Jennifer Holness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jennifer Holness
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Jennifer Holness at a CFC event in L.A.
|
|
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Occupation | Film/TV Director, Producer and Screenwriter |
| Known for | Subjects of Desire ... and Eating the Bones Guns She's the Mayor |
Jennifer Holness is a talented director, producer, and screenwriter. She was born in Jamaica and later moved to Canada. She runs a company called Hungry Eyes Media Inc. with her husband, Sudz Sutherland.
Jennifer has worked on many films and TV shows. Some of her well-known projects include the film Subjects of Desire. ..... Her TV series work includes Guns, She's the Mayor, and Shoot the Messenger. She also directed the documentary Speakers for the Dead.
Contents
About Jennifer Holness
Jennifer Holness was born in 1969 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She moved to Toronto, Canada, with her mother when she was young. Jennifer went to York University to study political science. There, she met her future husband, David "Sudz" Sutherland. They got married after finishing their studies. Jennifer and Sudz have three daughters.
Jennifer's Creative Work
Jennifer Holness has shared that her childhood helped shape her stories. She grew up in a housing project. This experience gave her a unique view of city life. Her work often explores important topics. She likes to tell stories that others might avoid. These stories can be about tough issues.
Early Projects
Jennifer's career began with a documentary. It was called Speakers for the Dead (2000). She co-directed it with her husband, Sudz Sutherland. ..... This series was for CBC and was titled Guns (2009).
She then produced another documentary in 2010. It was called Badge of Pride. This film looked at the challenges faced by gay police officers.
Telling Important Stories
Jennifer also produced and co-wrote a feature film. It was called Home Again (2012). This movie followed Jamaican people who were sent back 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. This law allowed immigrants with criminal records to be sent back to their home countries. Home Again was a big project. It had a production value of over 4 million dollars.
In 2016, she produced and co-wrote a TV crime drama. It was called Shoot the Messenger. This drama was about a journalist. She gets involved with different groups, like gangs and politicians. This happens as she investigates her first murder case. The idea for the show was partly based on events involving a former Toronto mayor.
Recent Films
In 2021, her documentary film Subjects of Desire was shown. It premiered at SXSW. It competed in the Documentary Feature Competition.
Awards and Recognition
Jennifer Holness has received many awards for her work. These awards celebrate her skills in filmmaking.
| Year | Awards and Nominations |
|---|---|
| 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 (..., and Eating the Bones), Toronto International Film Festival |
| 2004 | Audience Award, Best Feature Film (..., and Eating the Bones), American Black Film Festival
Best Feature (..., and Eating the Bones), Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival Audience Award (..., and Eating the Bones), Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival Best Canadian Feature (..., and Eating the Bones), 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 |
Filmography
Here is a list of some of the films Jennifer Holness has worked on:
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2003 | ... and Eating the Bones |
| 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 |
