Christina Jennings

Chairman & President

Shaftesbury

One of Canada’s most accomplished producers, Christina Jennings founded Shaftesbury in 1987 as a feature film company, producing such acclaimed titles as Camilla, starring Jessica Tandy and Bridget Fonda. Since then, Jennings has evolved Shaftesbury into a diversified, global business with offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, spanning the production of scripted drama, kids, digital and branded entertainment for film, television and multiple platforms.

Shaftesbury is known for its innovative international co-production, financing and distribution partnerships as well as award-winning storytelling. Sold in 120 countries worldwide, Shaftesbury's slate includes David Shore's new series, Houdini & Doyle, for Shaw Media, Fox, ITV and Sony; thriller series Slasher for Super Channel and NBCUniversal’s Chiller; nine seasons of Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, UKTV and ITV; and hit Kids’ CBC series The Moblees.

With a view to evolving media consumption habits and the impact of technology on traditional media, Jennings acquired groundbreaking digital studio Smokebomb Entertainment in 2008, which produces convergent experiences for television and original projects including branded entertainment. Combining world-class storytelling, integrated second-screen experiences and innovative social campaigns, Smokebomb builds compelling storyworlds for tweens and millennials. Projects include Totally Amp’d – the world’s first tween app series – named a “Killer App” by Wired; comedy series Backpackers for The CW and CTV Extend, Canada’s first digital series to migrate to U.S. primetime television; the Digi Award-winning sci-fi series State of Syn for Hulu and Google Glass; and the International Emmy-nominated Murdoch Mysteries: The Curse of the Lost Pharaohs.

Shaftesbury and Smokebomb recently partnered with Youth Culture to launch shift2, an innovative agency that helps brands explore their millennial voice using scripted YouTube series and social media to drive measurable results. Powered by Smokebomb, which produces all content for the agency, current branded entertainment projects include the hit U by Kotex®-funded drama series Carmilla, with 30 million views on YouTube; fashion-focused comedy series MsLabelled, produced in partnership with Shaw Media and Tetley; and non-traditional wedding series I Do, funded by Cotton Incorporated.

Jennings is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre and serves as Chair of the Centre’s Board of Directors. Named to Maclean’s Power List of Canada’s 50 Most Powerful People, Jennings was recognized as Playback’s Producer of the Decade in 2010 and was honored with the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s prestigious Academy Achievement Award at the 26th Annual Gemini Awards. She was a finalist in the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and received the PROFIT Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship at RBC’s Canadian Woman Entrepreneur Awards in 2008 and the Innovative Producer Award at the 2009 Banff World Television Festival.

Speaking at: Keynote: Walter Levitt, CMO, Comedy Central with Christina Jennings, Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury