Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Director, Producer, Editor, Writer

January 1, 1979 (47 years)
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi is an American documentary filmmaker. She was the director, along with her husband, Jimmy Chin, for the film Free Solo, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The film profiled Alex Honnold and his free solo climb of El Capitan in June 2017. Their first scripted film venture was Nyad, a biopic chronicling Diana Nyad's quest to be the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida.

Vasarhelyi grew up in New York City, and is the daughter of Marina Vasarhelyi, a college administrator, and Miklós Vásárhelyi, a college professor. Her father is a Hungarian-born Brazilian and her mother is from Hong Kong. Vasarhelyi is a graduate of The Brearley School. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University.

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Meru
    Meru2015

Known For

  • Free Solo
    Free Solo2018
  • Meru
    Meru2015
  • The Rescue
    The Rescue2021
  • Nyad
    Nyad2023
  • Return to Space
    Return to Space2022
  • Abstract: The Art of Design
    Abstract: The Art of Design2 seasons
  • Endurance
    Endurance2024
  • Wild Life
    Wild Life2023
  • Love+War
    Love+War2025
  • Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love
    Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love2008
  • Lost in the Jungle
    Lost in the Jungle2024
  • Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin
    Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin1 season
  • Photographer
    Photographer1 season
  • Angel City
    Angel City3 episodes
  • Touba
    Touba2013

Filmography

2025
2024
2024
2024
Photographer · as Executive Producer
2023
2023
Angel City · as Executive Producer
2022
Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin · as Executive Producer
2022
2021
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible · as Executive Producer
2021
2018
2016
The Fourth Phase · as Executive Producer
2015
MeruOn Plex
2015
2013
2008

2015
MeruOn Plex

2019
The Oscars · as Self - Winner
2017
2015
2012
CBS Mornings · as Self - Guest
2011
Op-Docs · as Self
1979
1953