Jennifer Holness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer Holness
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Jennifer Holness at a CFC event in L.A.
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| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Occupation | Film/TV Director, Producer and Screenwriter |
| Known for | Subjects of Desire Guns She's the Mayor |
Jennifer Holness is a talented film and television director, producer, and screenwriter. She was born in Jamaica and later moved to Canada. Jennifer runs a company called Hungry Eyes Media Inc. with her husband and business partner, Sudz Sutherland.
She has created many well-known films and TV shows. Some of her famous works include the film Subjects of Desire. She also worked on TV series like Guns, She's the Mayor, and Shoot the Messenger. Jennifer also directed the documentary film Speakers for the Dead. She produced another documentary called Brick by Brick.
Contents
About Jennifer Holness
Her Early Life
Jennifer Holness was born in 1969 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. When she was young, she moved to Toronto, Canada, with her mother. She later attended York University. There, she studied political science. This is also where she met her husband, David "Sudz" Sutherland. They got married after finishing their studies. Jennifer and Sudz have three daughters.
Her Work in Film and TV
Jennifer Holness has shared that her childhood helped her see the city in a special way. This view influences how she creates her films and shows. She often tells stories that others might avoid. These stories cover important topics. For example, she has explored issues like gun violence. She also looks at challenges faced by immigrants in Toronto.
Her professional journey began with a documentary. It was called Speakers for the Dead (2000). She co-directed this film with her husband, Sudz Sutherland. Later, Jennifer produced and co-wrote a TV miniseries for CBC. It was titled Guns (2009). This series focused on gun violence.
She then produced another documentary, Badge of Pride (2010). This film explored the difficulties faced by some police officers. Jennifer also produced and co-wrote a feature film. It was called Home Again (2012). This movie followed people from Jamaica who were sent back home from Canada. Jennifer was inspired by a high school classmate. This classmate was sent back to Jamaica and sadly died there. The film aimed to challenge a law that allowed immigrants with criminal records to be sent back to their home countries. This movie was a big project. It had a budget of over 4 million dollars.
In 2016, she produced and co-wrote Shoot the Messenger. This was a TV crime drama. It followed a journalist who got involved with different groups. These included gangs and politicians. The journalist worked to uncover a murder case. The idea for the show was partly based on events involving a former Toronto mayor.
In 2021, her documentary film Subjects of Desire was shown for the first time. It premiered at the SXSW festival. It competed in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Awards and Recognition
Jennifer Holness has received many awards for her amazing work. Here are some of them:
| Year | Awards and Nominations |
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| 2000 | Best Documentary Film (Speakers for the Dead), Black Film and Video Network's Reel Black Award
HBO Award for Best Short Film (My Father’s Hands), Acapulco International Black Film Festival Best Drama (My Father’s Hands), Yorkton Film Festival, Golden Sheaf Award Best Director (My Father’s Hands), Yorkton Film Festival, Golden Sheaf Award |
| 2001 | Prix Chantal Lapaire (Speakers for the Dead), Vues D’Afrique Film Festival |
| 2003 | Best Canadian First Feature Film, Toronto International Film Festival |
| 2004 | Audience Award, Best Feature Film, American Black Film Festival
Best Feature, Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival Audience Award, Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival Best Canadian Feature, Victoria Independent Film + Video Festival |
| 2010 | Best Writing (Guns), Canadian Gemini Award |
| 2011 | Excellence in Media – Video (Brick by Brick: The Story of the Evergreen Brickworks), Heritage Toronto Awards |
List of Her Works
Here is a list of films and TV shows Jennifer Holness has worked on:
| Year | Film |
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| 1998 | Win/Loss/Tie |
| 1998 | I'm a Big Girl |
| 1999 | Roadkill Travelogue |
| 1999 | Vicious Cycles |
| 1999 | My Father's Hands |
| 2001 | Bagatelle |
| 2002 | Yin yin/Jade Love |
| 2008 | Guns |
| 2010 | Badge of Pride |
| 2011 | She's the Mayor |
| 2011 | Brick by Brick |
| 2012 | Home Again |
| 2020 | Stateless |
| 2021 | Subjects of Desire |
| 2022 | BLK, An Origin Story |
| 2024 | 40 Acres |
