Callie Khouri

Credits: Thelma & Louise, Something to Talk About, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Nashville

Callie Khouri galvanized women and sparked nationwide debate in 1991 with the hit movie Thelma and Louise, her screenwriting debut, for which she received an Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She was honored by the Writers Guild of America for “Best Original Screenplay,” and won a Golden Globe Award and a PEN Literary Award. Thelma and Louise took home the London Film Critics Circle Award for “Film of the Year,” and was nominated for “Best Original Screenplay” by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. In 1992, she was recipient of the second annual Los Angeles Women Making history Award and the New York Women in Communications Matrix Award. Glamour magazine named her one of their top ten women of the year as well.

Her second picture, released in August 1995, was Something to Talk About for Warner Brothers pictures, starring Julia Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Gena Rowlands, Robert Duvall, and Kyra Sedgwick. Her directorial debut was in June 2002 with Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, which she also adapted for the screen. It starred Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Ellen Burstyn, and James Garner. In 2006, Ms. Khouri collaborated with legendary television producer Steven Bochco to create an original television series for ABC/Touchstone titled Hollis and Rae. She wrote and directed the pilot. Bochco Media produced the project. Most recently, Ms. Khouri has finished directing her second feature film titled Mad Money. The film stars Diane Keaton, Queen Latifa, Katie Holmes and Ted Danson. It was released in January 2008.

Born in Texas and raised in Kentucky, Callie Khouri attended Purdue University, where she majored in drama. She pursued additional training at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles and later with Peggy Fuery. In 1985, she began working in film production, producing commercials and music videos.

Callie Khouri served on the board of directors of the Writer’s Guild of America in 1996-1998 and 2000-2002. She also served on the board of trustees of the Writer’s Guild Foundation from 2001 to 2004. In 2005 she was awarded the Horton Foote Award for special achievement in screenwriting. She resides in the Los Angeles area.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

1991 Oscar from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

1991 Writer’s Guild of America Annual Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

1991 Golden Globe for Best Screenplay

Nominated for Best Original Screenplay of 1991 by the British Academy of Film and television Arts

1991 Feminist of the Year Award for Courage and Commitment in Publicity Standing up for Women’s Rights, from the Feminist Majority Foundation

1991 Named one of Glamour Magazines Top Ten Woman of the Year

1992 PEN Center USA West Literary Award for Screenwriting

1992 Matrix Award in film, from New York Women in Communications, Inc.

1992 Second annual Los Angeles Women Making History Award from Congresswoman Barbara Boxer

2005 winner of the Horton Foote Award for Special Achievement in Screenwriting