STAFF

BEN ACHTENBERG — Project Director, Producer
Ben is an Oscar-nominated producer and distributor of documentary films on social issues. His productions on such topics as healthcare for the homeless, medical ethics, end-of-life care and disabilities have received many honors, including an Academy Award nomination (for Code Gray), seven CINE Golden Eagles and a first-place award in “Issues and Ethics” from the National Health and Medical Film Competition. Ben is a founder and board member of the Carmenta Foundation for Health Education and is a member of the Ignacio Martin-Baro Fund for Mental Heath and Human Rights. He is the President of Fanlight Productions, a widely-respected distributor of documentaries on healthcare, mental health, aging, disabilities, and related issues. See Filmography...

Interviewing survivor Richard Oketch on location in Minneapolis

ROZ DZELZITIS — Associate Producer
Roz has worked closely with torture survivors, displaced refugees and asylum seekers for nearly a decade as a journalist and producer of documentary films on human rights issues in the U.S. and Central America. She is the Executive Director of May I Speak Freely Media, and a member of the board of directors of BAIDO, an association of San Francisco Bay Area international development organizations. Roz previously worked as program coordinator for the Sacred Land Film Project, and distribution coordinator of its PBS film In the Light of Reverence.

CARRIE GOLDEN — Research Assistant
Carrie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before working as a research assistant at Education Development Center’s Center for Research on High Risk Behaviors. She has also created and taught a health awareness curriculum for girls in Peru and tutored children in Ecuador.

JENARA NERENBERG — Research Assistant
Jenara recently graduated from Harvard School of Public Health, focusing on Health Communication. She has worked as the assistant editor for Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS) and at the Glide Memorial health clinic for the homeless in San Francisco.

EMILY BROWNING — Editing Intern
Emily graduated from Macalester College, and has studied and worked abroad in Botswana and Ghana.

MEENAKSHI CHIVUKULA — Research & Editing Intern
Meenakshi has a wide range of international field work and educational experience. She graduated in International Comparative Studies from Duke University, where she also studied filmmaking.

SARA IGL — Research & Editing Intern
Sara has been a City Year Team Leader, and researched the issue of genocide trials and the competing needs of victims in post-conflict society.

ANDREA ROSAS — Editing Intern
Andrea is currently majoring in Film Production at Boston University.

SARAH RYAN — Research & Editing Intern
Sarah majored in International Relations at Boston University; her thesis dealt with humanitarian intervention in Sierra Leone.

JILL TEITELMAN — Research & Editing Intern
Jill is an author, teacher of writing, scriptwriter, radio producer, and researcher.

SARAH VAN NORDEN — Editing Intern
Sarah is a public health administrator now studying video production and editing.

 

Roz, Bruce, and Ben on location in Atlanta

WITH HELP FROM...

BRUCE PETSCHEK — Videographer
Bruce is an accomplished cameraman and editor working on a remarkable range of public interest projects though his company, Seven Generations Video. He is the Director of Photography for The Banjo Project.

DAVID GERRATT — Web Designer
David owns DG Communications: "Promoting the good work of others by helping them look good." Also collaborating, on the technical side of our web design, is MICHAEL SNOW, of Snow Creative.

NICK THORKELSON — Graphic Artist
Nick, the creator of the illustrations on this site, is an illustrator, graphic designer, and cartoonist whose work has appeared in a wide variety of print and digital publications. Check out Thorkelson Graphics for more of his work.

SUSI WALSH —  Director, Fiscal Sponsor
Susi is the Director of our sponsoring organization, The Center for Independent Documentary, a 501(c)3 organization which collaborates with independent filmmakers, offering assistance and support in bringing their films to completion. All contributions made to The Refuge Media Project via The Center for Independent Documentary are tax deductible. Donate now!

Some of the quotations on this website were found in: Not in MY name! A collection of quotes on the past, present and future of the practice of torture, selected and arranged by ELLA MAZEL,who deserves to be quoted herself:

People who know me can't fathom how this mother of four and grandmother of five can even look at such horrors. But facing, and doing something about, these ugly realities while living a "normal" personal life, is probably my way of preserving my sanity.
                                      -- Ella Mazel, February 2005