Andrew Jenks

Andrew Jenks is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and writer.

Jenks writes and hosts the critically-acclaimed documentary podcast series WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?, produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The series reached #1 on Apple Podcasts.

At age 19, Andrew moved into an assisted living facility for two months. ANDREW JENKS, ROOM 335, premiered on HBO in January 2008.

At 21-years-old, ESPN Films financed the award-winning film THE ZEN OF BOBBY V., about Bobby Valentine, an American baseball coach who had become a national icon in Japan.
 
In 2010, Jenks created MTV's WORLD OF JENKS, focusing on stories not normally told: from a young homeless woman to a young adult with Autism. The premiere marked MTV’s largest in history with nearly 10 million viewers. US World News & Report said the show was "a raw, intimate look at daily struggles and victories, and what it means to be a young person today.”

Jenks was also the lead correspondent for MTV News' coverage of the 2012 Presidential Election. In 2013, Jenks teamed with Scholastic to publish his book MY ADVENTURES AS A YOUNG FILMMAKER.
 
In 2014, Jenks directed ESPN's 30/30 short film POSTERIZED, part of ESPN’s Emmy Award-Winning series. Jenks also directed the MAC Aids Fund feature film IT'S NOT OVER. In 2015, CNN Films released Jenks’ award-winning short film, ALL-AMERICAN FAMILY. The film chronicles an all-Deaf high school championship football team.

In 2015, Jenks premiered dream/killer, which The NY Times said, “elicits incredulity, frustration and astonishment". Jenks also created the series, UNLOCKING THE TRUTH, which contributed to the release of a man wrongfully incarcerated for 20 years. Jenks is currently seeking the release of Daniel Green, incarcerated for the death of Michael Jordan's father.

Andrew is the founder of the largest high school film festival in the world, The All-American High School Film Festival.

Jenks has talked openly about his depression and bipolar II disorder.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]