Dramatic Feature "Hair Or No Hair" Goes To Camera With Janessa St. Pierre, Cody Kearsley, Rryla Mcintosh, Karen Holness In Leading Roles

 Vancouver, BC  (March 27, 2026) — It was announced today that HAIR OR NO HAIR, the debut feature from award-winning filmmaker Janessa St. Pierre, has gone to camera in BC. The film is being developed from her short film of the same name that travelled the festival circuit premiering at LA Shorts Film Festival, Slamdance, and VIFF winning awards at numerous festivals. The feature adaptation expands the world of the short with a Black-led team at the helm. Janessa St. Pierre writes, directs and stars alongside Cody Kearsley (Riverdale, Virgin River), Rryla McIntosh (Under Wraps 2, Longlegs), Karen Holness (Chicago, Firefly Lane) and Tandia Mercedes (A Safe Distance).

In HAIR OR NO HAIR, when a young Black woman hiding her alopecia receives a new wig, a sentient hair painting in her home springs to life, pushing her to break free from Black hair culture and rediscover who she truly is.

"I’m determined to walk away knowing this story is going to make an impact on so many lives for the better, I hope sharing about this life shifts hearts, minds and perspectives,” says St. Pierre. “I want people to unlearn Hollywood’s programming on how to perceive “baldness” — I also think of all the little alopecian girlies that live in this superficial society and this is for them. You’re worthy, you’re beautiful and you don’t have to hide." 

Also joining the cast are Brandy Ledford (Baywatch, Modern Family), Lucky Onendo, Alexandra Roberts (Until Branches Bend), Ali Froggatt (She Talks to Strangers), Miranda Edwards (Mean Girls, Snowpiercer), Michelle Choi-Lee (Longlegs, Joy Ride) and Chris Shields (The 100, Riverdale).

Janessa St. Pierre is an acclaimed Black filmmaker who has served in various roles, including Production Designer and Assistant to the Director, contributing to notable projects including as a showrunner’s assistant on Yellowjackets (Season 3) and the Legally Blonde Prequel Series ELLE. Her storytelling prowess emerged with Think Again, which won Best Short at the IGen Youth Festival in Miami. Her directorial work on the short film Hair or No Hair garnered awards at numerous festivals including the LA Shorts Festival. Selected for the VIFF catalyst mentorship program in 2023, St. Pierre continues to be a dynamic voice in cinema, celebrated for her engaging narratives and commitment to the craft. Concordia University alumna with a diploma in Motion Picture Arts from Capilano University. Since her industry debut in 2017, St. Pierre

HAIR OR NO HAIR features pre-dominantly Black heads of department who are working across the professional industry in BC. The film is written, directed and produced by Janessa St. Pierre, produced by Mariam Barry (directing apprentice on Wildcards, Percy Jackson), co-produced by Mimi Dejene (Lifeline) and the Director of Photography is Leo Harim who has been a camera operator on films including Longlegs, The Monkey, Black Mirror and The Young People. Odera Igbokwe is contributing original art to the film and Emmy award-winning puppeteer Dusty Hagerud is attached, a member of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket people of the Lower East Kootenays, who is known for his puppetry work on Fraggle Rock (Apple+, Emmy win) and on hip-hop music videos for Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Tory Lanez’s "Music To My Ears". Pearl Lowe is also attached as story editor, known for their work on the Academy award-winning Hair Love and their NAACP award-winning Canvas.

HAIR OR NO HAIR was made possible with the support of Telefilm Talent to Watch & Canada Council of the Arts and is filming in Vancouver and Coquitlam, BC.