Photo of Lisa Cholodenko Lisa Cholodenko

An American writer-director who draws inspiration from European art cinema, Lisa Cholodenko was born June 5, 1964, and grew up in California's San Fernando Valley. She studied moviemaking at Columbia University and counts Milos Forman as a mentor.

Cholodenko's feature-film debut, High Art (1998), picked up a screenwriting award at Sundance and established her style as a director deeply rooted in character study. Her thoughtful follow-up, Laurel Canyon (2003), continued the pattern, but Cholodenko's work was largely relegated to the indie world, aside from one-off directing gigs on TV shows such as "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Six Feet Under."

In 2009, Cholodenko expanded her reach with The Kids Are All Right, which racked up Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture (Comedy) and Best Screenplay, along with acting nods for leading ladies Annette Bening and Julianne Moore.

Lisa Cholodenko in The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right

2010 R

Joni and Laser, the children of same-sex parents Nic and Jules, become curious about their sperm-donor dad and set out to make him part of their family unit. But his arrival complicates the household dynamics.

  • Lisa Cholodenko in High Art High Art
  • Lisa Cholodenko in Cavedweller Cavedweller
  • Lisa Cholodenko in Olive Kitteridge Olive Kitteridge
  • Lisa Cholodenko in Laurel Canyon Laurel Canyon