Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody Award-winning director and Emmys® Silver Circle inductee, has been producing compelling documentaries about race and social justice for over 35 years. Recently honored with induction into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) in recognition of her 25 years of commitment to the film and TV community, Abby has created an impressive portfolio of award-winning films. 

Abby’s film BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary and premiered on STARZ® and was distributed by Lionsgate® Entertainment. The feature length documentary tells the complex story of Representative Barbara Lee, a steadfast voice for human rights, peace and economic and racial justice in the US Congress. This intimate film features prominent voices including Alice Walker, Van Jones, Rep. John Lewis, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Cory Booker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Danny Glover.  

Her short film JUDGING JURIES, highlights the urgent need to address inequities in jury service that undermine the fundamental right to be judged by a diverse and representative jury, premiered at the Pan African Film Festival and has garnered recognition with awards such as Best Documentary Short at the Cal Film Festival and Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Shorts from the Accolade Global Awards.

Her current film, co-directed with Christy Carpenter, SHAKING IT UP: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LIZ CARPENTER, premiered at SXSW, receiving accolades including Best Feature Documentary at the Hill Country Film Festival and Best Biographical Film at the Toronto International Women Film Festival and will be broadcast on public television in 2025. 

Abby also produced A DOUBLE LIFE, directed by Catherine Masud, which premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival, earning an Audience Favorite award. This compelling documentary focuses on activism in the 1960s and the role of activists and lawyers in the prison reform movement of the early 1970s, introducing educational institutions and future generations to this pivotal era. 

She served as the Consulting Producer on THE BARBER OF BIRMINGHAM, directed by Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin. This poignant documentary premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award® in the Short Documentary category, highlighting its significant impact and relevance in exploring social justice through the experience of foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama.

Abby directed and produced SOFT VENGEANCE: ALBIE SACHS AND THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA, which won a Peabody Award and has screened at numerous film festivals worldwide. The film, narrated by Emmy® Award-Winning actress Alfre Woodard, tells the powerful story of Albie Sachs, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and former Constitutional Court judge, exploring his journey and contributions to South Africa's post-apartheid landscape.  

Abby’s film, WAGING CHANGE, examines the challenges faced by tipped restaurant servers, forced to live off tips. The documentary highlights the struggles surrounding the federal tipped minimum wage, which remains at  $2.13 per hour, and was broadcast on public television.

The film features award-winning actor and activist Jane Fonda, recognized with multiple Academy Awards®, Primetime Emmy Awards®, and Golden Globe Awards® for her contributions to film and television. It also features award-winning actor and activist Lily Tomlin, who has received multiple Academy Awards®, Primetime Emmy Awards®, and Golden Globe Awards® for her work in the industry.

AND THEN THEY CAME FOR US (2017), featuring George Takei, explores the connection between the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the Trump administration’s Muslim travel ban, raising critical questions about civil liberties. The film was broadcast on public television.

AGENTS OF CHANGE (2016), co-directed with Frank Dawson, tells the untold story of the Black student movement of the late 1960s on college campuses. Actor and activist, Danny Glover, is featured in the film. It won both the Jury and Audience awards for Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival and was broadcast on public television as part of America ReFramed.

 Currently, Abby is in production on several new films,.including SHE DARED TO DREAM (a docu-series in development), which features Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat representing Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District. This project brings together the same women-led team from the NAACP Image Award-winning film BARBARA LEE: SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER, with Barbara Lee serving as a consulting producer. The film will explore Pressley’s vision, challenges, and aspirations as a trailblazer in American politics, alongside Abby’s broader documentary series about women of color serving in the House of Representatives.

LABORS OF LOVE: HENRIETTA SZOLD’S LIFE AND LEGACY. This documentary delves into the remarkable life of Szold, founder of Hadassah in 1912, a key figure in establishing healthcare and social services in early twentieth-century Palestine. The film explores her efforts in rescuing Jewish children during the 1930s and her lasting legacy in public health and social work.

Her films are distributed for educational use through Women Make Movies,  Good Docs and California Newsreel and for personal use through Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Vimeo.  This distribution network not only enhances accessibility to her powerful narratives but also aligns with Abby's commitment to fostering dialogue around critical social issues. Through these partnerships, her films educate, inspire, and continue to make an impact, while provoking meaningful discussions across diverse audiences and educational institutions.

Vicente Franco has been a Director of Photography all over the world for more than twenty-five years. He was a 2003 Oscar nominee for Best Documentary and Emmy nominee for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Daughter from DaNang, winner of the Sundance Film Festival 2002 Grand Jury Prize.

He was Director of Photography on 3 other Academy Award nominees: The Barber of Birmingham (2012), The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (2010), and Freedom On My Mind (1994). He won the Silver Apple/Latin American Studies Association for Cuba Va: the Challenge of the Next Generation.

He is an accomplished cinematographer of documentaries, drama, news and public affairs who won a Peabody for coverage of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. His recent credits include the PBS series Latino Americans, and Latin Music USA,

He also shot The Storm That Swept Mexico, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, Botany of Desire, Orozco Man of Fire, Archeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi, The Fight in the Fields, The Good War as well as Summer of Love, which he co-produced and co-directed for the PBS/American Experience series, about the SF Haight Ashbury hippie community in 1967.

Jim is driven to tell stories through film and video that move and engage audiences. Whether producing, directing, writing or editing, he loves collaborating to bring new visions and compelling ideas to the screen.

His production and post work ranges from documentaries to fiction feature films, corporate and commercials to video installations and experiences.

He specializes in tackling complex storytelling and editorial challenges with creative solutions that inspire audiences. Editor of documentaries, fiction and corporate videos Award-winning editing – bringing together technical know-how, attention to detail and creative artistry Jim focus intently on rhythm, pacing and dynamic visuals, but always in the service of good storytelling. His writing background helps in developing strong story structure by unearthing hidden drama and cutting excess.

He also brings extensive motion graphics, color correction and sound mixing experience to allow productions to shine. www.mcsilver.net

Joslyn Rose Lyons is an Emmy®-nominated director, award-winning filmmaker, producer, and writer. Her films have been showcased on platforms such as Showtime, Paramount, Starz, and Lionsgate, as well as international film festivals, including Sundance London, SXSW, Essence, and Urbanworld. She is also a finalist for the Academy Gold Women's Fellowship under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars® / Academy Awards®).

Joslyn's feature-length directorial debut, "Stand" (Showtime/Paramount), examines the extraordinary journey of pioneering activist and basketball prodigy Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The documentary features notable figures such as Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O'Neal, Jalen Rose, Mahershala Ali, Ice Cube, and others. "Stand" has also been nominated for a Sports EMMY® Award for Outstanding Documentary.

Joslyn's work in documentary film includes impact producing social justice documentaries such as "Waging Change" with Jane Fonda, "Agents of Change" featuring Danny Glover, "And Then They Came For Us" with George Takei, and "Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power" (Lionsgate, premiered on STARZ). This film features prominent figures like Barbara Lee, Alice Walker, Ayanna Pressley, Van Jones, Danny Glover, Cory Booker, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and it won the 53rd NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary.

In addition to her film and television projects, Joslyn has directed and produced numerous music videos and digital content for platforms such as MTV, VH1, and Uninterrupted, collaborating with prominent artists including The Neptunes/N.E.R.D., E-40, Vince Staples, Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, and Academy Award®-winning Mahershala Ali. Joslyn also directed Imagine Justice for Mic.org, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Common, whose organization advocates for marginalized communities through initiatives focused on criminal justice reform.

Additionally, she directed and produced the first Music Matters showcase Grammy Edition at Creative Artists Agency, featuring Mack Wilds and PJ Morton. Her creative direction spans the intersection of sports, activism, music, and artistry, as she has directed projects with athletes like 49ers star George Kittle and Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis. Joslyn executive produced the two-part special Same Energy for Uninterrupted/SpringHill, featuring Marshawn Lynch and 2 Chainz, and produced the BET Awards Celebrity Basketball Game for the BET Experience, with Nick Cannon, Chris Brown, Angela Yee, and Jemele Hill.

Her short film "Looking Glass" premiered at Sundance London, winning Best Short at The American Film Awards and TopShorts Best Female Director. Joslyn received the Best Director Award at the 7th edition of the LA Independent Women Film Awards for her short "Butterfly Boxing," which premiered at the Essence Film Festival and stars Hill Harper and J. Alphonse Nicholson.

Joslyn Rose Lyons has been invited as a guest speaker for the Academy Gold Rising program (OSCARS® / ACADEMY AWARDS®) and has served as a judge for the EMMY® Awards. She was also a guest host at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. She collaborated with STARZ on the #TakeTheLead initiative, which amplifies narratives by, about, and for women and underrepresented audiences. As a member of both the Alliance of Women Directors and Women in Film (WIF), Joslyn has led panels advocating for gender equity and supporting underrepresented voices in the industry. She is represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).