Jenny Lumet is one of television and film’s most compelling storytellers, bringing distinctive voices to both intimate character studies and expansive genre narratives. From her Academy Award-nominated screenplay for Rachel Getting Married to her groundbreaking work as co-creator of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Lumet’s impressive portfolio showcases her ability to craft deeply human stories across diverse formats. Not content to work within a single medium, she moves fluidly between feature films, premium television, and franchise storytelling, including her work as showrunner on The Man Who Fell to Earth and co-creator of the psychological thriller Clarice.
As the daughter of legendary director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of trailblazing entertainer Lena Horne, she carries forward a legacy of artistic excellence while forging her own distinctive path. Join us as Lumet shares how she built her career in Hollywood’s evolving landscape while championing diverse voices and elevating each project with her keen understanding of what makes stories resonate. We will delve into her process of crafting authentic characters, navigating complex relationships, and using genre to explore social commentary.
Moderated by Janet Smith.
Presented by
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Guest
Jenny Lumet
Jenny Lumet wrote the screenplay for Rachel Getting Married, for which she received the 2008 New York Film Critics Circle Award, Toronto Film Critics Association Award, Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Award, and a NAACP Image Award. She is the writer of The Center Cannot Hold, The Language of Flowers, and the upcoming DreamWorks project The Jumbies. She served as a script doctor on Remember Me, Bobbie Sue, Honeymoon with Harry, and The Mummy, and has written original screenplays including Kingdom of Louie and Sambo.
She is co-creator and executive producer of CBS’s Clarice, Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. She has an overall deal with CBS Studios and is a creator on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
With Alex Kurtzman, she launched 25 Stories to amplify voices for people of color. Upcoming projects include Blackbird: Lena Horne and America and Rob Peace.
See More Talks at VIFF
A Wish Come True: The Making of Obsession with Producer Haley Johnson
Producer Haley Johnson takes us behind the making of one of the year’s most culturally impactful films, Obsession.
The Close-Up: In Conversation with Carrie Coon
Carrie Coon is a formidable stage and screen talent, acclaimed for The Leftovers, Fargo, The Gilded Age, The White Lotus, and The Nest. VIFF honours Coon with a Luminary Award, recognizing her remarkable contributions to film, television, and theatre.
Image: © Heather Hazzan
Worlds Within Worlds: Brandon Tonner-Connolly & Matt Hyland, Production Designers, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Production designers Brandon Tonner-Connolly and Matt Hyland dive into their approach to collaboration and how they work with directors like Jane Schoenbrun on I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.
Stories Behind the Music: Mark Mothersbaugh, Composer & Musician
Join legendary DEVO co-founder and composer Mark Mothersbaugh in conversation with award-winning composer and former studio executive Robert Kraft, exploring a singular career spanning Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, Thor: Ragnarok, and more.