Bette Gordon

A pioneer in American Independent Cinema, Bette Gordon is known for her bold explorations of themes related to sexuality, violence and power. Her films have been screened theatrically in the US and abroad, as well as in all the major film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin, Locarno, Sundance, and Toronto. Gordon’s films are in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum, The British Film Institute Collection, The Centre Georges Pompidou and MoMA.

Gordon is best known for VARIETY (1984), a beautifully seductive film about voyeurism and pornography. LUMINOUS MOTION (2000) was produced by Ted Hope and Anthony Bregman and stars Deborah Kara Unger in a breathtaking performance. Gordon's film, HANDSOME HARRY, premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival (2009) and opened theatrically to rave reviews. The film features a stellar ensemble cast including Steve Buscemi, Titus Welliver, Aidan Quinn, Campbell Scott, Jamey Sheridan. The film critic John Powers has said, “Gordon’s willingness to explore dangerous territory puts her miles ahead of most filmmakers.”

Gordon has currently completed production on a new film, THE DROWNING, based on the book BORDER CROSSING by award winning British novelist Pat Barker. The film, a psychological thriller, stars Josh Charles, Julia Stiles, and young newcomer Avan Jogia. The film will have it’s premiere at The Woodstock Film Festival, 2015, and will be playing at additional festivals both internationally and within the US.

Her early short films, most notably EMPTY SUITCASES, won numerous awards and festival acclaim worldwide, including screenings at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and The Whitney Biennial, as well as prizes as The Chicago International Film Festival and Atlanta Festival of Film and Video.

Gordon has been the subject of recent retrospectives around the country, including in New York at the IFC Cinema and at Anthology Film Archives in 2016, and at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.