Patricia Riggen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patricia Riggen
Riggen at the 2015 AFI Fest
Born	(1970-06-02) June 2, 1970 (age 55) Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Alma mater	Columbia University
Years active	1997–present
Spouse(s)	Checco Varese
Children	1

Patricia Riggen (born June 2, 1970) is a talented film director from Mexico. She is known for making movies that connect with people's feelings.

Some of her most famous works include the 2007 film Under the Same Moon. She also directed the popular 2011 Disney Channel movie Lemonade Mouth. More recently, she directed the 2025 Amazon Prime action thriller film G20, starring Viola Davis.

Early Life and Film Journey

Growing Up in Guadalajara

Patricia Riggen was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Before becoming a film director, she gained experience in journalism. She also wrote for documentaries in her home country.

Riggen studied Communication Sciences at ITESO, a university in Guadalajara. For her final project, she researched "Female Directors." This allowed her to interview the top four female film directors in Mexico at that time.

First Steps in Her Career

In her early 20s, Riggen had many different jobs. She wrote for a local newspaper in Guadalajara. She also worked for producer Bertha Navarro. Riggen even did research for a documentary by famous director Guillermo Del Toro.

In the late 1990s, she worked at the Mexican Film Institute. She was the Production Vice President for short films. It was then that Riggen decided she wanted to go back to school.

Studying in New York City

Riggen moved to New York City to study at Columbia University. There, she earned her master's degree in directing and screenwriting. She mentioned that she had to write and direct all her practice films in English. Since English was not her first language, she often wrote movies with no talking.

While at Columbia, she directed two short films. These were The Cornfield (2002) and Family Portrait (2004). The Cornfield won several film festival awards. Family Portrait later won a special prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Directing Major Films

Under the Same Moon (2007)

In 2007, Patricia Riggen released her first big movie, Under the Same Moon. It starred Kate del Castillo and America Ferrera. Riggen worked with writer and producer Ligiah Villalobos on this film.

The movie received funding from both the Mexican government and American investors. It was very well-liked at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film also won awards, including the ALMA Outstanding Spanish Language Motion Picture award in 2008. Riggen herself won Best Director at the Imagen Foundation Awards in 2008 for this film.

Lemonade Mouth (2011)

In 2010, Disney hired Riggen to direct the 2011 Disney Channel original movie Lemonade Mouth. This film was very popular, with over 7 million people watching it on its first night. Riggen's work on this movie was recognized with a nomination for the Directors Guild of America Awards.

Girl in Progress (2012)

After Lemonade Mouth, Riggen directed Revolución (2010) and Girl in Progress. Girl in Progress starred Eva Mendes and Patricia Arquette and came out in 2012. Riggen hoped this movie, a coming-of-age story with a female lead, would appeal to many audiences. She worked with popular actresses who had their own fanbases.

The 33 (2015)

Riggen's next film was The 33. This movie was based on the real-life 2010 Copiapó mining accident. In this event, 33 miners were trapped underground. The film was released in Chile in August 2015, marking five years since the mine collapse. It then came out in Latin America and later in the U.S. and worldwide in November 2015.

Riggen was excited to direct a film about such a "masculine" topic. The 33 was filmed in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Parts were also shot in real salt mines in Colombia. Riggen wanted the actors and crew to truly understand what being a miner was like. They worked long hours underground for 35 days.

Miracles from Heaven (2016)

In 2016, she finished Miracles from Heaven. This movie starred Jennifer Garner, Queen Latifah, and Eugenio Derbez. It tells a Christian story based on a book about a young girl's illness and amazing recovery in Texas. Riggen was the only Latina woman director in 12 years (as of 2016) to have a movie in the top 100 annual box office films.

Moving to Television Series

In 2018, Riggen started directing for television. She directed three episodes of the Amazon TV series Jack Ryan. This action thriller stars John Krasinski as a CIA analyst. Riggen directed episodes "Black 22," "End of Horror," and "The Boy" in Season 1. She found that working on TV shows allowed her to explore new types of stories. She enjoyed directing action scenes and focusing on character performances.

In 2021, Riggen joined the team for the Hulu mini-series ...sick. This series stars Michael Keaton. Riggen directed two episodes. A big challenge for her was filming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Directing Style and Themes

Focus on Emotions

Many of Patricia Riggen's films focus on emotions. In a 2005 interview, when she was starting her career, she said she wanted to take the audience on a journey and make them feel things.

Stories of Real Life

Under The Same Moon shows the challenges families face when moving from Mexico to the U.S. The film follows a young boy named Carlitos. He crosses the U.S.-Mexico border to find his mother, who works in Los Angeles. The movie is known for being very touching and heartfelt.

The film Miracles From Heaven tells a story through a child's eyes. It is based on the true story of a 10-year-old girl's amazing healing. The Los Angeles Times said the film shows the "human miracles that exist in everyday life."

The 33 is a drama based on the true story of the 2010 Chilean mining collapse. It follows the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for 69 days. The Amsterdam News praised the film, saying it "will touch your heart without even trying."

Supporting Women in Film

Encouraging Female Directors

Patricia Riggen actively encourages women to take their place in the film industry. This industry has traditionally been dominated by men. In an interview with Backstage magazine, she said, "We deserve to be there. The time is now to enter all those areas, particularly the directing arena." She believes that more women in leadership roles create more jobs for women and people of color.

Advocacy for Equal Pay

Riggen also supports the #LatinaEqualPay movement. She has shared her views on social media. She believes Latinas should not be paid less because employers do not recognize their talent. She highlights that unequal pay hurts families, the economy, and the entire country.

Personal Life

Patricia Riggen lives in Los Angeles. She is married to cinematographer Checco Varese. They have one daughter. Checco Varese has worked as the cinematographer for all of Riggen's films since Under the Same Moon.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Patricia Riggen para niños