Joany Kane's professional journey began with Florentine Films, a renowned documentary production company, where she worked as an associate producer on two PBS documentaries, one exploring the history of tuberculosis in America and the other delving into the history of the interstate highway system. Her role involved traveling across the country, conducting historical research, and scouting filming locations, all before the advent of the internet.
Throughout her career, Joany has optioned and sold over a dozen screenplays, with nine of her movies being produced. Her first script, a slapstick comedy titled "86 Management," received valuable advice from the iconic Bette Midler, who encouraged Joany to tone down the Jimmy Buffett songs.
One of Joany's most notable achievements is her Hallmark Channel movie "The Christmas Card," which broke all-time ratings records when it aired in 2006, a record that stood for nearly a decade. The film has been voted the most beloved holiday movie of all time, received an Emmy nomination, and even spawned a commemorative event in Nevada City, California, where the movie was filmed. May 19th was officially declared Joany Kane Day in recognition of her contributions to the city's tourism.
Joany's subsequent movie, "A Christmas Kiss," also achieved remarkable success, breaking ratings records for ION and spawning two sequels.
In 2013, Joany conceived the idea for a streaming service dedicated to adapting romance novels into movies and series, which she named Passionflix. After years of perseverance, she partnered with Tosca Musk and Jina Panebianco to bring the project to life, and Passionflix launched in September 2017. However, Joany and Jina departed the company in the summer of 2018.
Throughout her career, Joany has been an advocate for authors, helping them bring their work to the screen. She has also explored new genres, including horror, and continues to support Native American causes and organizations. Joany shares a cozy cottage on a lake with her partner, Dave, whom she met while working on the script for "The Christmas Card." Their romance is a testament to the power of serendipity and the magic of the holiday season.
