SUGAR (OWN), FIRE COUNTRY (CBS), THE RESIDENT (FOX), ALL RISE (OWN), FANTASY ISLAND (FOX), GOOD SAM (CBS), GREASE: RISE OF THE PINK LADIES (PARAMOUNT+), and both seasons of THE CLEANING LADY (FOX). Prior to that, the musician-director was named one of “Five Visionary Asian-American Female Filmmakers” in Kore Magazine's 'New Hollywood' issue. Her short film, FLIP THE RECORD, screened at over thirty festivals worldwide, winning the Grand Jury Award for “Best Narrative Short” at Urbanworld and shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards. Her feature film, WHAT ISN’T THERE (ANG NAWAWALA), premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival and is considered a cult classic coming of age film in the Philippines. She is an executive producer and the director of both seasons of FAMILY STYLE (HBO Max), an Asian food and pop culture show with Justin Lin's YOMYOMF and Warner Bros./Stage 13. Most recently, she was the Producer-Director of Ava DuVernay’s untitled limited series on Starz before production was suspended by the WGA Strike.
Marie began her career directing music videos during the golden age of the Philippine rock scene, where she directed over 50 music videos. After graduating from Columbia University with an MFA in Film, she returned to Manila to direct commercials and television. She was the director and showrunner for the first season of PROJECT RUNWAY PHILIPPINES (Fremantle Media), and also directed for the longest running multi-cam variety show, EAT BULAGA! She directed commercial campaigns for Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer, Colgate, and Maybelline.
After immigrating to Los Angeles in 2013 -- with a desire to amplify Filipino stories and as a champion of Philippine cinema -- Marie founded CINEMA SALA, a screening and workshop series that showcases Filipinx artists in film and the performing arts through programming, distribution, and education. Cinema Sala has since partnered with ARRAY, Visual Communications, Outfest, CAPE, Gold House, and AFI Fest for their various screenings and events to showcase Filipinx works and is supported by the Sundance Institute, Cinereach, and the California Arts Council.
Marie became the first Filipinx director to be accepted into AFI's Directing Workshop for Women, where she wrote and directed HARANA, which was in competition at Bentonville, BlackStar, Urbanworld, and HollyShorts. It won the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Narrative Short at the Sarasota Film Festival. Marie was also a part of the 2020 Warner Bros. Television Directors' Workshop, the Lifetime Director Shadowing Program, and the DGA Women’s Steering Committee Squad.
After almost two decades of filmmaking and teaching in the Philippines, she has been Adjunct Directing Faculty at the American Film Institute, an Advisor for Sundance Co//ab, one of the leaders of the DGA WSC Squad, and proudly one of the few Filipinos in the Director’s Guild of America.
PRESS
VARIETY
“Meet the 42 Women Directors of 'Queen Sugar’ and How They’re Taking Over Hollywood”
LA STYLE MAGAZINE
“Marie Jamora: The Filipino Director Bringing Diversity To The Main Screen”
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“AFI Directing Workshop for Women Reveals Class of 2020”
ASIAN JOURNAL
“Filipina Filmmaker Marie Jamora On Directing Queen Sugar, Cultivating A More Inclusive Filmmaking Community”
RAPPLER
“Filipina directors Marie Jamora, Ida del Mundo make an impact behind the lens in the US”
ABS-CBN NEWS
“Marie Jamora is now a member of the Director’s Guild of America”
EMMY MAGAZINE
“Marie Jamora’s Meaningful Direction”
DEADLINE
“DGA Woman’s Steering Committee Announces Second Class Mentees And Filmmakers For WSC Squad Mentorship Program”
ASIAN JOURNAL
“(Marie) is building for herself a great body of work. She’s very genuine and pays attention to what you have to offer,” Elodie Yung said. “Marie was someone who would take the time, we met before and we discussed where she was coming from. I’m just so happy to be surrounded by so many diverse and very clever women.”
RAPPLER
“[Only IN Hollywood] Director Marie Jamora’s journey from ‘Eat Bulaga!’ to Hollywood”
ASIAN JOURNAL
“Episode 6 was directed by Marie Jamora. (Martha) Millan describes her as amazing and working with her is a real honor. ‘She communicates with the actors in a very nurturing way and it allowed me just to be safe and comfortable to explore all sides of the scenes whenever we’re working.’
RAPPLER
“The distinguished Manila International Film Festival judges are Marie Jamora (head of the jury)”
A BOOK OF
“A luncheon, spearheaded by Chris Quintos Cathcart of Unapologetic Projects, Sundance programmer Irene Soriano of I See You MC, and DGA director Marie Jamora of Cinema Sala, brought together key players in the Filipino filmmaking community.”
VARIETY
“Oprah Winfrey Shares the Greatest Lesson She Took From Her 25-Year Talk Show: ‘We Want to Know We Matter’ ”
GMA NEWS
“Filmmaker Marie Jamora makes her mark in Hollywood”
DEADLINE
“WBTV Sets 2020 Television Directors’ Workshop Participants”
