Donna Deitch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donna Deitch
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | June 8, 1945 |
| Occupation | Director, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1975-present |
| Known for | Desert Hearts |
Donna Deitch (born June 8, 1945) is an American director, producer, and screenwriter. She is famous for making movies and television shows. Her best-known work is the 1985 film Desert Hearts. This movie was groundbreaking because it was one of the first to tell a love story between two women in a positive and respectful way.
Contents
Filmmaking Career
Donna Deitch began her career making documentaries, which are films about real-life events and people. She then decided to produce and direct her own feature film, Desert Hearts.
The Success of Desert Hearts
Desert Hearts became a huge hit at major film festivals in 1985, including the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. In 1986, it also won a special award at the famous Sundance Film Festival. Because the film was so popular, a major company called The Samuel Goldwyn Company released it in theaters around the world.
The movie's success brought Deitch a lot of attention. Famous talk show host Oprah Winfrey saw the film and hired Deitch to direct a four-hour TV miniseries called The Women of Brewster Place. The show was a big success and was nominated for Emmy Awards.
Directing for Television
After Brewster Place, Deitch became a popular director for television. She has directed many episodes of hit TV dramas. Some of the well-known shows she has worked on include:
- NYPD Blue
- ER
- Law and Order: SVU
- Crossing Jordan
- Heroes
- Private Practice
She also directed TV movies for networks like HBO and Showtime. One of her TV movies, The Devil's Arithmetic, starred actresses Kirsten Dunst and Brittany Murphy.
Documentary Filmmaking
In 1998, Deitch made a very personal documentary called Angel On My Shoulder. The film was about her best friend, actress Gwen Welles, and her experience with a serious illness. Deitch directed, filmed, and edited the documentary herself. It won a top award for Best Documentary at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Selected Film and Television Work
Donna Deitch has had a long career directing many different projects. Here are some of her most important works.
Films
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Woman to Woman | A documentary film that Deitch directed, produced, filmed, and edited. |
| 1985 | Desert Hearts | Her most famous film. It won a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. |
| 1998 | Angel on My Shoulder | An award-winning documentary about her friend, Gwen Welles. |
Television Movies and Miniseries
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Women of Brewster Place | A miniseries she directed for Oprah Winfrey. |
| 1991 | Prison Stories: Women on the Inside | A TV film for HBO. |
| 1999 | The Devil's Arithmetic | A TV film for Showtime. |
| 2000 | Common Ground | A TV film for Showtime. |
Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Donna Deitch has won several awards for her work in film and television.
| Year | Work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Desert Hearts | Special Jury Prize – Dramatic • Sundance Film Festival | Won |
| 1998 | Angel on My Shoulder | Gold Hugo – Best Documentary • Chicago International Film Festival | Won |
| 2000 | The Devil's Arithmetic | Emmy Award – Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special | Won |
| 2008 | Outfest Achievement Award • Outfest | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Donna Deitch para niños
- List of female film and television directors
- List of lesbian filmmakers
- List of LGBT-related films directed by women
