Julia Hart (filmmaker)

Julia Hart (born April 7, 1982) is an American filmmaker and actress. She is known for writing and directing the comedy drama Miss Stevens (2016), the superhero drama Fast Color (2018), the musical romance Stargirl (2020), and the crime thriller I'm Your Woman (2020).

Julia Hart
A photograph of filmmaker Julia Hart and actress Brit Marling on the red carpet of Fantastic Fest 2015
Hart (right) with Brit Marling (left) at Fantastic Fest in 2015
Born (1982-04-07) April 7, 1982 (age 42)
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actress
  • philanthropist
Years active2002, 2014–present
SpouseJordan Horowitz
Children2
RelativesJames V. Hart (father)

Early life edit

Julia Hart was born on April 7, 1982.[1][2] Her father James is a screenwriter in Hollywood, and her mother Judith is an actress. In 1998, while still a teenager, Hart co-founded the Peter Pan Birthday Club, a charity program associated with the Peter Pan Children's Fund. The Birthday Club was inspired by one of her own experiences as a child. In 1992, while in London for the UK premiere of the movie Hook, which was written by her father, she was given a tour of the Great Ormond Street Hospital. After returning home to the United States, she asked her friends to make donations to the hospital in lieu of presents for her tenth birthday.[3]

Directly after graduating college, Hart began teaching high school at 25 years old. After eight years of teaching, she quit her job to pursue screenwriting.[4] In addition to her father, her brother Jake is also a screenwriter.[5]

Career edit

Miss Stevens was Hart's directorial debut. Inspired by her experience as a teacher, Miss Stevens follows a teacher as she chaperones three students on a weekend trip to a drama competition. This film premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival on March 12, 2016.[6] Miss Stevens was nominated for the Grand Jury Award and Gamechanger Award at the festival.[citation needed]

Hart's film Fast Color premiered at South by Southwest in 2018, a year when 80% of the films in the SXSW festival's narrative feature competition were directed or co-directed by women.[7]

Hart co-wrote Fast Color and I'm Your Woman with Jordan Horowitz, who has also served as a producer on her projects.

Personal life edit

Hart is married to film producer Jordan Horowitz. The couple have two children together.[8]

Filmography edit

Title Year Director Writer
2014 The Keeping Room No Yes
2016 Miss Stevens Yes Yes
2018 Fast Color Yes Yes
2020 Stargirl Yes Yes
I'm Your Woman Yes Yes
2022 Hollywood Stargirl Yes Yes

References edit

  1. ^ @juliahartowitz (April 8, 2017). "Directing on my 35th birthday. A day I won't forget. #fastcolor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ @juliahartowitz (April 7, 2020). "it's my birthday. that's it. that's the tweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Message". Peter Pan Children's Fund. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Bernstein, Paula (27 September 2016). "Five Questions for Miss Stevens Writer/Director Julia Hart". Filmmaker.
  5. ^ Olsen, Mark (5 September 2014). "Toronto Film Festival: 'Keeping Room' a Window into Women, Civil War". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Berger, Laura (2016-03-10). "SXSW 2016 Women Directors: Meet Julia Hart – 'Miss Stevens'". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  7. ^ Robehmed, Natalie (17 March 2018). "Female Directors Come Into Focus At SXSW Film Festival". Forbes.
  8. ^ "Julia Hart And Jordan Horowitz Redefine Partnership". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 11, 2020.

External links edit