Lydia Dean Pilcher facts for kids

Lydia Dean Pilcher is an American film and television producer and director. She is known for creating movies that tell powerful stories from all over the world. She also started her own production company called Cine Mosaic, which is based in New York City.

A film producer helps make a movie happen. They are involved from the beginning to the end, managing the budget, schedule, and creative team. A director is in charge of the creative vision of the film, guiding the actors and the crew to bring the story to life on screen. Lydia Dean Pilcher has done both of these important jobs.

She has worked on over 35 films and has won two Emmy Awards. In 2014, she was nominated for an Academy Award for the documentary Cutie and the Boxer. She has worked with famous directors like Mira Nair on eleven different movies, including The Namesake and Queen of Katwe, which was made by The Walt Disney Company. She also produced the HBO Films movie The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring Oprah Winfrey.

More recently, Pilcher directed her own movies. In 2018, she directed A Call to Spy, an exciting thriller about real-life female spies during World War II. She also co-directed the film Radium Girls, which tells the story of factory workers who fought for their rights.

Career in Filmmaking

Early Work and Education

Lydia Dean Pilcher studied Political Science and Communications in college. She then earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from New York University's film school in 1983. This education helped her learn how to tell important stories through film.

She started her career making documentaries. She also worked in the production department on major movies. This gave her experience on big film sets and allowed her to learn from famous directors like Martin Scorsese, John Hughes, and Robert Redford.

Founding Cine Mosaic

In 2002, Pilcher started her own production company, Cine Mosaic. The company focuses on making independent films, often by working with filmmakers from different countries. This allows her to create movies that show diverse cultures and points of view.

Through Cine Mosaic, she has produced many award-winning films. Some of her well-known productions include:

• The Darjeeling Limited, directed by Wes Anderson.
• The Namesake, based on a popular novel by Jhumpa Lahiri.
• Amelia, a movie starring Hilary Swank as the famous pilot Amelia Earhart.
• The Lunchbox, a heartwarming film from India that was loved by audiences and critics.
• The Reluctant Fundamentalist, a movie based on an acclaimed novel, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson.

Award-Winning Productions

Pilcher has been recognized many times for her work as a producer. In 2010, she was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the HBO film You Don't Know Jack, starring Al Pacino.

In 2005, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for the HBO movie Iron Jawed Angels. This film, starring Hilary Swank, tells the story of women who fought for the right to vote in the United States. She also received award nominations for the film Normal, which starred Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson.

Working for a Greener Planet

Lydia Dean Pilcher is also passionate about protecting the environment. In 2006, she helped start PGA Green. It is a part of the Producers Guild of America that encourages movie and TV sets to be more eco-friendly.

PGA Green created the Green Production Guide. This guide helps film crews find ways to reduce waste and save energy during production. Major movie studios like Disney, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures have supported this project.

Pilcher is also a member of The Climate Reality Project, an organization started by former Vice President Al Gore. She often speaks at film festivals and events about how the entertainment industry can help fight climate change. For her work, she received the "Made in New York" Award, which honors people who have helped the city's entertainment industry grow.

Personal Life

Lydia Dean Pilcher is married to Mark Friedberg, who is a production designer. A production designer is responsible for the overall look of a film, including the sets and locations. They have two children together.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of the movies Lydia Dean Pilcher has worked on as a producer or director.

As a Producer

• Longtime Companion (1989)
• Mississippi Masala (1991)
• Cradle Will Rock (1999)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Hysterical Blindness (2002)
• Iron Jawed Angels (2004)
• Vanity Fair (2004)
• The Namesake (2006)
• The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
• Amelia (2009)
• You Don't Know Jack (2010)
• The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013)
• Cutie and the Boxer (2013)
• The Lunchbox (2014)
• Queen of Katwe (2016)
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)
• A Suitable Boy (2020)

As a Director

• Radium Girls (2018)
• A Call to Spy (2019)

See also

• List of female film and television directors