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ChloΓ© ZhaoΒ (bornΒ Zhao Ting;Β 31 March 1982) is a Chinese filmmaker. She is known primarily for her work onΒ independent films. For her filmΒ NomadlandΒ (2020), Zhao became the third woman to win theΒ Academy Award for Best Director.
Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught MeΒ (2015), premiered atΒ Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and earned a nomination for theΒ Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.Β The RiderΒ (2017) was critically acclaimed and received nominations for theΒ Independent Spirit Award for Best FilmΒ andΒ Best Director.
Zhao garnered international recognition with the American filmΒ NomadlandΒ (2020), which she wrote, produced, edited and directed, and which won numerous accolades, including theΒ Golden LionΒ at theΒ Venice Film FestivalΒ and theΒ People's Choice AwardΒ at theΒ Toronto International Film Festival. With fourΒ Academy Award nominations, Zhao wonΒ Best Picture andΒ Best Director, becoming the first woman of colour to win the latter.Β She also won directing awards at theΒ Directors Guild of America Awards,Β Golden Globe Awards, andΒ British Academy Film Awards, becoming the second female winner of each.
Zhao co-wrote and directed theΒ Marvel Cinematic UniverseΒ superhero filmΒ EternalsΒ (2021).Β Her 2025 film,Β Hamnet, premiered at theΒ 52nd Telluride Film FestivalΒ to critical acclaim. It won theΒ Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture β DramaΒ in 2025 and theΒ BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film. It was nominated for theΒ Academy Award for Best Picture. Zhao also received her second nomination for theΒ Academy Award for Best Director, becoming only the second woman, afterΒ Jane Campion, to achieve two nominations in this category.