Filmmaker, science communicator, and anthropologist exploring culture, history, and identity through documentary storytelling. Passionate about archives, untold histories, and making complex ideas accessible. Currently working on "Oakland Ilokana."
About
Elenita Makani O’Malley is a queer Filipina and Irish American storyteller from the Bay Area. With a background in anthropology, museums, and media production, she uses video to tell stories about culture and connection. Her debut documentary short, 'Oakland Ilokana,' reveals an under explored aspect of Filipino American history through the stories of her 90-year-old grandmother.
Elenita holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in Museum Anthropology from Columbia University. By day, she works as a science communicator, crafting videos that demystify complex topics about our planet. Her video work has been featured in exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History, Stanford University, the California Academy of Sciences, and more. Learn more at www.elenitamakani.com or www.instagram.com/elenita.sampaguita.
FOR HIRE: I work with organizations and filmmakers as a flexible collaborator who can jump in where needed, while thriving in production and the edit room. I bring creative rigor, organizational expertise, and marketing savvy to teams - whether that’s in managing timelines, fundraising, pitching stories, archival research, or diving into the story as an editor or assistant editor. I help ensure that films are not only well-crafted but also reach their intended audiences. Hit me up - I offer flexible rates for small projects.
