Jane Chirwa

JANE CHIRWA (she/her) started dancing as a child and found her way to drama school through the youth theatre club. Even then, alongside her training, she wrote and performed her own pieces together with her fellow students, which is why her CV also includes her own short films. Creative expression is an important outlet for the Mannheim native: whether in acting, dance, painting, music or in creating safer spaces. With her art she goes to places that are fraught with fear, shame and prejudice and breaks them open step by step. In doing so, the “we’ve always done it this way” path is abandoned, people inspire each other and dare to try something new. In her experience, it works best when there is a level of trust, respect, honesty and transparency. Jane loves working in a collective where all kinds of departments are invited to help shape the work. And the more diverse the group, the better. HOMESHOPPER’S PARADISE (director: Nancy Mac Granaky-Quaye), with Jane in the lead role of the punk “Lisa”, premiered at the Hof International Film Festival and the Max Ophüls Preis Festival and has been available in the ARD Mediathek since December 2023. As part of the main cast, she premiered CLASHING DIFFERENCES by award-winning director Merle Grimme at Filmfest München 2023. The film won the FIRST STEPS AWARD, premiered at the RAINDANCE FESTIVAL and was nominated for the JUPITER AWARD. Together with Benita Bailey, Jane founded the production company JABEZA FILMS in 2023.