After graduating summa cum laude with a B.A. in Cinema Art + Science from Columbia College, Lawson moved to Los Angeles, where she attended the prestigious American Film Institute and received a full-tuition scholarship to study Directing. Since graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree, Cara has worked for many distinguished filmmakers including television producer Mark Gordon and award-winning director Karyn Kusama. Currently, Cara works with Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, creators and showrunners of the hit cable television series Yellowjackets on Showtime.

In 2022, Cara was awarded a directing fellowship by Indeed and Hillman Grad’s Rising Voices, a highly selective program. Cara was one of ten filmmakers chosen to direct her short film entitled Crooked Trees Gon Give Me Wings an African American magical realism story that delves into the involuntary gynecology practiced on Black women during the 19th century and the vital assistance given by Black midwives. The film was filmed on location in Savannah, Georgia, and premiered at Tribeca’s 2022 Film Festival.