Lady Director

Joyce Chopra is currently being recognized as a pioneer in the history of film, one of the rare women directors, a precursor, role model and inspiration to young women directing films today.         With the success of Maggie Gyllenhaal's "The Lost Daughter," Chloe Zhao's "Nomadland," Ava Duvernay’s "13th," and Jane Campion's "Power of the Dog," female filmmakers are garnering more attention than ever.          Chopra discusses the kind of gender discrimination that she faced in the industry, long before #MeToo and the resulting public awareness of the gender disparities and abuse in Hollywood.         Joyce Chopra’s work is celebrated in two new/forthcoming books about women in film, including: Alicia Malone's "Girls on Film (Mango Press, March 2022);" and Amanda Reyes's forthcoming "Dangerous Passion" (Headpress 2023).       Chopra's Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning film Smooth Talk is being rediscovered following its recent inclusion in the "Revivals Line-Up" at the New York Film Festival.  The New Yorker, among other high profile media, wrote about the re-release.        Hollywood support & advocacy: Smooth Talk launched actress Laura Dern's career, and she will actively promote this book.          Chopra has won numerous awards for her filmmaking, while her groundbreaking documentary, Joyce at 34, is held in the NY MoMA's permanent collection.           Upon publication the Criterion Collection channel will feature Lady Director along with a special series on Chopra's films.         Lady Director offers rare, tell-all experiences that will be appreciated by audiences who like memoir, movie and TV insider accounts, coming-of-age stories, and a woman’s struggle to achieve her dreams.