After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts and English Literature at Sydney University, Australia, multi award winning producer Jan Chapman began her film career as a director of short films. She then honed both her producer and director skills at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she worked from 1982 to 1989. While at the ABC, Jan met and worked with Jane Campion on Two Friends, the first of a long list of successful collaborations between the two. In 1989 Jan set up her own production company, Jan Chapman Films, and produced her first feature film The Last Days of Chez Nous, directed by Gillian Armstrong.

In 1992, Jan reunited with director Jane Campion on the internationally acclaimed film The Piano, which was co-recipient of the Palme d'Or prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival as well as winner of scores of other international awards. That year Jan also won the Producers Guild of America's Nova Award for the most promising theatrical motion picture producer.

Jan then went on to produce several films in the 1990s including Love Serenade (1996), which won the Camera d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Holy Smoke (1999) followed and premiered internationally at the Venice Film Festival.

Jan's latest feature film is the striking Lantana (2001), directed by Ray Lawrence. Another successful Jan Chapman Films production, Lantana garnered an unprecedented seven Australian Film Institute awards as well as a British Independent Film award and the Prix de la Jury and Prix de la Critique prizes at the 2002 Cognac Film Festival.

Somersault (2004) marks Jan's first role as Executive Producer.