Benjamin Mandell
Producer, Director

Ben is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a focus on multicultural understanding. Previously he worked as a field producer and cinematographer for Project Explorer, a non-profit educational travel documentary company, and as a marketing manager for the distributor New Video. Before working in film, Ben received his MBA from Columbia University and worked as a development consultant in Nicaragua, South Africa and Ethiopia.
For more information: VishWho.me

Melissa Donovan
Cinematographer, Field Co-Director

With over twenty years of experience, Melissa has shot an array of narrative films, documentary films, live events and national commercials. Melissa is an award winning cinematographer earning critical praise from the New Haven Film Festival and the HDFilm Festival for her film Freebox.
For more information: MelissaDonovanProductions.com

Bethlehem Dejene
Field Producer

Originally from Addis Ababa, Beti attended Columbia University where she graduated with a degree in Anthropology. Beti is currently working towards her PhD at Northwestern University where her academic interests are focused on Ethiopian rituals. Her work includes the use of film as a method of documenting the overlooked and hidden aspects of Ethiopian culture.

Zelalem Woldemariam
Associate Producer

As a young child, Zelalem always dreamed of becoming a filmmaker. Today he is internationally recognized as one of the top Ethiopian filmmakers of his generation. In 2006, Zelalem released his first feature film The 11th Hour, which screened at the Festival de Cannes in 2007. Most recently, Zelalem worked as Assistant Director to Abderrahmane Sissako on the short film Tiya's Dream.
For more information: ZelemanProductions.com

Emily Taylor
Still Photographer

Emily studied photography as an undergraduate student at Hollins University. After graduation, Emily started a non-profit media organization called Project Image Ethiopia and relocated to Addis Ababa were she now lives. Emily's photos have been featured in several publications and she works as a freelance photographer for local non-profit organizations.
For more information: EmilyTaylorPhoto.com

David DesRoches
Writer

Originally from Virginia, David graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Media Studies. After school, David moved to Ethiopia to work as a freelance writer and as a partner of Project Image Ethiopia. Most recently, David's poetry was featured in Selam, a traveling Italian photography exhibit highlighting the beauty of Ethiopia.