decade of fire
dir/prod. Vivian Vázquez Irizarry & Gretchen Hildebran
Feature Documentary
Through a rich seam of archival and home movie footage, DECADE OF FIRE confronts the racially-charged stereotypes that dehumanized residents of the South Bronx in the 1970’s, and rationalized their abandonment by city, state and federal governments.
personal statement
dir. Julie Dressner, co-dir. Edwin Martinez
Feature Documentary
3 Brooklyn high school students work to overcome overwhelming circumstances to get themselves and their classmates into college.
Saaba
dir. Brandon Kramer
6 part Documentary Mini-Series
This six-part digital docu-series explores a community-based attempt to fight violence in Burkina Faso in the Sahel region of West Africa.
USIP: Justice and Security Dialogue in Saaba
PBS News hour "In this Burkina Faso town, fighting crime depends on dialogue"
out of my head
a film by Jacki Ochs & Susanna Styron
Feature Documentary
A filmmaker, seeking treatment for her daughter's migraine attacks, discovers a confounding neurological disease and learns why a devastating condition, afflicting nearly a billion people worldwide, remains so deeply misunderstood.
LAS MARThAS
dir. Cristina Ibarra
Feature Documentary
Las Marthas follows two young women on their journey to their debut in 19th-century-inspired gowns at an event hosted by the Society of Martha Washington.
PBS Broadcast 2014
http://itvs.org/films/las-marthas
big girl
dir. Lisa Melodia
Independent fiction short film
Hannah is only six years old but her mom calls her a big girl. Sometimes big girls don’t go to school. Sometimes they have to tell the truth and other times they should tell lies. Being a big girl means Hannah has to do things even when she doesn't want to. Starring Onata Aprile & Lucy Walters.
Scars of Stop & Frisk
dir. Julie Dressner, Edwin Martinez
Short Documentary
A NY Times Op-Doc which premiered in June, 2012 and explores the impact of New York’s stop-and-frisk policing on Tyquan Brehon, a young man in Brooklyn who was stopped more than 60 times before he was 18 years old.
Linda Mirada: Secundario
dir. Monica Brand, Francisco Lopez
Music Video
confidante
dir. Lisa Melodia
Independent fiction short film
A young cleaning woman is confronted with an unusual request when her elderly employer asks her to spy on her long lost brother. Starring Gaby Hoffmann, Elaine Hyman, & Madison Arnold
Blow out
dir. Berkely Brady
MFA thesis fiction short film: Columbia University
To be heard
dir. Roland Legiardi-Laura, Edwin Martinez, Deborah Shaffer, Amy Sultan
Feature Documentary
A five-year journey of 3 best friends as their hopes for the future and the strength of their friendship are put to the ultimate test. Released to festival and critical acclaim, (NY Times critics pick) To Be Heard went on to win awards at several film festivals including DOCNYC, SIFF, Nantucket, Sarasota and others.
AN American Icon
dir. Richard Kaufman
Short promotional video
The William J. Clinton Presidential Center exhibit tells the story of the Oscar de la Renta's life, career, and impact on the fashion world through his own, original designs and features more than 30 of his iconic creations.
Carnegie Hall Tribute
dir. Richard Kaufman
Short promotional video
Carnegie Hall awards Oscar de la Renta with their "Medal of Excellence."
Hispanacea
dir. fulana.org
Short scripted parody
Immigrant Latina women—who have had little or no access to education or health care—are living longer than anyone else in the United States. The New York Times has called this phenomenon "The Hispanic Paradox." What if Latinas' longevity could be extracted from their bodies and marketed as a health supplement to the public at large? Find out on the hard-hitting news show, TERCER IMPACTO, as Barbi Bermúdez and Fabi Fernández report on the new craze in energy supplements, HISPANACEA: Your Fountain of Youth. Feel the force that is sweeping the nation!
Leave No Soldier
dir. Donna Bassin
Feature Documentary
Two Journeys. Two Generations. Bringing each other home. Struggling with combat losses, PTSD, moral injury, reintegration to civilian life, and an overwhelmed Veterans Administration, many Veterans are building communities for social responsibility and self-care. www.leavenosoldier.com
Gidyup!
dir. Mitchell Horn, David A. Ford
Documentary TV Special broadcast on LOGO
The Film explores and embraces the Gay Rodeo culture and gives face to the thousands of Gay and Lesbian North Americans who reject the stereotypes of a community made up of Drag Queens and Hustlers. These men and women all face the gamut of the “Gay” life, whether it is discrimination, HIV/AIDS, grief, stigmatization… encompassing the full spectrum from heartaches to happiness that is the human condition. Our subjects represent a new generation of the heroic American archetype: THE COWBOY
Watch it here
What alice found
dir. A. Dean Bell
Independent Fiction Feature
Alice (Emily Grace) wants more from life than her small New Hampshire town can offer. The 18-year-old's plan is to drive to Florida and start anew. She wants to be a marine biologist; Florida has dolphins. But Alice hits a detour in her journey when she meets a friendly middle-aged couple, Sandra (Judith Ivey) and Bill (Bill Raymond), on the roadside. When Alice's car breaks down, they take her in. But, before long, she discovers the dark motive behind their kindness. (2003 Sundance Award Winner)