Bio
Kenny Hotz is a Canadian writer, director, actor, producer and photographer best known as a former South Park consultant, creator/co-star of the Canadian television show Kenny vs. Spenny and creator/co-writer of the Showcase/FX series Testees.
Hotz made his first film at the age of six while attending film camp in Toronto. He has been a photographer since 1986 - photographing historic world events in numerous countries.
His photo essays include: Auschwitz, Dachau, Needle Park (Zurich, Switzerland), David Koresh, Mount Caramel, Waco and New Years' in Times Square 2000.
In 1991, he traveled to the Middle East to cover the Gulf War - the only registered Canadian artist to do so. Numerous Canadian institutions including the national and provincial archive have collected his work.
He won the best student photo award for his photograph "Life Behind the Mask" in 1992. Hotz attended the Media Arts program at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson University) in 1992.
He then began work on an award-winning comedic short film, It Don’t Cost Nothin’ To Say Goodmorning which is about the life and death of a homeless foul-mouthed dwarf in Toronto, named Shorty Gordy.
In 1997, Hotz spent time working as a writer on the American cartoon series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He also starred with his pal Spencer Rice in the award-winning internationally acclaimed documentary Pitch.
In 1999, he moved on to Los Angeles to create and develop a television programme called Kenny vs. Spenny (which was nominated for the Rose d'Or for Best International Comedy Series, and two Gemini award nominations for Best Canadian Comedy Series in 2004 and again in 2006).
In 2004, Hotz wrote, directed and starred in The Papal Chase, an award winning documentary film chronicling attempts by Hotz to meet Pope John Paul II.
The film, which features cameos by The Rolling Stones and The Pope, won the acclaimed Phillip Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature Film and an unprecedented $10,000 cash prize in 2004.
In 2005, the film also won the People’s Choice Award for Best Canadian Feature at the Canadian Filmmakers Festival and the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Brooklyn International Film Festival.
In 2005, he wrote/consulted on the ninth season of the animated Emmy Award winning series South Park, alongside his friends Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
In 2006 he was a contributing columnist for the internationally acclaimed periodical Vice Magazine and was awarded his first literary prize. The “WTF best story award” for an article he wrote in the FICTION issue.
Hotz also created the concept for "Versusville" - a 3D video game meant to accompany the Kenny vs. Spenny series. The game was nominated for a Canadian New Media Award for "Excellence in Gaming."
Kenny also appeared alongside Seth Rogen in the Kevin Smith feature film Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
He is also an avid video blogger on his website.