Jackie Bao is a cinematographer and director known for the richness and beauty of her films. Her expert pacing, performance direction, and thoughtful composition convey genuine human emotion and visually authentic scenes.   Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jackie attended Bard College for Photography and Human Rights, Carnegie Mellon, and the American Film Institute for Cinematography. Starting out first as a DP, she has since expanded into directing, bringing her incredible eye for lighting and artful framing to everything she helms. For Jackie, filmmaking has become a powerful means of exploring an idea and telling stories that generate empathy. She retains a passion for the warmth of film and regularly shoots on 16mm. Jackie’s first foray into directing was the award-winning film “The Myth,” out of Wieden+Kennedy, which focuses on cultural identity, introspective storytelling, and a cinematic aesthetic that uses intimate visuals to explore personal and societal issues. The film was created in reaction to the increased racism and anti-Asian hate crimes in post-Covid 2022. Produced by Biscuit Filmworks, Jackie was both director and DP for the project, which went on to win Ad of the Year at AdColor, along with accolades from the One Club and Webbys. Her additional brand collaborations include Nike, Ritual, Ralph Lauren, La Mer, and an Olympics spot for Gillette Venus. Her recent project with UK charity Tommy’s raised awareness on the sensitive topic of pregnancy loss; the campaign earned Silver at the 2025 Young Director Awards. Jackie’s narrative films have shown at festivals such as Tribeca and Hollyshorts, with her most recent short, Just Kids, premiering at the Asian American International Film Festival. The film was also selected for the Austin Film Festival, Aesthetica, and Flux. Produced by Biscuit Filmworks, the film follows an ambitious Asian-American man shaped by his father’s immigrant experience, who, through an unlikely elevator ride, finds a renewed sense of self.