Jennifer A. Senko born June 23, 1954, is an American documentary filmmaker, author and truth-in-media activist.[1][2] She is best known for her work on the documentary films The Vanishing City, and The Brainwashing of My Dad.[3][4] Senko is a regular contributor on podcasts and panel discussions.

Jennifer Senko
BornJune 23, 1954
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • author
Years active1992 – present

Life and career

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Senko graduated on the Dean's List from Pratt Institute, where she studied communications design and painting.[5] She directed the 2000 short, Road Map Warrior Women; a road trip documentary about extraordinarily independent women in the West.[6] She co-directed the 2010 feature documentary, The Vanishing City, along with Fiore DeRosa, about gentrification's dire consequences in New York City and in other major cities around the world.[7]

Senko directed the 2016 film, The Brainwashing of My Dad about her father's cult-like transformation from a non-political, easy-going Democrat to an always-angry, extreme Republican after he discovered talk radio on a lengthened commute to work.[8]

Filmography

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Year Title Contribution Note
1992 The Tune Actor (voices) Animation
1997 I Married a Strange Person! Actor (voices) Animation
2000 Road Map Warrior Women Director, writer, and producer Documentary
2003 The Downsizing of The Gods Producer Short film
2006 La Chiva Casting director Short film
2009 Ipso facto Producer Short film
2010 The Vanishing City Director, writer, and producer Documentary
2016 The Brainwashing of My Dad Director, writer, and producer Documentary

Publications

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  • 2021 – The Brainwashing of My Dad ISBN 978-1-7282395-9-0

Awards and nominations

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Year Result Award Category Work Ref.
2010 Won Harlem International Film Festival Best Short Documentary The Vanishing City [1]
2010 Won LA Film Festival Honorable Mention Feature Documentary
2010 Won WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Remi Winner Documentary
2010 Won Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Best Feature Documentary
2015 Staff Favorite Traverse City Film Festival "Work-In-Progress" The Brainwashing of My Dad
2016 Honorable Mention Accolade Humanitarian Global Film Competition Documentary Feature
2016 Award of Excellence Impact Doc Awards Documentary Film
2021 Won Webby Awards Video - People’s Voice Award in Public Service & Activism The Brainwashing of My Dad [9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Jen Senko on how Fox News brainwashed her dad — and is now prepping its audience for fascism". salon.com. 27 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  2. ^ "BYT INTERVIEWS: FILMMAKER JEN SENKO ON "THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD"". brightestyoungthings.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  3. ^ "Documentary filmmakers put 'The Vanishing City' and New York's urban renewel in spotlight". nydailynews.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  4. ^ "Review: The effects of talk radio and Fox News are studied in 'The Brainwashing of My Dad'". Los Angeles Times. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  5. ^ Senko, Jen (17 March 2016). "How Fox News and the Right-Wing Media Machine Made My Dad Crazy". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  6. ^ "How to talk politics with loved ones you disagree with". kalw.org. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  7. ^ "The Vanishing City: a movie review". peoplesworld.org. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  8. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (18 March 2016). "Review: 'The Brainwashing of My Dad' Examines the Influence of Right-Wing News Media". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. ^ "People's Voice Winner". winners.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
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