Jennifer Podemski on Intersectionality and Representation

Co-presented with Koffler Arts and Jewish& at the Miles Nadal JCC

Jennifer Podemski is of mixed First Nation and Jewish descent, was raised in Toronto, and makes her home in Barrie. She has said that her mother’s Anishinaabe, Lenni Lenape and Métis side is “a long line of powerful leaders, advocates and medicine people.” Her father’s Ashkenazi Jewish side were “musicians, entrepreneurs and artists who were persecuted, de-humanized and sent to concentration camps” during World War II, after which her grandparents immigrated from Poland to Canada.

Over a 30+ year career, Podemski has been an actor, writer, director and producer in television and film. Launching her acting career at age 17, her breakout role as Sadie in Bruce McDonald’s iconic film, Dance Me Outside, garnered critical acclaim. She has maintained a successful career with roles in Degrassi: The Next Generation, Republic of Doyle, Take This Waltz, Blackstone, Reservation Dogs, and Cardinal. Since 1999, Podemski shifted her focus to producing as a way to address the lack of Indigenous representation in film and television, and is currently CEO of Redcloud Studios Inc. She has been at the helm of productions including The Other Side, the award-winning Future History; and, Little Bird, a dramatic miniseries on CRAVE. Podemski produced and acted in the acclaimed feature film Empire of Dirt, nominated for Best Picture at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards. In 2020, she launched The Shine Network Institute, a non-profit organisation dedicated to celebrating Indigenous women in film and television through training, mentorship and professional development. Podemski is recipient of numerous awards, most recently the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute Award at the 2023 Canadian Screen Awards in recognition of “her extraordinary impact on the growth of the Canadian media industry.”

During this talk, hear Podemski’s insights gleaned from her intersectional Indigenous and Jewish life. The program will end with questions from the audience.

About Jewish&

Jewish& at the Miles Nadal JCC gathers multi-faith, multi-cultural & mixed heritage folks & families for Jewish exploration, education & celebration.