Biography

Writer-director Lisa Cole lived with 201 host families across 12 countries-experiences that fuel her unflinching stories about neglect and female empowerment, such as her 2024 Oscar-Shortlisted film "Bienvenidos a Los Angeles." Lisa transforms true stories into fierce narratives of survival and strength. Current feature projects in development include: "Diamond Girls" with Selena Gomez and Academy Award nominated producer Laura Bickford, and "Filthy," a Sundance Lab Finalist and 2025 Alliance of Women Directors Fellowship recipient. Her documentaries for The Gates Foundation and Sundance Institute tackle women's safety worldwide. A graduate of Loyola Marymount School of Film & Television, Lisa serves on the Board of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. She lives in Los Angeles with documentary filmmaker Mark Monroe, their two kids and five pets. Yes, five.
- IMDb mini biography by: Lisa Cole