Director, Producer/Director, Series Producer
Contact Details
07805 175403
CV
LinkedIn / Website
Availability
17 April 2026
Credit Highlights
A Deadly American Marriage for Netflix (Shortlisted for True Crime Awards 2026) and nominated for an Emmy - News and Documentary Awards 2026 (outstanding crime and justice documentary) , Rich & Shameless for HBO Max (multiple docs)
What They Do Best
Premium streaming features and series, sensitive access coordination, retrospective storytelling, archive-led narratives, developing US stories, complex legal and compliance management, edit directing specialisation
What People Say About Them
Jenny Popplewell, Co-Director/Exec Producer: "Jess is a thoughtful, talented filmmaker with both editorial sharpness and emotional intelligence. Her integrity and deep respect for all the contributors' experiences are evident in her ability to avoid sensationalising the story. Instead, she remains grounded in the emotional truth. Her commitment to exploring the themes that exist beyond the headlines resulted in a far more layered and deeply moving film."
Exec Producer, "Jess is a very creative and journalistically-sound director who is able to be calm under great pressure. Her storytelling abilities belie her youth. I recommend her highly.
Oscar Burgess, Producer: "Jess is an incredibly talented, collaborative and creative Director to work with. She makes contributors and crew feel at ease throughout filming, and has great editorial instincts. Would definitely work together again!"
The Human Behind The CV
Jessica spent much of her childhood living abroad in Denmark and Tanzania, where her father's work in forestry conservation took the family, before returning to the UK to complete her education. She studied Drama at the University of Exeter before completing a specialist diploma at the National Film and Television School. Her persistence is legendary - she got her first TV job by sending out hundreds of emails to production companies until someone finally said yes.
Away from work, she grows her own vegetables, learnt to sew in lockdown, and is currently trying to plan a wedding in France - when she can find five minutes between shoots.
What We Say About Them
The Human Behind The CV
Jessica spent much of her childhood living abroad in Denmark and Tanzania, where her father's work in forestry conservation took the family, before returning to the UK to complete her education. She studied Drama at the University of Exeter before completing a specialist diploma at the National Film and Television School. Her persistence is legendary - she got her first TV job by sending out hundreds of emails to production companies until someone finally said yes.
Away from work, she grows her own vegetables, learnt to sew in lockdown, and is currently trying to plan a wedding in France - when she can find five minutes between shoots.
Jessica approaches complex, sensitive stories with journalistic rigour whilst maintaining deep emotional intelligence. She's particularly skilled at gaining difficult access and building trust with contributors in challenging circumstances - whether that's defendants in criminal cases, abuse survivors, or families dealing with trauma. Her strength lies in finding the human story beyond the headlines, avoiding sensationalism while uncovering layered truths. She can handle the intense pressure of premium productions whilst creating an environment where both contributors and crew feel at ease. Her editorial instincts are sharp - she knows how to structure complex narratives that make complicated subject matter accessible without losing nuance or depth.
Jessica Burgess
The Human Behind The CV
Jessica spent much of her childhood living abroad in Denmark and Tanzania, where her father's work in forestry conservation took the family, before returning to the UK to complete her education. She studied Drama at the University of Exeter before completing a specialist diploma at the National Film and Television School. Her persistence is legendary - she got her first TV job by sending out hundreds of emails to production companies until someone finally said yes.
Away from work, she grows her own vegetables, learnt to sew in lockdown, and is currently trying to plan a wedding in France - when she can find five minutes between shoots.