With your generous support we will fully fund a number of writers, directors, producers and heads of department studying at the school, where so many of Jenne’s own clients started their journey thanks to world-class teaching & creative collaboration that NFTS brilliantly fosters.
Jenne Casarotto was a visionary leader and a giant within the global entertainment industry. With a career spanning over 50 years, Jenne was an award-winning Agent who was highly regarded throughout the world for her impeccable taste in writers and directors, unwavering dedication to her clients, and for her calm and creative leadership.
Co-founding Casarotto Ramsay & Associates with her husband Giorgio in 1989, Jenne was pivotal in shaping the agency landscape. With an illustrious 35-year history, the company represents many of the world’s best-known writers, directors, creatives, literary properties, and Heads of Departments in film, theatre, television and new media.
Jodi Shields, Head of Film & Television, said “I have worked side by side with Jenne for over 26 years which has been an utter joy and pleasure. She is a giant among agents. Her impeccable taste, her tough but fair approach and her love of the industry are values she has instilled in each of us at Casarotto. We will carry on her extraordinary legacy. Jenne worked hard but she had lots and lots of fun along the way. She was irreverent and funny. An incredible woman who was full of life and wonderful to be around.”
Her client list spanned highly acclaimed international writers and directors, several of whom had worked alongside her since their feature film debuts, with a number of NFTS graduates among them. Clients, who have received numerous accolades and awards at the highest level for their work, included J.G. Ballard, John Crowley, the Dahl Estate, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sir. Stephen Frears, Matteo Garrone, Sir. Christopher Hampton, Sir. David Hare, Nick Hornby, Bob Hoskins, Neil Gaiman, Terry Gilliam, Hilary Bevan Jones, Neil Jordan, David Leland, John Madden, Sir. Steve McQueen, Cynthia Payne, Neal Purvis, Shawn Slovo, Robert Wade, Tennessee Williams and David Yates.
John Madden said “Jenne was unique: a brilliant agent and an extraordinary human being – combining toughness with an immense warmth, navigating the choppy waters of our industry with canny skill, and an unquestioning loyalty both to her clients and to the team of agents she nurtured and gathered around her. Her leadership, her understanding and her friendship were matchless.”
Sarah Gavron said “She was straight talking and principled in a world where it was, and still is, hard to hold on to principles — she was one of the first at the Times Up meetings, she was a champion of women in film, when there were still so few of us. And she had another great quality—she was the life and soul of any party — the person you wanted to hang out with.”
Steve McQueen said “Jenne Casarotto was pivotal in my career and my life. She was my friend, and I loved her deeply. In the 16 years that I have known her she was a tremendous support to me. In my last conversation with her I confessed my love to her, and she to me. I will always have her in my heart with every footstep I take.”
Throughout her career, Jenne was honoured for services to film by both The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), and the Women in Film & Television Awards (WFTV). She was made a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the European Film Academy (EFA) and served as founding member of the Board Member of Times Up UK.
Mel Kenyon, Head of the Theatre Department and Jenne's colleague of over 30 years, said on behalf of the Board, “Jenne’s legacy will continue to live on within the DNA of Casarotto. The leadership team, Board and brilliant agents she nurtured will continue to drive the agency which will remain a beacon of excellence and fierce independence."
Jenne supported filmmakers from their earliest beginnings, and we hope that we can do the same in her honour, by raising as much money as possible. If we can reach, or even surpass, our target, it will enable us to provide an endowment that supports scholarships for the school in perpetuity. Thank you in advance for any support you can add to this fund, all donations make a real difference.
All monies raised towards the Jenne Casarotto Scholarship will be donated to the NFTS Foundation (charity number 1061561) who will manage a scholarship fund to support students to attend the National Film and Television School (charity number 313429)
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