Ana Defillo is a Dominican-American writer, producer, & not a comedian. She escaped her conservative, working-class upbringing through the glow of a beloved 13-inch TV/VCR Combo. Drawing from her unconventional (traumatic) life and neurodivergent mind, Ana crafts absurd, surprising stories that challenge power and celebrate humanity through a critical, yet humorous lens (i.e., a hard comedy writer who LOVES to punch up).

Currently, she’s a 2025 Disability Belongs Fellow and member of Inevitable Foundation’s Elevate Collective, where she received The Loreen Arbus Foundation Award to complete development of her comedic pilot, Un American Nightmare.

Ana sharpened her singular voice studying sketch comedy, improv, & satire at the Upright Citizens Brigade, The People’s Improv Theater, & Second City while getting an M.S. in Global Affairs at NYU. So yes, she’s heard of Del Close.

In 2023, Ana was featured in MovieMaker Magazine as a Screenwriter to Watch after her satirical comedy pilot, Momentous, won in the Austin Film Festival’s prestigious screenwriting competition. Her screenwriting also earned her recognition as a recipient of the ’24 Disrupters Fellowship, ’23 Rideback Rise’s Circle & ’21 NHMC’s Series Scriptwriters Program. Her writing has been published in both print & digital publications, such as McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, & websites that no longer exist.

As a researcher & TV producer, Ana worked on Desus and Mero on Showtime, The Read on Fuse, & The Vote on PBS. Before TV, Ana paved her road to hell with good intentions as a Christian missionary, human rights graduate, & nonprofit professional. Now she seeks the truth in fiction. You’ve reached the end of her bio.

<3

Disrupters 2024