Kimberlee Bassford is an independent documentary filmmaker from Honolulu, Hawai‘i, who advances equality and social justice by spotlighting stories of girls and women of color, Asian American and Pacific Islander cultural identity, and mental health. Her 2025 feature documentary BEFORE THE MOON FALLS is currently on the festival circuit where it won the Grand Jury Prize at the Festival International du Film documentaire Océanian (FIFO), Best Feature at the DOCUTAH International FIlm Festival, Best Made in Hawai‘i Feature at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival and a Special Mention for Best International Feature at the Doc Edge Festival. Her other documentary work includes MY CHINATOWN, WITH ALOHA (2022, Asian American Documentary Network), SCALING UP: HAWAI‘I’S FOOD FUTURE (2022, PBS Hawai‘i), WINNING GIRL (2014, America ReFramed), PATSY MINK: AHEAD OF THE MAJORITY (2008, PBS) and CHEERLEADER (2003, HBO Family). She has garnered festival jury and audience awards, the Hot Docs Forum first look 1st place pitch prize, Firelight Media’s Spark Fund Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, Student Academy Award and CINE Golden Eagles. Her work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, CNN, CBS, HBO, PBS, ITVS, Center for Asian American Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications, International Documentary Association, Film Independent, The Gotham, Firelight Media, Kartemquin Films and others. Kimberlee holds a BA in psychology from Harvard University and a Master of Journalism from University of California Berkeley.

‍

PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Spark Fund

COHORT YEAR

2022

WEBSITE

makingwavesfilms.com