Jeannine Gagné was born in 1953. After receiving a bachelor's degree in communication from Concordia University and a master's in film studies from the Université de Montréal, she began her career in film- and video-making. A founding member of the Ciné-Club des Temps Modernes in the early 1980s, she was also behind Cinéma femmes Montréal, which launched the festival Silence, elles tournent. As a film and video director, she has produced Bébé Bonheur (1994), Gardées sous silence (1990), C'est aussi ton affaire (1990), Drôle de fille (1987), Entre temps (1986) and Où étiez-vous? (1986), winner of the People's Choice Award at the Festival International de films et vidéos de femmes de Montréal in 1987.