Maria Tran is an accomplished director, producer, and interdisciplinary artist whose body of work spans action cinema, social documentaries, and community storytelling. Known for blending dynamic genre filmmaking with powerful cultural narratives, Maria’s films have screened at festivals around the world and are deeply rooted in community and cultural development (CCD) practices.

In 2013, Maria made her feature directorial debut with Change of Our Lives, a health-advocacy drama commissioned by the Cancer Council NSW, which went on to be officially selected at the Vietnamese International Film Festival. She has since become a leading voice in the Australian independent action filmmaking scene, with directing credits including:

• Hit Girls

• Gaffa

• Enter The Dojo

• Operation Kung Flu

• Obsidian

In parallel, her social documentaries such as My Mother, The Action Star—winner of Best Documentary at the WIFT-V Film Festival—demonstrate her commitment to amplifying unheard voices, especially from migrant and diasporic communities.

With over 15 years of experience in independent film production, Maria is also the founder of Phoenix Eye Films—a female-led, culturally diverse production company dedicated to championing equity, inclusion, and representation in the screen and arts sector. Phoenix Eye not only develops film content but also runs community-based workshops and training programs to uplift emerging creatives from underrepresented backgrounds.

Through her filmmaking practice, Maria continues to challenge traditional boundaries between art and activism, proving that action films can be as socially conscious as they are entertaining.