Academy Award-Winning Filmmaker, Free Solo
Chai Vasarhelyi: Biography at a Glance
- Chai Vasarhelyi is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker well known for Free Solo, an intimate portrait of rock climber Alex Honnold, which she directed and produced alongside Jimmy Chin.
- Vasarhelyi Executive Produced National Geographic's Edge of the Unknown, an epic 10-part series that takes audiences inside the minds of pioneering adventure athletes as they recount the most consequential moments of their lives.
- Vasarhelyi also co-directed the BAFTA and DGA-nominated documentary The Rescue, chronicling the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand.
- Other projects include Return to Space, about SpaceX and NASA’s first joint spaceflight, which hit the top 10 on Netflix’s most-watched films list.
- Vasarhelyi’s other films as a director include Incorruptible, Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love, A Normal Life, and Touba. She also directed two New York Times Op-Docs, two episodes for Netflix’s nonfiction design series Abstract, and two episodes for ESPN’s nonfiction series Enhanced.
- In her talks, Vasarhelyi takes audiences behind the scenes of telling some of the most gripping true stories of our time, sharing how she captures the raw humanity within extraordinary feats, navigates extreme environments alongside her subjects, and crafts films that inspire global audiences to rethink the limits of courage, resilience, and storytelling itself.
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Biography
Chai Vasarhelyi is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker. She co-directed and produced Free Solo, an intimate, unflinching portrait of rock climber Alex Honnold, which she directed and produced alongside Jimmy Chin. The film was awarded a BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and received seven Emmy awards.
Vasarhelyi Executive Produced National Geographic's Edge of the Unknown. The show takes audiences inside the minds of elite adventure athletes through transformative stories of confronting fear, devastating personal loss, and Mother Nature at her harshest.
Vasarhelyi co-directed the BAFTA and DGA-nominated documentary The Rescue, chronicling the enthralling, against-all-odds story that transfixed the world: the daring rescue of twelve boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Other projects include Return to Space, about SpaceX and NASA’s first joint spaceflight, which hit the top 10 on Netflix’s most-watched films list. Her film, Meru, won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and was on the Oscar shortlist for Best Documentary Feature.
Vasarhelyi’s other films as a director include Incorruptible (Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award); Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love, which premiered at the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals; A Normal Life (Tribeca Film Festival, Best Documentary); and Touba (SXSW, Special Jury Prize Best Cinematography). Vasarhelyi has directed two New York Times Op-Docs, two episodes for Netflix’s nonfiction design series Abstract, and two episodes for ESPN’s nonfiction series Enhanced. She has received grants from the Sundance Institute, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Bertha Britdoc, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is a member of the DGA and the AMPAS and holds a B.A. in comparative literature from Princeton University.
Vasarhelyi splits her time between New York City and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with her daughter, Marina, and son, James.
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FAQs
How do I book Chai Vasarhelyi for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Chai Vasarhelyi to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Chai Vasarhelyi's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Chai Vasarhelyi’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Chai Vasarhelyi in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Chai Vasarhelyi's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Chai Vasarhelyi's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Chai Vasarhelyi, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Chai Vasarhelyi's speaking fee?
Chai Vasarhelyi's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Chai Vasarhelyi's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Chai Vasarhelyi's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Chai Vasarhelyi as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Chai Vasarhelyi as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Chai Vasarhelyi's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Chai Vasarhelyi's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Chai Vasarhelyi for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Chai Vasarhelyi speaking engagements.
Official contact for Chai Vasarhelyi bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/chai-vasarhelyi
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Chai Vasarhelyi.
Is Chai Vasarhelyi available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Chai Vasarhelyi speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Chai Vasarhelyi's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Chai Vasarhelyi's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Chai Vasarhelyi's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Chai Vasarhelyi for?
Book Chai Vasarhelyi for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Chai Vasarhelyi customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Chai Vasarhelyi engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Chai Vasarhelyi can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Chai Vasarhelyi booking information and availability
Check Chai Vasarhelyi's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Chai Vasarhelyi for your preferred event date.
Book Chai Vasarhelyi keynote speaker through CAA
Book Chai Vasarhelyi through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Chai Vasarhelyi, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Chai Vasarhelyi's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Chai Vasarhelyi for your next event.
Will Chai Vasarhelyi speak at private events?
Yes, Chai Vasarhelyi speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Chai Vasarhelyi's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Chai Vasarhelyi?
CAA Speakers responds to Chai Vasarhelyi booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Chai Vasarhelyi?
Book Chai Vasarhelyi 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Chai Vasarhelyi pricing information?
Get Chai Vasarhelyi pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.