Janicza Bravo is an award-winning director, writer, and producer who continues to push creative boundaries by breathing life into the most distinctive of stories. Bravo is known for her ability to blend uncomfortable humor with social commentary, often exploring themes of race, identity, and human behavior.
Most recently, Janicza made her British television debut with The Listeners, a haunting four-episode drama adapted from Jordan Tannahill’s novel. The series, which premiered on November 19th on BBC ONE to critical acclaim, follows Rebecca Hall as “Claire,” a teacher who becomes increasingly obsessed with a mysterious humming sound that only she can hear.
Notably, Janicza directed and co-wrote the A24 film Zola, based on a viral 148-tweet thread by A’ziah “Zola” King. Co-written by Jeremy O. Harris and starring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, and Colman Domingo, Zola premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film was nominated for seven Film Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director, Best Feature, and Best Screenplay.
Janicza’s previous film work has screened at AFI, BAM, Carnegie Hall, SXSW, Sundance, and Tribeca. In 2017, her feature film directorial debut, Lemon, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was sold to Magnolia Pictures. In 2014, Filmmaker Magazine named her as one to watch in “25 New Faces of Film.” That same year, her short film Gregory Go Boom won the Jury Prize for US Fiction at Sundance.
On the television side, she directed the “Juneteenth” episode of FX’s Atlanta as well as episodes of Hulu’s The Bear, HBO’s Divorce, Here and Now, In Treatment, Peacock’s Poker Face, Netflix’s Love, Too Much, and Dear White People, and Amazon’s Them and Forever.
In the branded space, she directed world-class athletes in NikeSKIMS’ Bodies at Work, episodes for Kate Spade’s series #MissAdventure, and Act IX of Gucci’s video series, The Performer. In 2022, she partnered up with Miu Miu on their Women’s Tales series with her short film House Comes With a Bird. The film premiered at Neuehouse and won a Webby Award for Branded Entertainment: Video – Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle.
A NYU graduate with a degree in directing and theatre design, Janicza was born in New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles.
