Chris Hegedus

Chris Hegedus (born April 23, 1952) is a highly acclaimed American documentary filmmaker. Together with her husband, D. A. Pennebaker, she co-founded Pennebaker Hegedus Films. Widely recognized for her work, Hegedus was nominated for an Academy Award for The War Room, a riveting behind-the-scenes account of President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. This critical success also bagged the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures prize for Best Documentary. In 2001, the Directors Guild of America recognized Hegedus's directorial prowess by awarding her the Outstanding Directorial Achievement for Startup.com, a compelling tale of two young internet entrepreneurs. She followed this with a variety of successes, winning numerous awards including CINE's Golden Eagle Award, an Emmy, and lifetime achievement awards from several organizations including the International Documentary Association. An active contributor to the industry, she has taught film at Yale University for eight years, earning their Film Studies Award.

Her biography traces back to her education in Fine Arts at the Hartford Art School and later at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design where she polished her skills in photography and experimental filmmaking. Making her mark first at the University of Michigan Burn Center and then on independent films, her collaboration with D. A. Pennebaker took off in 1976. Together, they created a number of popular films over the decades. Her most recent work, 'Unlocking the Cage', deals with the controversial issue of legal rights for animals and earned yet another Emmy nomination for her.