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Jennifer Hodge
de Silva

Image: Museum of Toronto.

Hodge de Silva’s commitment to storytelling and representation broke barriers in the Canadian filmmaking industry.
1951-1989 | Documentary Filmmaker

During the 1970s and 1980s, Jennifer Hodge de Silva made a significant impact on the Canadian film industry. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first Black filmmaker to consistently collaborate with both the National Film Board and the CBC. De Silva’s acclaimed body of documentary work focused on social issues. Her film Home Feeling: A Struggle for Community (1983), co-directed with Robert McTair, has become a staple in film studies programs across Canada. In 1982, she married fellow filmmaker Paul de Silva, and together they established the production company Jenfilms Inc.

Hodge de Silva’s commitment to storytelling and representation broke barriers in the Canadian filmmaking industry and serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers seeking to make a meaningful difference through their art.

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