Jazz Thornton
Jazz Thornton is a New Zealand creator, author, documentary filmmaker and mental health advocate who co-founded Voices of Hope and hosts Hope Is Real.
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Jazz’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Sky Originals
Penguin
DocPlay
Documentary
PenguinOverview
- From
- New Zealand
- Work
- Mental health advocacy, documentary filmmaking, books and podcasts
- Co-founded
- Voices of Hope, with Genevieve Mora
- Breakout
- Dear Suicidal Me, a short film sharing survivors’ stories
Mini bio
How it started.
After living through serious mental health struggles as a teenager, Jazz enrolled at South Seas Film and Television School to learn to tell stories that could help others. Her early short film Dear Suicidal Me brought together survivors sharing their experiences and reasons for being glad to be alive. It reached an international audience.
Building Voices of Hope.
With Genevieve Mora, Jazz co-founded Voices of Hope. Their work uses lived experience and storytelling to encourage conversations about mental health and help people seek support. Jazz’s advocacy also reaches audiences through school visits, speaking engagements and her podcast Hope Is Real.
Stories on screen and on the page.
Jazz directed the 2019 documentary series Jessica’s Tree and became the subject of Leanne Pooley’s feature documentary The Girl on the Bridge, released in 2020. Her books include the memoir Stop Surviving Start Fighting, the guided journal My Journey Starts Here with Genevieve Mora, and Letters to You.
Where her work has led.
In 2026, Jazz brought her own experience of stalking into Stalked, sharing the series with two other women. Alongside her mental health work, she has spoken publicly about stalking and the need for stronger protection for those affected.
Creditschronological, newest first
Film & television
- 2026StalkedPresenter
- 2020The Girl on the BridgeDocumentary subject
- 2019Jessica’s TreeDirector
Books
- 2022Letters to YouAuthor
- 2021My Journey Starts HereCo-author with Genevieve Mora
- 2020Stop Surviving Start FightingAuthor
Awards
Quotes
we’ve called it what it is… It’s a crime.Jazz Thornton, quoted by rova
Her reaction on 26 May 2026, when New Zealand’s stalking offence took effect.
Trivia
- Her 2017 pitch for Jessica’s Tree made her New Zealand’s youngest director to win the Doc Edge pitching contest.
- She supported Youthline during her winning run on Dancing with the Stars NZ in 2022.
- My Journey Starts Here is a guided journal, co-written with her Voices of Hope co-founder Genevieve Mora.
Find Jazz
Follow Jazz for everyday updates, new projects and conversations about mental health.
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