Paola Mendoza was the Artistic Director for the Women’s March on Washington, the largest one-day mass mobilization in the history of the world.

For her day job, Paola is a critically acclaimed film director and author. Her films have continually tackled the effects of poverty and immigration on women and children in the United States. Her award-winning movies have premiered at the most prestigious film festivals around the world, including: Toronto, Berlin, South by South West, Pusan, Deauville, HotDocs and Tribeca. Her most recent documentary series, Behind the Headlines, was Executive Produced by America Ferrera. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces of Independent Film and she is a Tribeca All Access, Film Independent and Independent Film Week fellow. Her first novel, THE ONES WHO DON’T STAY, was published by Penguin Books.

She is the proud mother of Mateo Ali.