Allison Anders

Filmmaker Class of 1995
location icon Location
Los Angeles, California
age iconAge
41 at time of award
area of focus iconArea of Focus

About Allison's Work

Allison Anders is an independent filmmaker who tells the stories of women in American society.

She directs true-to-life films featuring women who are smart, resourceful, gritty, and strong.  As a student, she co-wrote and co-directed Border Radio (1987), a dark story about the L.A. punk rock scene.  Anders’ second feature, Gas, Food, Lodging (1992), which tells the story of a single mother and her two daughters, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and at the Berlin Film Festival.  Her third film, Mi Vida Loca (1993), is a romantic love story set in the barrios of Los Angeles that made its world premiere at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

Biography

In 1995, Anders co-wrote and co-directed the film Four Rooms.  Her recent films are set against the backdrop of the music scene: Grace of My Heart (1996), tells the life story of a female singer/songwriter during the 1960s,   Sugar Town (1999) chronicles the lives of aging rock stars and the women in their lives, and Things Behind the Sun (2001) depicts a punk-influenced singer/songwriter struggling with her emotionally devastating past.  Anders is featured in the 2004 documentary about women filmmakers entitled In the Company of Women.

Anders graduated from the Film Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (1986).

Last updated January 1, 2005

Published on July 1, 1995

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