Chloé Zhao is a Chinese filmmaker known for her work on independent films. She gained widespread acclaim for directing Nomadland, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Director, becoming the second woman to achieve this honor. Born in Beijing and raised there and in England, Zhao studied at Mount Holyoke College. Her debut feature, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, premiered in 2015. She is also recognized for her films The Rider and Eternals. Zhao's work often explores themes of identity and belonging, earning her a reputation as one of the industry's most acclaimed directors.