Mexican filmmaker, she became internationally known with her film Danzón, which was successfully presented at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Her career began with the Colectivo Cine Mujer in 1979 making social documentaries in 16mm, she studied Sociology at UNAM (Mexican National Autonomous University) and later Film at ENAC (National School of Cinematographic) also from UNAM, at the Sundance Institute, USA and at the EICT, Cuba. She has been the scriptwriter and director of all her films as well as a producer of the most recent ones (Lola, 1989; Danzón, 1991; El jardín del edén, 1994; Sin dejar huella, 2000; Las buenas hierbas, 2010; Tesoros, 2017).
In 2006 she began as a producer (Quemar las naves, by F. Franco) and founded Axolote Cine, which to date has produced more than 12 films.
María Novaro is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (USA), of the Spanish Film Academy and of AMACC in Mexico. She currently is the General Director of the Mexican Film Institute.