Jessica Rowlands is an award-winning screenwriter and film director from London, whose formative years in Zimbabwe deeply inform her storytelling.

Specializing in emotionally resonant, coming-of-age dramas blending sports and action elements, Jessica made history winning consecutive UCLA screenwriting awards in both feature film and television drama.

Her directorial debut, RISE, premiering at the prestigious tribeca festival in 2025, is a Zimbabwe-set, coming-of-age boxing drama with an all-African cast and crew. Jessica holds Law degrees both from the UK and the University of Chicago law school, specializing in international human rights.

Passionate, dedicated, and collaborative, Jessica is driven to create impactful films that resonate globally.

Outside of filmmaking, Jessica loves all sports, woodworking, climbing mountains and painting. she works with arts initiatives across Zimbabwe, has volunteered on a shark research project in mozambique, is an advanced scuba diver and can fly airplanes solo. in 2015, she was the fastest british woman to complete the polar circle marathon, and the youngest competitor in history. she’s also a world class insomniac.

Her work will get you fired up and then make you cry, with a few laughs along the way, because what is the point of life if not to feel everything?