SPOTLIGHT STORIES: FILM INDUSTRY Q&A SERIES With Canadian film and television Director, Producer and Screenwriter Jennifer Holness

A special Q&A with Jennifer Holness, award-winning producer and media executive, exploring her journey in the Canadian screen industry, her approach to storytelling, and her commitment to amplifying Black voices on screen.

MODERATOR

ALIYAH BUREY - Grant Writer, Spoken Word Poet

With over 10 years of grant writing Aliyah daily dedicates her time on social media to demystifying the grant writing process so that young creators can feel empowered to access funding opportunities. She has a strong understanding of the non-profit sector and has secured over $30,500 in successful grants.

On the other side of grant writing Aliyah has worked for the Unison Benevolent Fund & Canadian Red Cross evaluating and assessing.

She volunteers as a jury member for FACTOR, Ontario Trillium Foundation and has led grant writing workshops for Toronto Black Film festival, Ottawa Black Film Festival and House of Nine Sorority.

Jennifer Holness - President of Hungry Eyes, Writer, Director, and Producer

Jen Holness writes, produces, and directs. She recently produced RT Thorne’s thriller, 40 Acres, which was nominated for five NAACP Awards, including Outstanding Independent Motion Picture and Outstanding International Picture. The film is currently streaming and reached the #1 spot on Hulu. Her doc feature, #WhileBlack that she co-wrote and co-directed, will premiere at the SXSW this year and her doc, Subject of Desire was a TIFF Top Ten film. Over decades Jen’s films and TV shows have screened and sold globally, earning prizes from major film festivals, along with multiple industry awards. A CMPA Indiescreen Producer of the Year, Jen also received WIFT’s Creative Excellence Award and The Hollywood Reporter profiled her as one of the 40 Most Influential Women in International Film.