MEL MAH

is a Chinese Canadian writer, director, and producer from Toronto whose work has screened at festivals such as Cannes, DOC NYC, Cleveland International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers LA.

Mel built her foundation in feature filmmaking working closely with George Tillman Jr., collaborating as his Executive Assistant on FOX’s The Hate U Give, the ABC TV series For Life, and later serving as Associate Producer on Sony’s Big George Foreman.

She is currently developing her debut feature This Way To Home, starring Ken Jeong, and was selected as one of eight Asian filmmakers invited to pitch the project at the Toronto International Film Festival through Gold House’s “Gold Pitch” program.

In 2022, Mel founded Decorum, a production company dedicated to elevating Asian voices in cinema. She has produced critically acclaimed short films including Maybe It’s Just the Rain, which was distributed by the LA Times. She was also selected as a 2024 Women In Film (WIF) Directing Fellow and serves as a juror for future fellowship applicants.

Prior to filmmaking, Mel was a professional dancer, placing in the top 6 on So You Think You Can Dance Canada and performing with artists such as Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, and Kanye West. In addition, Mel’s an internationally renowned mindfulness teacher and mentor. She was featured on THE TODAY SHOW (watch HERE), and she’s the founder and the director of Anvita (www.anvitacommunity.com) an organization that empowers others through mindfulness programs, workshops, retreats, and mentorships. She’s also an instructor and global brand ambassador for the Calm app where her guided meditations have surpassed 1 million views.

Mel’s background in both movement and mindfulness deeply informs her filmmaking approach. Her experiences as a performing artist and teacher have shaped her precise understanding of physical storytelling, emotional rhythm, and leadership, allowing her to guide performers with sensitivity, presence, and trust. She has regularly led and spoke to large audiences all around the world, which informs her confident and intuitive direction on set. She is known for her ability to unify cast and crew around a shared creative vision while thoughtfully coordinating the complex collaboration required to bring emotionally resonant stories to life.