Hannah Pearl Utt Explained

Birth Date:22 February 1987[1]
Occupation:Film director, screenwriter, actress

Hannah Pearl Utt (born February 22, 1987) is an American filmmaker and actress best known for the 2019 film Before You Know It and the 2023 film Cora Bora.[2]

Early life and education

Utt was raised in Santa Barbara, California.[3] After initially enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles,[4] she graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University.

Career

While at UCLA in the late 2000s, Utt appeared alongside her fellow students in the web series Dorm Life.[5]

From 2015 to 2016, Utt directed and starred in the series Disengaged for Super Deluxe. She co-wrote the series with her fellow series star Jen Tullock, with whom she previously collaborated on the short film Partners.[6] Utt appeared in a small role in the 2017 film Ingrid Goes West.

Before You Know It, Utt's feature directorial debut, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Utt had written the screenplay for the project with Tullock and the two starred in the feature alongside Judith Light, Oona Yaffe, and Mandy Patinkin.[7] That year, she was named as one of "25 Female Filmmakers to Watch" by IndieWire.

In 2023, Utt's second feature film Cora Bora starring Meg Stalter premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Personal life

Utt resides in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorWriterActorRoleNotesRef.
2015PartnersKateShort film
2017Ingrid Goes WestNicoleCredited as Hannah Utt
2019Before You Know ItRachel Gurner
2023Cora Bora

Web series

YearTitleDirectorWriterActorRoleNotesRef.
2008–2009Dorm LifeBrittany Wilcox41 episodes
2015–2016DisengagedJulesDirected 8 of 10 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2009Streamy AwardsBest Ensemble Cast in a Web SeriesDorm Life[8]
2010[9]
2019Sundance Film FestivalU.S. Dramatic CompetitionBefore You Know It[10]
Cleveland International Film FestivalAmerican Independents Competition[11]
Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman
2020QueertyBest Film Performance[12]
2023Nashville Film FestivalBest Narrative FeatureCora Bora[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hannah Pearl Utt . Issue Magazine . 15 June 2024.
  2. News: Fleming . Ryan . ‘Cora Bora’ Director Hannah Pearl Utt & Cast On “Representing Really Challenging People In A Really Emotionally Intelligent Way” – SXSW Studio . 15 June 2024 . Deadline.
  3. News: Kumar . Janavi . Hannah Pearl Utt Interviewed . 15 June 2024 . Santa Barbara Independent.
  4. News: Kumar . Janavi . Hannah Pearl Utt Interviewed . 15 June 2024 . Santa Barbara Independent.
  5. News: Miller . Liz Shannon . Dorm Life’s Second Semester an Easy Sell for Superfans (And Carl’s Jr.) . 15 June 2024 . The New York Times.
  6. Web site: Hannah Pearl Utt . Sundance Collab . 15 June 2024.
  7. News: Harvey . Dennis . Sundance Film Review: ‘Before You Know It’ . 15 June 2024 . Variety.
  8. Web site: 1st Annual Winners . Streamy Awards . 15 June 2024.
  9. Web site: 2nd Annual Winners . Streamy Awards . 15 June 2024.
  10. News: July . Berandrea . ‘Before You Know It’: Film Review Sundance 2019 . 15 June 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. Web site: Before You Know It . Cleveland International Film Festival . 15 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Best Film Performance 2020 . Queerty . 15 June 2024.
  13. Web site: Cora Bora . Nashville Film Festival . 15 June 2024.