VAN DITTHAVONG was born in Vientiane, Laos and came to the US when he was 4-years-old as a refugee. He began his career as an award-winning still photographer before transitioning to filmmaking. His clients included Texas Monthly, American Way, Men’s Health, Stanford University, Psychology Today, and other national publications. He wrote, directed, and produced the feature film ALL ROADS TO PEARLA (starring Alex MacNicoll, Addison Timlin, Nick Chinlund, and Dash Mihok) which had its world premiere in competition at the 26th Austin Film Festival and was released by Gravitas Ventures in 2020.

His second feature film BELLYACHE starring Marianne Rendón (Mapplethorpe, Charlie Says) is currently in post-production after finishing principal photography in Costa Rica.

Van is also founding partner and executive producer of goPOP FILMS – a creative content studio and production company representing some of the most exciting directors working today. He has taught at the New York Film Academy (Los Angeles) and UCLA Extension – where he received the 2015 Outstanding Instructor of the Year honor for the Visual Arts Department.