Jamila Pomeroy
{{Short description|Kenyan-Canadian writer and filmmaker}}
{{Cleanup|reason=punctuation, citation parameters, MOS and section titles, paragraphing...|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jamila Pomeroy
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario
| nationality = Kenyan-Canadian
| citizenship = Canadian
| occupation = Writer, director, producer, Actor
| awards = Outstanding Director for a Feature Film, Union Street
Daytime Emmy Nomination, "How I Got Here"
| website = {{URL|jmpomeroy.com}}
}}
Jamila Pomeroy is a Kenyan-Canadian writer, director, producer and on-screen personality.{{Cite news |last=LAY |first=NICHOLAS |date=September 29, 2023 |title=Union Street – An interview with director Jamila Pomeroy – VIFF 2023 |work=Set the Tape |url=https://setthetape.com/2023/09/29/union-street-an-interview-with-director-jamila-pomeroy-viff-2023/}}{{Cite news |last=Chung |first=Rick |title=VIFF 2023—Kenyan-Canadian actress/screenwriter Jamila Pomeroy directs the joyful new Telus documentary Union Street (her feature-length debut) |work=RickChung.com |url=https://www.rickchung.com/2023/10/union-street-review.html}} She is best known for her 2023 documentary film Union Street, {{Cite news |last=Chai |first=Daniel |date=Sep 26, 2023 |title=New VIFF documentary uncovers Vancouver's destroyed Black community |work=Daily Hive |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/union-street-jamila-pomeroy-documentary |access-date=Dec 5, 2023}} her 2025 CBC Absolutely Canadian special Muzizi, the 2024 Daytime Emmy-nominated series How I Got Here{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=Jul 9, 2025 |title=Daytime Emmys Announce 2025 Nominations (FULL LIST) |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/daytime-emmys-2025-nominations-1236451234/}}, and her 2022 series A Happier Planet with Jamila Pomeroy on CBC.{{Cite news |title=Vancouver filmmaker Jamila Pomeroy showcases more sustainable life choices in new series |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/happier-planet-creator-network-1.6567994 |work=CBC}}
Career
She was the writer, director, host and producer of the series A Happier Planet with Jamila Pomeroy on CBC;{{Cite news |title=Second Life: The fashion industry is wreaking havoc on the environment, but here are some sustainable solutions |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2096678467927}}
In 2022 she optioned and began development on a screen adaption of the novel Until I Smile At You; which showcases the life of Canadian musician Ruth Lowe, who wrote the song that "dynamited Frank Sinatra’s singing career into the stratosphere," "I’ll Never Smile Again" and “Put Your Dreams Away,” another Sinatra hit, along with nearly 50 other numbers for Hollywood and Broadway.{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2022 |title=Midland man's book to be adapted into feature film |work=Midland Today |url=https://www.midlandtoday.ca/local-news/midland-mans-book-to-be-adapted-into-feature-film-5465893}}{{Cite news |last=Mendler |first=Andrew |date=June 24, 2022 |title=Midland-based author's latest book, 'Until I Smile At You,' being developed into movie |work=Simcoe.com |url=https://www.simcoe.com/things-to-do/books/midland-based-author-s-latest-book-until-i-smile-at-you-being-developed-into-movie/article_8dd7185b-121c-5d5d-b1b3-d4ebf48068f4.html}}
In 2023 she was the writer, director and executive producer of TELUS originals{{Cite news |date=September 25, 2023 |title=TELUS originals presents Physician, Heal Thyself and Union Street at Vancouver International Film Festival |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/T-T/pressreleases/20556647/telus-originals-presents-physician-heal-thyself-and-union-street-at-vancouver-international-film-festival/}} documentary Union Street,{{Cite news |date=October 16, 2023 |title=HISTORIC BLACK COMMUNITY OF HOGAN'S ALLEY EXPLORED IN NEW 'UNION STREET' DOCUMENTARY |work=Because of them we Can |url=https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/news/viff-doc-union-street-uncovers-vancouver-destroyed-black-community}}{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2023 |title="Union Street" film unravels the history of Vancouver's Black community (interview with Jamila Pomeroy) |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91-the-early-edition/clip/16014142-union-street-film-unravels-history-vancouvers-black-community}} which won the Outstanding Feature Film Director award at the 2023 Toronto Reelworld Film Festival.{{Cite web |title=2023 Reelworld Awards |url=https://www.reelworld.ca/2023-awards |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Reelworld |language=en}} Union Street was also an official selection of Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) in 2023,{{Cite news |title=Five Canadian features set for world premiere at VIFF |work=Playback |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2023/09/07/five-canadian-features-set-for-world-premiere-at-viff/}}{{Cite news |date=September 26, 2023 |title=VIFF 2023 Highlighted Films: Union Street |work=The Afro News |url=https://theafronews.com/viff-2023-highlighted-films/}} and was named #1 in Vancouver Magazine
She is the creator of drama-comedy series Sunflower Lemonade (unreleased) which Daily Hive coined as the "first African-Canadian dramedy in history";{{Cite news |last=Chai |first=Daniel |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Sunflower Lemonade: First African Canadian dramedy in history filmed in Vancouver |work=Daily Hive |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/jamila-pomeroy-sunflower-lemonade-african-canadian-dramedy}} and has worked as a writer and producer on other film and television projects.
= Early career =
She began her career as a freelance writer-journalist (writing for outlets like BBC, Red Bull Media, Hypebae more); and model, appearing in print and digital campaigns for brands like Lululemon, Kit and Ace, Arc'teryx, Laneige, Sephora, Paper Label and many more.{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Aleesha |date=June 26, 2019 |title=Style in the City: Jamila Pomeroy |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-beauty/style-in-the-city-jamila-pomeroy |access-date=Dec 5, 2023}}
Personal life
Pomeroy was born in Toronto, Ontario, grew up in New Westminster, BC, and as a teen moved to Vancouver, BC, where she still currently resides. Her father was born in Mombasa, Kenya, and her mother was born in St. John's, Newfoundland.{{Cite web |title=I'm Not Half-Black, I'm Full Middle Child |url=https://vitruvi.ca/blogs/bodies/im-not-half-black-im-full-middle-child |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Vitruvi |language=en}}
Filmography
- A Happier Planet with Jamila Pomeroy (2022) – series
- Union Street (2023) – feature documentary
- How I Got Here (2024) – series
- Absolutely Canadian: Muzizi (2025) — CBC documentary special
Awards
- 2023: Winner, Outstanding Feature Film Director award for Union Street, Reelworld Film Festival, Toronto
- 2023: Winner, Best Documentary award for Union Street, Milan Independent Film Festival (MIAFF)
- 2025: Nominated, Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program, Daytime Emmys