Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Gabriela Cowperthwaite has been directing documentaries and narrative films for over 20 years. She rose to prominence with the release of Blackfish (Mountainfilm 2013), which examined the plight of orcas and their trainers at SeaWorld. Blackfish quickly became one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time and helped permanently change the captive industry. The film was shortlisted for an Academy Award and nominated for a BAFTA Award. Most recently, Cowperthwaite completed ISS, a space station thriller starring Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose. Her critically acclaimed film Our Friend, starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and Jason Segel, was released in 2021. Megan Leavey, which marked Cowperthwaite’s narrative directorial debut, is based on the true life story of a Marine corporal (Kate Mara) whose unique bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq. Most recently, she directed The Grab (Mountainfilm 2023).