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Kaären Ochoa

 Kaären Ochoa has over 40 years in the film industry, starting in Los Angeles as a writer, co-producer and director on documentaries and children’s films for ABC and PBS. Two docs she wrote and field directed, as part of the La Raza Series for ABC and McGraw Hill, were nominated for the Peabody Award in 1979.

A member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) since 1986, Kaären has worked as AssistantDirector on such films as Milagro Beanfield War and A River Runs Through It, both with Robert Redford directing; Crazy Heart, directed by Scott Cooper, with Jeff Bridges; Appaloosa, directed by Ed Harris; Selena,directed by Gregory Nava with Jennifer Lopez; Georgia O’Keeffe, directed by Bob Balaban, with Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons and most recently, the Disney film Stargirl. Her television work includes the mini-series Return to Lonesome Dove, Crazy Horse and Into the West. She AD’d the pilots for Breaking Bad and In PlainSight and the New Mexico unit for The Girlfriend Experience, Season 2.

As Unit Production Manager for Proof of Life, directed by Taylor Hackford, with Meg Ryan and RussellCrowe, she spent a year in Ecuador in 2000. In 2011 she was the U.S. Line Producer/UPM on the feature Gambit, starring Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz.

Since directing three short films, Kaären has been tapped to direct an independent feature about the life of Sacajawea. Current writing projects include two New Mexico stories, one of which she will direct.

In 1975, Kaären became a member of the newly formed Women in Film in Los Angeles. She is a founder of New Mexico Women in Film, a board member for many years and past president of theorganization.

Kaären has enjoyed mentoring other women and men over her career, including many who are now active, long-time professionals in our industry. She is most proud of her daughter, 1st AD Chemen Ochoa andher son, David Ochoa, who has worked Grip and Electric in the industry in Alaska, New Mexcio and L.A.

A mesa top near Abiquiu, New Mexico is home to Kaären and her husband, artist Doug Coffin, where they enjoy good wine from their cellar and the beautiful views of Georgia O’Keeffe country.