Newsletter

Rory Kennedy

Biography

Close Biography

Rory Kennedy

Rory Kennedy is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker.

She’s made over thirty films, including Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (Netflix), Last Days in Vietnam (American Experience), and Ethel (HBO), all of which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Her film, The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari, was the #1 Netflix film in the world during its release week in December 2022.

Kennedy partnered with Academy Award-nominated producer Alexander Rodnyansky on Adrift, an AR Content feature documentary which explores how the international community has responded to refugees since World War II, and premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October 2023.

Her latest project is an HBO docu-series on Synanon, the long-celebrated addiction treatment centre that transformed over the decades into an organisation engaging in cult-like activity.

Her films have appeared on streamers and broadcast networks including Netflix, HBO, National Geographic and Hulu. She has appeared on The Daily Show, The Today Show, CNN, and NPR. Kennedy served two terms as Governor of AMPAS and is a founding member of Climate Emergency Fund.