Abby Ginzberg | Director, Producer

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

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.

Marta Wohl | Editor

Marta Wohl is an editor and story consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has over 25 years experience editing documentary, broadcast and independent media. The films she has edited have won numerous awards, appeared on PBS, and have screened at Sundance and other festivals worldwide. Credits include Agents of Change, co-produced and co-directed by Frank Dawson and Abby Ginzberg, Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers; Claiming the Title: Gay Olympics on Trial; and Stranger with a Camera. She worked for four years in the documentary unit at Lucasfilm, editing 25 of the 94 companion documentaries for The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones series. Recent credits also include several short films for Google Earth, and two hours of a four-part series, Standing on Sacred Ground, documenting the global struggle of indigenous peoples to save their sacred spaces.

Jim McSilver | Editor

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

Vicente Franco | Director of Photography (Bay Area)

Vicente Franco is one of the most accomplished Directors of Photography working in documentary films. He shot and produced Daughter from Danang which won the Grand Prize at Sundance and was nominated for an Oscar; The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers; a segment of Hard Earned, produced by Kartemquin Films; Mind/Game: The Unquiet Journey of Chamique Holdsclaw; Havana Curveball; Standing on Sacred Ground: Fire and Ice and Finding the Gold Within.(www.francoproductions.org)

Margaret Byrne | Director of Photography (Chicago)

Margaret Byrne received her BFA in film at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000. Margaret was a Creative Director at Universal Music and directed live concerts and music videos for artists such as Jay-Z and Mary J Blige. She produced and edited the television series that launched MTV across Africa in 2005 and directed a host of music videos for emerging African artists. She was a cinematographer and an editor for American Promise (2013) following the education of two African American boys from New York City. The film won the 2013 Sundance Special Jury Prize and 2013 Full Frame Documentary Jury Award. Margaret is director and producer of feature documentary Raising Bertie and recently received a prestigious MacArthur grant. Raising Bertie is a co-production with Kartemquin Films following the lives of three young men after their alternative school is forced to close in rural North Carolina. Margaret is founder of Beti Films (betifilms.com) and Creative Vision Films (creativevisionfilms.com).

Joslyn Rose Lyons | Producer (Impact)

Joslyn Rose Lyons is an EMMY® Nominated director, award winning filmmaker, impact producer, and writer, whose films have been featured on Showtime, Paramount, Starz, Lionsgate, streaming platforms, and at film festivals nationally and throughout the world. Joslyn is a finalist in the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (OSCARS® / ACADEMY AWARDS®). She has served as a guest speaker for the Academy Gold program (OSCARS® / ACADEMY AWARDS®), furthering the Academy’s commitment to talent development and inclusion in the film industry. Additionally, Joslyn has collaborated with STARZ on the #TakeTheLead initiative, which aims to amplify narratives by, about, and for women and underrepresented audiences.

Joslyn's feature-length directorial debut, "Stand", (Showtime/Paramount), is an examination of the extraordinary journey of pioneer activist and basketball prodigy Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The documentary features Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O'Neal, Jalen Rose, Mahershala Ali, Ice Cube and more. Additionally, “Stand” has been nominated for a Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Documentary.

Her work as an impact producer for Social Action Media extends to a number of award winning social justice documentaries including "Waging Change", "Agents of Change", "And Then They Came For Us", and "Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power" (Lionsgate/STARZ), featuring Barbara Lee, with Alice Walker, Ayanna Pressley, Van Jones, Danny Glover, Cory Booker, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The film won the 53rd NAACP Image Awards for outstanding documentary.

Joslyn directed a documentary short film for Grammy, Emmy and Academy Award Winning artist Common and his Imagine Justice organization - dedicated to empowering communities and fighting injustice. She is the producer of "Tale of the Tape", which takes an unabashed look at the role The Mixtape played during the growth of Hip Hop with Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and J. Cole. Her short film "Looking Glass" was invited to premiere at Sundance London, picking up Best Short at The American Film Awards, and TopShorts Best Female Director. She picked up Best Director Award at the 7th edition of LA Independent Women Film Awards for her short "Butterfly Boxing", which premiered at Essence Film Festival, and stars Hill Harper and J. Alphonse Nicholson. Joslyn Rose Lyons is an esteemed Academy Gold Fellowship for Women Finalist from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in filmmaking.

Joslyn's short film Looking Glass premiered at Sundance London, and picked up Best Short at The American Film Awards, and TopShorts Best Female Director. Lyons picked up a Best Director award at the 7th edition of LA Independent Women Film Awards for her short film Butterfly Boxing, starring Hill Harper and J. Alphonse Nicholson.

Joslyn Rose is an Academy Gold Fellowship for Women Finalist, from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences/Oscars. She is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors and she is by represented by Creative Artists Agency.

Having edited picture and sound, and having mixed numerous Oscar-winning films, Todd brings a wealth of filmmaking experience and sensitivity to his scoring work. Above all, he strives to make each score feel like it couldn't have been composed for any other film. With an Oscar, an Emmy, and numerous other awards and nominations to his name, he has worked with a stellar list of filmmakers: David Fincher, Carroll Ballard, David Lynch, Jon Else, Milos Forman, Philip Kaufman, Peter Weir, James Redford, David Peoples, Bill Couturié, Kris Samuelson and John Haptas, Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, and Lourdes Portillo, among many others. (www.tobomusic.com)

Jennifer Petrucelli | Archival Researcher

Jennifer Petrucelli | Archival Researcher

Prior to co-founding Sub-Basement Archival, Jennifer worked as a producer in film and television for nearly 20 years. She wrote, produced and conducted extensive archival research on a series of historical documentaries for Lucasfilm. Jennifer also wrote and produced the Lucasfilm feature documentary, Double Victory, about the Tuskegee Airmen, served as co-producer on Manifest Destiny , and co-directed and co-produced Of Rights and Wrongs. Jennifer’s documentary short, Inside/Out, won a Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Festival and screened on PBS stations around the country. In addition to her documentary work, Jennifer has served as Producer on feature projects at Industrial Light + Magic, as well as on commercial productions for Publicis & Hal Riney and Actual Films. Jennifer earned a Masters degree in Documentary Film from Stanford University and a BA in History from Cornell University. (www.sbarchival.com)

Rachel Antell | Archival Researcher

Before co-founding Sub-Basement Archival, Rachel served as Co-Producer and Archival Producer for Nancy Kates’ internationally acclaimed documentary Regarding Susan Sontag. The film aired on HBO, and received a FOCAL International award for its archival footage. Rachel has edited several feature documentaries, including Why We Sing, and Occupied Minds, and was the Director and Producer of Death on a Friendly Border which explores the rising number of migrant deaths on the US-Mexico border. This film garnered an Angelus Award and was broadcast on KQED, Link-TV, and RTVE in Spain. Rachel also spent six years conducting research for Harvard University’s Pluralism Project, and was an archival researcher and production manager for Henry Louis Gates’ Encyclopedia Africana. Rachel earned a Masters degree in Documentary Film from Stanford University, an MTS from Harvard University, and a BA from Hamilton College. (www.sbarchival.com)