Christine Vachon

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Christine Vachon
Born 1962 (age 51–52)
New York City
Occupation Producer
Years active 1985 – present
Partner(s) Marlene McCarty
Parents John Vachon
Françoise Fourestier

Christine Vachon (born 1962) is an American film producer active in the American independent film sector and daughter of Françoise Fourestier and noted photographer John Vachon.[1]

Christine Vachon produced Todd Haynes' first feature, Poison, which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival. Since then, she has gone on to produce many acclaimed American independent films, including Far From Heaven (nominated for four Academy Awards), Boys Don't Cry (Academy Award winner), One Hour Photo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Happiness, Velvet Goldmine, SAFE, I Shot Andy Warhol, Go Fish, Swoon, I'm Not There, Gigantic, Cracks. and Cairo Time. Her latest and upcoming projects include a short film collaboration with ACE Hotel and online film content producers Massify entitled "Lulu at the Ace Hotel" as well as a five-part HBO mini-series adaptation of James M. Cain's 1941 novel, Mildred Pierce.

Vachon also participates as a member of the Jury for the NYICFF, a paramount New York City Film Festival dedicated to screening films for children between the ages of 3 and 18.[2]

Early life

Vachon was born in Manhattan, New York City. She graduated from Brown University in 1983, where she met fellow alums director Todd Haynes and Barry Ellsworth. Together, they created Apparatus Productions in 1987, a non-profit company deeply inspired by the anti-Hollywood New York film scene and oversaw the production of seven films in five years. Most notoriously, Apparatus produced Haynes' controversial Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, a film depicting the dramatic rise and fall of the anorexic pop star. To make financial ends meet, Vachon became a proofreader by night. She also took on odd jobs in the film industry to learn the trade.

Killer Films

Vachon and fellow New York producer Pamela Koffler currently run Killer Films, which was established in 1996. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005 and was honored with a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Her first feature "Poison" (written and directed by Academy Award nominee Todd Haynes) won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1991. Since that initial success Christine has worked on a number of noteworthy films, including "I Shot Andy Warhol," "Happiness," "Kids," "One Hour Photo" and "Boys Don't Cry." Through her enduring relationship with Todd, she has worked on every feature film of his to date, including "Safe," "Velvet Goldmine," "Far From Heaven," and "I'm Not There," which starred Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Julianne Moore, and Michelle Williams. Cate Blanchett received both Academy Award and SAG Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress, and the film was also nominated for 4 Independent Spirit Awards, notching a Best Supporting Actress win for Cate Blanchett.

In 2008, Christine won an Emmy for her role as executive producer for the TV adaptation of Ira Glass's This American Life.[citation needed]

Killer's releases for 2008 include Savage Grace, directed by Tom Kalin and starring Julianne Moore; An American Crime, starring Catherine Keener and Ellen Page, directed by Tommy O'Haver: Then She Found Me, the directorial debut of Helen Hunt, starring herself, Bette Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick.

Personal life

Vachon and her partner, artist Marlene McCarty, live in the East Village of New York with their daughter Guthrie. In the fall of 2009, Vachon went into remission after a battle with breast cancer.[3]

Awards and Juries

  • In 1994, Vachon was awarded the Frameline for Award Outstanding Achievement in Lesbian and Gay Media.[citation needed]
  • In 1996 Vachon was honored with the Muse Award for Outstanding Vision and Achievement by New York Women in Film and Television.
  • Vachon received the IFP's 1999 Gotham Award for producing.[citation needed]
  • Vachon received Honorary Maverick Award at Woodstock Film Festival[4]
  • For her work on Far from Heaven, Vachon was honored by the New York Film Critics Circle.[citation needed]
  • Vachon received the 2003 Producers Award from the National Board of Review.
  • Vachon and Killer Films received the 2000 Provincetown International Film Festival Provincetown Filmmaker on the Edge Award.
  • Vachon and Killer Films were given special tributes from the SXSW and Deauville Film Festivals.[citation needed]
  • Vachon was a member of the 2005 Venice Film Festival.
  • Vachon was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1993 and then again in 2005.
  • Vachon was member of the 2010 Sarajevo Film Festival.
  • Most recently, Vachon was member and jury president of the 60th San Sebastian international film festival in 2012.

Books

In 1998, Christine released her first book, "Shooting to Kill." In it, she details and dissects the intricate process of creating films while injecting personal anecdotes and stories. Her second book, "A KILLER LIFE: HOW AN INDEPENDENT FILM PRODUCER SURVIVES DEAL AND DISASTERS IN HOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND" was published in September 2006 by Simon and Schuster.

Filmography as producer

Director's name in brackets after film title.

References

  1. ↑ Buckley, Cara (November 6, 2009). "When Being Home Is an Adventure". The New York Times. 
  2. ↑ "NYICFF Jury". Gkids.com. 
  3. ↑ Dietrich, Joy (July 6, 2010). "Asked & Answered". The New York Times. Retrieved July 6, 2010. 
  4. ↑ "AND THE 2007 WINNERS ARE...". Woodstock Film Festival. 2007. 

External links

Authority control
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