Jess Kohl

Jess Kohl is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer who often focuses on the fringes of society, seeking to amplify global voices that have not been heard in history. Her work combines a raw, intimate cinematic style with a sensitive understanding of her subjects.

Graduating from Central Saint Martins with First-Class Honours, she went on to complete an MA at Goldsmiths in Cinematography. Her Raindance-nominated first short documentary, “Anarchy in the Philippines,” follows a group of Filipino punk activists living under President Duterte’s “war on drugs.” She went on to highlight the contrast between Indian and Western queerness in “Nirvana,” which was nominated for a One World Media Award and was screened at various festivals, including London Short Film Festival (LSFF), BFI Flare, and Ciclope. Her most recent film, “Disciples,” follows opposing skinhead groups in Malaysia, and was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the prestigious Grierson Trust Awards.

Jess often uses photography as a tool to research topics and themes prior to and alongside embarking upon film projects. In 2016, her photo series “Friends of the Dead” was exhibited in a solo show at The Vaults in London, and in 2020 she had her first Italian solo show at the Palazzo delle Arti in Napoli.

Her distinctive directorial voice and talent for capturing nuanced and authentic moments have naturally led her to work on commercial projects and music videos, creating poignant campaigns for clients such as Nike, Google, Tinder, On Running, and Speedo.

Jess is currently working on her first feature documentary, where she continues to explore the intersection of culture, religion, and gender non-conformity in the south of Italy.