JENN SHAW is a DGA award-winning director and executive producer who brings her signature blend of bold vision, humor, and heart to every project she tackles. Specializing in genre stories that champion the underdog, celebrate quirks, and showcase unique cultural experiences, Jenn’s cinematic style is equal parts dramatic instinct and playful flair. Whether it’s a coming-of-age tale, a fantasy adventure, or a sports drama, she has a knack for crafting character-driven stories that resonate deeply—and often leave you cheering.

Before stepping into the director’s chair, Jenn was making big plays behind the scenes as a producer at ESPN’s Creative Works. There, she orchestrated multi-million-dollar campaigns like Nissan Heisman House and Infiniti NCAA Coach’s Charity Challenge, honing her skills in storytelling on a massive scale. Since then, she’s directed over 50 commercials, documentary films, and eight narrative shorts that have wowed audiences at Hollyshorts, Pan African, Tribeca, and even the Cannes Short Film Corner. Let’s just say, Jenn knows her way around a festival carpet. 

Her work has ranged from crafting campaigns for big-name brands like Kia, Hyundai, Capital One, Pizza Hut, and Verizon to helming national spots for The Woman King, Marco’s Pizza, Brach’s, and Pearl Milling Company. Her ability to seamlessly blend her love of storytelling with a sharp visual eye earned her a Black Reel Award for her ESPN film $15 Kicks, executive produced by Spike Lee. 

But Jenn’s true superpower is her commitment to giving overlooked stories the spotlight they deserve. Over the last few years, she’s directed projects like Charlie and the Hunt starring Lauren Ridloff (Eternals, The Walking Dead) and Gaps, executive produced by Queen Latifah as part of the Queen Collective initiative. Oh, and did we mention Gaps was a 2024 NAACP Image Award nominee? No big deal.

Currently, Jenn is attached to direct her debut feature, a fantasy rom-com titled Miss Alexander. She is managed by Elissa Friedman at Zero Gravity. But don’t let the fancy reps fool you—Jenn’s as grounded as they come, with an eye for humanity and a soft spot for telling stories that make you laugh, cry, and believe in a little magic.