
Heather Rae
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Chief Impact Officer
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Founder
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Sr. Member
Heather Rae is a highly acclaimed film and television producer and director, serving as Chief Impact Officer at CO\\OP Studios. Raised in Idaho, Heather has built a distinguished career spanning decades, specializing in compelling documentary and narrative projects, particularly those with Native American themes. Her role as Chief Impact Officer is a direct reflection of her career-long commitment to creating meaningful, socially resonant content.
From 1996 to 2001, Heather directed the Native program at the prestigious Sundance Institute, a testament to her deep commitment to fostering underrepresented voices in cinema. She later co-founded True West and the True West Cinema Film Festival in Idaho, further solidifying her dedication to nurturing independent filmmaking and its positive effects on communities.
Heather's filmography is marked by critical success and industry accolades. She produced the Academy Award-nominated ** Frozen River** (2008), which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and for which she personally received the Piaget Producers Award. Her directorial work includes the celebrated 2005 film ** Trudell**, which screened at over 100 film festivals worldwide and was nationally broadcast on PBS. Other notable productions include Netflix Originals ** Tallulah** (2016) and ** Dude** (2018), and the Cannes Film Festival premiere ** Bull** (2019). Most recently, she served as an Executive Producer on the Amazon series ** Outer Range** (2020-2021), starring Josh Brolin.
Recognized as one of Variety's "Ten Producers to Watch" in 2008 and a founding board member of the Sun Valley Film Festival, Heather’s profound experience and focus on socially conscious storytelling make her uniquely positioned to ensure that CO\\OP Studios' projects not only entertain, but also drive meaningful cultural and social impact.