Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Lisa Cholodenko’s interest in the intricacies, experiences, and stories that make us human led to her receiving a BA in anthropology and ethnic studies from San Francisco State University. Since these early pursuits, Cholodenko has gravitated towards the intersectional genre of “traumedy,” her term for dramatic comedies infused with high stakes pathos and an undercurrent of irony. Known for taking a multi-layered approach to storytelling, Cholodenko deftly weaves together dramatic and compelling narratives through the emotions and experiences of identifiable and believable – yet unexpected – characters. Through the quirks, foibles, and psychological underpinnings of her characters, Cholodenko’s deeply resonant stories remain grounded in reality so that the personal becomes universal.
After working as an assistant editor on projects including John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood and Gus Van Sant’s To Die For, Cholodenko received an MFA from Columbia university School of the Arts in screenwriting and directing. While a film student at Columbia, she wrote and directed High Art, her first feature film, which premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and garnered the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance Film Festival. Cholodenko’s second feature, Laurel Canyon, which she wrote and directed, stars Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, and Kate Beckinsdale also premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight. Cholodenko co-wrote and directed The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Benning, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo, which was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. The film garnered a Golden Globe for Best Picture, Comedy or Musical.
In addition to features, Cholodenko has directed highly acclaimed episodic series, including the four-part HBO series Olive Kittridge, starring Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins, Bill Murray, and Jesse Plemons. The series earned three Golden Globe nominations, and Cholodenko received a Directors Guild Award and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Director. She was an executive producer and directed three episodes for the Netflix series Unbelievable, which won a Peabody Award. Recently, she was an executive producer and director for two episodes of the Hulu series The Girl from Plainville, starring Elle Fanning. Cholodenko has helmed films for renowned global brands, including Skyy Vodka, Jaguar, and L’Oréal, among others. She is currently slated to write and direct an adaptation of the award-winning German film Toni Erdmann, as well as Beautiful, the Grammy-winning Broadway musical about the early life and career of Carole King.