Jeana Khoury brings her visual style to Tessa Films

Director Jeana Khoury, whose evocative work for the Joburg Ballet and her powerful “Bride Armour” anti domestic violence spot for Carling Black Label have won awards and raised eyebrows, brings her talent for visual storytelling to the roster of Tessa Films. Her signing was announced by Tessa Co-Founder and EP Lisa Masseur.

Khoury, who also goes by the name Jeana Theron, continues to be represented in South Africa by Darling Films. She’s directed numerous campaigns for a wide range of brands, including J&B, Toyota, Hyundai, Environ, KFC and First For Women. Her reel includes everything from TVCs to music videos, fashion films, documentaries and branded content. 

“Jeana’s unique visual style was what initially drew me in,” says Masseur about her new talent. “And honestly, her most recent projects have continued to stun me in that regard. Overall, the look and feel of her work is uniquely distinctive, but there’s always a storytelling thread. And often, these stories have some heart and truth to them.

“We see Jeana’s skills and innovative visuals being well suited for automotive brands, spirits, and sports categories,” adds Tessa EP Amy McIntyre. “But her strengths are so impressive, we predict her work will break through in the US.”

Looking for a base on which to more fully engage the US market, Khoury heard about Tessa Films. “The more I learned about them, the more I felt I’d be a good fit, and when Lisa and I connected, she totally agreed,” she explains. “They’re built on honesty, integrity and a hustle mindset, they have a sincere hunger and desire to help grow their directors.” In joining Tessa, she adds, “I hope to make great, visually breathtaking, meaningful and intriguing work, and lots of it!”

This should be an easy reach for the filmmaker, as her work has garnered some of the industry’s top accolades and honours. Her Bride Armour spot won multiple Lions at Cannes, including a Gold Lion, as well as top honours at the Ciclope Festival in Africa. Her 16 Days of Light for First For Women took the Grand Prix at the Loeries in 2020, and made the shortlist for the Cannes Glass Lion, while two of her films for the Joburg Ballet earned both Gold and Silver Lions.

Khoury brings a strong artistic ethos to her work, which traces its roots to her education. An artist at heart, she studied Fine Arts at Wits University in South Africa, where she began dabbling with video art. She says her inspiration to pursue a career in the visual arts was triggered when she saw Jane Campion’s The Piano as a young girl, “and I fell in love. I saw that filmmaking could fulfill my creative abilities, and I was so inspired that a woman directed it, which meant that I could do it, too, although it was much more difficult when I was younger than it is now.”