The Talent ManagerGRIERSON HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD
Serena Kennedy This year, The Grierson Trust introduced a new category for the British Documentary Awards to celebrate the talented people working hard behind the scenes to bring such important stories to our screens. The Grierson Hero of the Year Award sought nominations from those working in documentaries and factual television to recommend their colleagues for this accolade, and it was abundantly clear that the industry wanted to pay tribute to those working in production management. With these production team members bearing the brunt of new COVID regulations, increased health and safety measures, travel restrictions, diversity monitoring and more, it’s easy to see why.
One such person was our winner, Serena Kennedy. Serena’s nomination stood out to The Grierson Trust Board Members for her impressive work behind the scenes this year on a series of high-profi le productions. She was Head of Production/Line Producer on Adam Wishart’s 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room the fi rst BBC/Apple TV+ co production; Edgar Wright’s The Sparks Brothers which premiered at Sundance this year; and Line Producer on Channel 4’s fast turnaround series in response to the killing of George Floyd, Take Your Knee Off My Neck, which is nominated for The Rumi Foundation Best Documentary Short at this year’s awards.
Announcing the award, Chairman of The Grierson Trust, Lorraine Heggessey says: “There are many unsung heroes in our business: people who work tirelessly and often save the day but are rarely garnered with awards. Serena’s achievements this year are all the more remarkable given the unprecedented challenges of fi lming during COVID. Her work in navigating the complex logistics of Adam Wishart’s fi lm, 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room was nothing short of miraculous.
“I’m further delighted that through this award The Grierson Trust is able to highlight the pivotal role that production managers play in fi lm and television. Our industry is waking up to the fact that all too often they are under-valued and unappreciated.”
Serena’s credits span highly acclaimed and award-winning cinema and TV feature documentaries, current aff airs, documentaries, observational documentaries, docu-drama, daytime, features, fact-ent and children’s documentaries. She has worked with a number of companies including Wish/Art Films, Milk and Honey, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, World Media Rights, Love Productions, Mediadante and Fuuse Films. She worked extensively with Drummer TV where she oversaw all their content and was previously Head of Production at RDF Television West and Maverick Television.
The Rumi FoundationBEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT ‘
A Love Song for Latasha Sophia Nahli Allison, Fam Udeorji, Janice Duncan
A Netfl ix Original Documentary Netfl ix
The killing of Latasha Harlins became a fl ashpoint for the 1992 LA uprising. This documentary evocatively explores the 15-year-old’s life and dreams.
This documentary expertly combined animation, music, interviews, and a whole array of visual treats to document Latasha’s tragically short life and share her story, hopes and unrealised dreams, by the people who loved her the most. The change in documentary style and grade for the three narrative segments was charming and eff ective, adding style and layers to this touching eulogy of a fi lm in a subtle and unexpected way.
NOMINEES
Disciples Dazed
Dazed Digital
Mother Try Hard Films London Film Festival
Take Your Knee Off My Neck:
My First Time Milk and Honey Productions Channel 4
46 Grierson 2021: The British Documentary Awards
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