Chloé Zhao
Biography
Chloé Zhao is a Chinese-born filmmaker known primarily for her work on independent films. Born on March 31, 1982, in Beijing, China, she is a female director. Zhao's debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, premiered at Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim. She received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and for her film The Rider, which was also critically acclaimed and received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director. Zhao is the second of three women to win the Academy Award for Best Director, for her film Nomadland, which she wrote, produced, and edited.
Career overview
Chloé Zhao is a Chinese-born filmmaker known primarily for her work on independent films. Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim. The film earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Zhao's subsequent film, The Rider, received critical acclaim and nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director. Her work on these films demonstrated her ability to craft compelling narratives and elicit strong performances from her actors.
Zhao's international recognition came with the American film Nomadland, which she wrote, produced, and edited. This film marked a significant milestone in her career, as she became the second woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director.
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- Mother Mary (2026) Thanks
- Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast (2026) as Self
- Mickey 17 (2025) Thanks
- Hamnet (2025) Director
- Hamnet (2025) Executive Producer
- Hamnet (2025) Screenplay
- Hamnet (2025) Editor
- Inside Look: Hamnet (2025) as Self
- The Graduates (2024) Executive Producer
- Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer (2022) as Self
- Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Eternals (2022) as Self - Director
- Eternals (2021) Director
- Eternals (2021) Screenplay
- Nomadland (2021) Director
- Nomadland (2021) Producer
- Nomadland (2021) Editor
- Nomadland (2021) Writer
- The Rider (2018) Director
- The Rider (2018) Writer
- The Rider (2018) Producer
- Quotidien (2016) as Self - Guest
- Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Director
- Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Writer
- Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Editor
- Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015) Producer
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Benachin (2011) Director
- Daughters (2010) Producer
- Daughters (2010) Director
- Daughters (2010) Writer
- The Atlas Mountains (2009) Producer
- The Atlas Mountains (2009) Writer
- The Atlas Mountains (2009) Director
- The Atlas Mountains (2009) Editor
- Fall (2008) Assistant Director
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee