Josephine Decker (born April 2, 1981) is an English-born American filmmaker known for her emotionally immersive, experimental style. Her films often blur the boundaries between psychology, performance, and narrative realism. She has directed features including Butter on the Latch (2013), Thou Wast Mild and Lovely (2014), Madeline’s Madeline (2018), Shirley (2020), and The Sky Is Everywhere (2022). She also co-directed the documentary Bi the Way (2008).
Early life
Decker was born in London and raised in Texas. As a child, she studied piano and initially dreamed of becoming a writer or a photographer for National Geographic. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1999 and later attended Princeton University, graduating in 2003. While at Princeton, she aspired to become a conductor and explored music seriously before ultimately turning toward filmmaking. She has cited the animated film Monsters, Inc. as an unexpected but pivotal inspiration in realizing her desire to direct.
Career
Decker produced and directed her first short film, Naked Princeton, in 2005. In 2008, she co-directed the documentary Bi the Way with Brittany Blockman, which explored bisexual identity in the United States. Though some critics viewed the film as modest in scope, it went on to receive festival recognition and helped establish her early reputation.
She followed with several short films, including Where Are You Going, Elena? (2009) and Me the Terrible (2012), the latter of which received notable critical praise for its poetic and emotionally raw approach.
In 2010, Decker drew attention at the Museum of Modern Art during Marina Abramović’s retrospective The Artist Is Present when she staged an unsanctioned performance by disrobing in the gallery, describing the act as an attempt to mirror Abramović’s vulnerability. The incident reinforced Decker’s reputation as an artist willing to take personal and creative risks.
Her feature debut, Butter on the Latch (2013), was an experimental psychological thriller set at a Balkan folk music camp. The film received strong critical acclaim for its visual lyricism and improvisational structure and marked Decker as a significant new voice in American independent cinema. That same year, she was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film.”
Decker’s second feature, Thou Wast Mild and Lovely (2014), further embraced abstraction and erotic tension, exploring isolation and repression through a highly stylized lens. The film was partially funded through crowdfunding and was later released theatrically and on video-on-demand alongside Butter on the Latch.
In addition to directing, Decker has appeared as an actor in numerous independent films, frequently collaborating with filmmaker Joe Swanberg and other figures associated with the American mumblecore and experimental film scenes.
In 2017, Decker co-directed the documentary Flames with Zefrey Throwell, a deeply personal film chronicling their intense romantic and artistic relationship over several years.
Her third feature, Madeline’s Madeline (2018), premiered at major international film festivals and starred Helena Howard as a young acting student whose emotional life becomes inseparable from her performance work. The film was widely praised for its daring structure and its exploration of identity, creativity, and mental health.
In 2020, Decker directed Shirley, a psychological drama inspired by the life of author Shirley Jackson. Starring Elisabeth Moss and Michael Stuhlbarg, the film marked Decker’s most high-profile project to date and was produced by Christine Vachon, with Martin Scorsese serving as executive producer. Critics noted the film as her most ambitious work.
Decker followed with The Sky Is Everywhere (2022), a coming-of-age drama adapted from the novel of the same name. Released by Apple TV+ and A24, the film represented a stylistic shift toward a lighter, more lyrical tone while retaining her signature emotional intensity.
Influences
Decker has cited films such as Antichrist, Days of Heaven, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Silent Light, and Black Swan as major influences, as well as the novel East of Eden. She has also credited fellow filmmaker Joe Swanberg and frequent collaborator Sarah Small as important creative influences.
Personal life
Decker was raised in a Christian household and later became a practicing Buddhist, a belief system she has followed since at least the early 2010s.
