Vanessa is a renowned filmmaker with a remarkable career spanning over 25 years, earning her numerous prestigious awards and accolades. She is a versatile director, producer, and writer, having worked on a wide range of projects, including documentary features, series, shorts, and branded content, all focused on social justice.
One of her most notable works is the Emmy Honors-winning international series "Daughters of Destiny" (Netflix Originals),which she executive produced, wrote, and directed. She also directed the premium documentary "Mary J Blige's My Life" (Amazon Originals) and served as executive producer, writer, and director for the National Geographic series "IMPACT with Gal Gadot", a six-part series and feature-length documentary.
Throughout her career, Vanessa has received over 60 awards, including the Academy Award, the Television Academy Emmy Award for Social Impact, the Sundance Prize, the Cine Golden Eagle, the Casey Medal, and the Impact Doc Award for Best in Show and Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking. Her work has also been recognized by the IDA, Audience Awards, and Jury Prizes at various film festivals worldwide.
Vanessa's projects are known for their intimacy, honesty, and cinematic approach to real-life stories, often featuring marginalized communities and individuals who have never had the opportunity to share their stories. She has collaborated with children, teens, and families from around the world, working with world leaders, organizations, and foundations focused on social justice, youth empowerment, and women's rights.
Some of her notable projects include "National Geographic Presents IMPACT with Gal Gadot", "Mary J Blige's My Life", "Daughters of Destiny", "The Other Side 30 for 30", "Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses", "The Girl and the Picture", "Freeheld", "American Teacher", "The Texas Promise", "Taken In", "Aging Out", "No Tomorrow", "Close to Home", and "911 Toxic Dust".
Vanessa holds a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing and Psychology from UCLA and a Master's degree in Social Work and a minor in Family Law from Columbia University. Before pursuing a career in filmmaking, she worked as a Child Advocate in New York and California courts, schools, and hospitals.
In her personal life, Vanessa resides in New York with her husband and three children, including her eldest daughter, singer-songwriter Maya Donovan. Her father is Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth.
