Barbara Loden (1932, Marion, North Carolina-1980, New York City) arrived in New York at the age of 16, first earning her living as a model and nightclub dancer. In the 1950s she got occasional work in television, perfecting her new profession in Paul Mann’s acting courses. She took roles in the films Wild River (1960) and Splendor in the Grass (1961) by Elia Kazan, whom she married in 1968. Two years later she came out with her surprising directorial debut, Wanda, which brought her the Critics’ Prize at the Venice IFF. In the 1970s several of this talented creator’s projects foundered for lack of financing, and her career and life were cut short by cancer.
46. IFF Karlovy Vary
