Bhawin Suchak (Producer/Director, Cinematographer, Editor) is a
filmmaker, educator and digital media producer who works with emerging
technologies as tools to promote expression, communication, and
connection.
He co-directed
Free
To Learn, a feature length documentary about radical education and has
produced, directed and edited several short documentary films.
Bhawin is the founder and program
director of Youth FX, a summer filmmaking program for inner-city teens based
out of Grand Street Community Arts.
He has been a media arts teacher
at The Albany Free School for 12 years, and has worked with youth in digital
film production and multimedia at several locations including:
Sanctuary for Independent Media, Upper
Hudson Planned Parenthood, Ark Charter School, and with the Museum Club
afterschool program at The New York State Museum.
Ira McKinley (Producer/Director) is a Air Force veteran
trained as a Medical Material Handler, he started his activism early on when he
participated in Act Up in Ithaca, NY in the 1980’s. During the winters of
2007/2008 he started a Homeless Arts Showcase inspired by his fifteen years
being homeless himself in Northampton, MA’s Pulaski Park. Ira won
Northampton Arts Council’s grant for an “Emerging Film Maker” (2009); as well
as Producer of the Year for Northampton Community Television (2009).
Ira is currently a cameraman for the Sanctuary for
Independent Media and Troy, NY and continues his activist work with his
collaborative Social Change in Mind, a network of organizations and individuals
seeking social justice within the Capital Region.
Sam Pollard (Executive Producer) is an award-winning feature film and television video editor, and documentary producer/director whose career spans almost thirty years. He is one of the nation's top film editors, and has edited several Spike Lee films (Four Little Girls, Jungle Fever, Mo Better Blues) and served as the producer for Henry Hampton's historical civil rights documentary Eyes On The Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads. Pollard recently directed the acclaimed documentary Slavery By Another Name that aired on PBS.
Adele Pham (Associate Producer, Additional Camera) is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. Since 2007 she has directed, edited, and produced four documentary shorts that have screened at over 20 film festivals domestically and abroad. Pham has lectured at NYU, Wesleyan, and The New School, taught documentary film to South Asian teenage girls in Queens, and youth of color in The Bronx and Brooklyn, NY.
Messiah Rhodes (Additional Camera, Additional Editing) is a Brooklyn, NY based filmmaker who has produced several short documentary films reflecting the stories of those on the margins. He is currently in production on a feature length documentary that follows emerging social movements in New York City.
Victoria Kereszi (Creative Consultant) is an artist, photographer, documentary filmmaker, curator, community media organizer, and educator. She has completed two feature length documentaries and works with youth and community member to engage them in media and digital production at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY
Branda Miller (Creative Consultant) is an emmy-award winning media artist and educator, dedicated to explore new visions and support independent voices. She is currently a professor of media studies at RPI University and the co-director at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY
Cleo Oliver (Director of Community Engagement) is the Executive Director of Grand Street Community Arts and has been in leadership positions in several non-profit community based organizations.