Jessica Kingdon

Last updated
Jessica Kingdon
Education Columbia University (BA)
The New School (MA)
Occupation(s)documentary filmmaker, producer
Spouse Nathan Truesdell
Parents

Jessica Kingdon is a Chinese American director and producer. [1] She was nominated for the 2022 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for directing the documentary Ascension. [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Kingdon received her BA from Columbia University in 2009 and her MA in media studies from The New School in 2014. [4] [5] [6]

She directed the 2017 documentary Commodity City, which focuses on the lives of Chinese wholesalers in Yiwu International Trade City, the world's largest wholesale market. [5] The documentary won Best Documentary Short in the 2018 Ashland Independent Film Festival. [7]

Her documentary, Ascension, looks at China's growing economic progress and increasing economic divide against the backdrop of the pursuit of the Chinese Dream. [8] [9] [10] The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021, and received critical acclaim. [11] [12] The film was nominated for an Academy Award, a Gotham Award, [13] five Cinema Eye Honors, [14] a Directors Guild of America Award, [15] a Producers Guild of America Award, [16] and six Critics' Choice Documentary Awards. [17] The Chinese title of the documentary was inspired by a 1912 poem written by her great-great-grandfather, a member of the South Society who participated in the 1911 Revolution. [18]

Kingdon was named one of the "25 new faces of independent film" by Filmmaker magazine. [19] She was also named to the 2020 "40 under 40" list by Doc NYC. [20]

Personal life

Kingdon is the daughter of hedge fund manager Mark E. Kingdon and financier Anla Cheng, who is a member of the Committee of 100. [21] [22] Her father is Jewish and her mother is Chinese. [23]

Kingdon is married to filmmaker Nathan Truesdell. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "Tribeca 2021 Women Directors: Meet Jessica Kingdon – "Ascension"". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. ↑ Carey, Matthew (2022-02-01). "Smile, With 8 Teeth Showing: Remarkable Portrait Of China Emerges In Oscar-Shortlisted 'Ascension'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  3. ↑ "Documentary Feature Oscar Nominations 2022 - Oscars 2022 News | 94th Academy Awards". ABC. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  4. ↑ "Seven Columbia Films Receive 2022 Academy Award Nominations". Columbia - School of the Arts. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  5. 1 2 "Commodity City: A Fascinating Glimpse Inside the World's Largest Wholesale Market". Colossal. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  6. ↑ "Jessica Kingdon". School of Media Studies. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  7. ↑ KTVL (2018-04-16). "2018 Ashland Independent Film Festival Juried and Audience Award winners". KTVL. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. ↑ "Oscar-shortlisted 'Ascension' captures chase of the 'Chinese Dream'". Reuters. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  9. ↑ Dollar, Steve (2022-01-24). "'Ascension' targets workers' struggles and China's economic divide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  10. ↑ "Ascension review – surreally fascinating snapshots of 'the Chinese dream'". the Guardian. 2022-01-16. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  11. ↑ Hunter2021-06-12T22:40:00+01:00, Allan. "'Ascension': Tribeca Review". Screen. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  12. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (2021-04-20). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Main Lineup For June Event". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  13. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (2021-11-30). "Gotham Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Wins Top Prize — See the Full List of Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  14. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2021-11-10). "'Flee' & 'Summer Of Soul' Lead Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  15. ↑ Lewis, Tyler Coates,Hilary; Coates, Tyler; Lewis, Hilary (2022-01-26). "DGA Awards: 'Succession' Dominates Drama Series Nominees; 'Summer of Soul' and 'The Rescue' Up for Documentary Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  16. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (2022-01-27). "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza', 'Don't Look Up', 'Dune', 'King Richard' & 'CODA' Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  17. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (2021-10-18). "'Ascension' and 'Summer of Soul' Lead Critics Choice Documentary Nominations". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  18. ↑ "MTV纪录片首度推出华裔导演新作《登楼叹》-侨报网". www.uschinapress.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  19. ↑ "25 New Faces of Independent Film | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  20. ↑ "40 UNDER 40 - CLASS OF 2020". DOC NYC. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  21. ↑ "Kingdon To Receive Hamilton Award". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  22. ↑ "MEMBERS | Committee 100" . Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  23. ↑ Rizov, Vadim (2017-09-14). "Jessica Kingdon | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  24. ↑ "'Ascension' Documents China's Haves, Have-Nots, And Everyone In Between – Contenders Film: The Nominees". deadline.com. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
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