Chris Weitz (Trinity 1987): Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Cultural Storyteller
Chris Weitz (Trinity 1987) is a celebrated American filmmaker whose career spans blockbuster hits, literary adaptations, and genre-defining screenplays. His Cambridge education laid the foundation for a storytelling style that blends wit, emotional depth, and cultural insight.
Born in New York City in 1969, Weitz comes from a storied Hollywood lineage: his mother, Susan Kohner, was an Oscar-nominated actress; his father, John Weitz, a novelist and fashion designer; and his grandparents included Mexican film star Lupita Tovar and legendary agent Paul Kohner.
Weitz began his career co-writing Antz (1998), and quickly rose to prominence with his brother Paul through American Pie (1999) and About a Boy (2002), the latter earning them an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. He went on to direct The Golden Compass, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and co-write Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Disney’s Cinderella (2015).
Beyond Hollywood, Weitz has worked as a journalist, judged student film festivals, and supported emerging filmmakers. His Cambridge years remain a touchstone for his intellectual curiosity and creative ambition.