Jackie Jesko

Last updated
Jackie Jesko
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, journalist
Years active2011–present

Jackie Jesko is an American film director, producer, and journalist. Jesko has worked on Vice on both iterations on HBO and Showtime. She has additionally worked on projects for Vice TV. In 2023, she directed and produced Savior Complex for HBO.

Contents

Career

Jesko started out at ABC News, producing investigative stories for Nightline. [1] Jesko worked on both iterations of Vice for HBO and Showtime, serving as a producer on the episodes After the Fall, [2] [3] The Battle for Idlib and India Burning, which won the James Foley Award for Courage in Journalism, OPC Edward R. Murrow Award, and Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award respectively. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Jesko is the co-founder of Latchkey Films, a production company focusing on non-fiction storytelling. [9] She served as a producer on Between Life & Death: Terri Schiavo's Story for MSNBC Films, [10] and Demons and Saviors for Hulu. [11]

In 2023, Jesko directed and produced Savior Complex for HBO, revolving around Serving His Children and its founder, Renee Bach. [12] [13]

In 2025, Jesko directed and produced Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything for ABC News Studios/Hulu, revolving around the life and career of Barbara Walters. [14] It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on June 12, 2025, and was released on June 23, 2025, by Hulu. [15] [16]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorProducerNotesRef.
2025 Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything YesYes

Television

YearTitleDirectorProducerNotesRef.
2014–2017 ABC News Nightline NoYes3 episodes
2018 Vice NoYes5 episodes
2020Fringe NationYesYesEpisode: "The Legacy of the KKK"
2023 Savior Complex YesYes3 episodes
Between Life & Death: Terry Schiavo's StoryNoExecutiveTV Documentary
Demons and SaviorsNoYes3 episodes

Awards and nominations

OrganizationsYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
News and Documentary
Emmy Awards
2015Outstanding Coverage of a News Story ABC News Nightline ("The Ebola Crisis") Nominated
Outstanding Hard News Report in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast ABC News Nightline ("The Gates of Hell") Nominated
Best Story in a Regularly Scheduled Newscast ABC News Nightline ("The Ebola Crisis") Nominated
2017Outstanding Investigative Report in a Newscast ABC News Nightline ("Daughters for Sale") Nominated
2018Outstanding Feature Story in a Newscast ABC News Nightline ("Femicide: The Untold War") Nominated
2021Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine Vice Investigates Won

References

  1. "Jackie Jesko: About". Jackie Jesko. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  2. "Watch the trailer for VICE on HBO's episode "After The Fall"". Vice . July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  3. Young, Isobel (October 16, 2018). "What Happens When Sexual Assault Survivors Sit Down With the Men Who Attacked Them?". Glamour . Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  4. Katz, A.J. (May 25, 2021). "Vice Newsers Earn the James Foley Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism". Ad Week . Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  5. "VICE News Reporters awarded the 2020 James Foley Medill Medal for Courage". Northwestern University . May 24, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  6. Site Reporter, The (April 7, 2021). "'India Burning', Vice's video on citizenship laws wins OPC awards". The Site. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  7. "India Burning". Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award . Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  8. "VICE NEWS WINS DUPONT-COLUMBIA AWARD FOR REPORTING ON RISE OF NATIONALISM IN INDIA" (PDF). Vice . February 9, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  9. "About". Latchkey Films. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  10. "Between Life & Death: Teri Schiavo's Story". DC/DOX. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  11. Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah (July 28, 2023). "Demons and Saviors Trailer Unveils Hulu's True Crime Paranormal Docuseries". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  12. "HBO Original Three-Part Docuseries SAVIOR COMPLEX Debuts September 26". Warner Bros. Discovery . September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  13. Zhan, Jennifer (September 6, 2023). "Of Course Renee Bach Defends Herself in Savior Complex". Vulture . Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  14. Schneider, Michael (June 25, 2024). "Barbara Walters to Be Subject of Doc Set at Hulu From ABC News Studios, Imagine Documentaries (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  15. Goldsmith, Jill (April 16, 2025). "Tribeca Festival Unveils 2025 Film Lineup With Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Bryan Cranston & 'How To Train Your Dragon'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  16. Hailu, Selome (May 12, 2025). "Barbara Walters Doc 'Tell Me Everything' to Stream on Hulu After Tribeca Premiere". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2025.