The Film Crew

	Hilla Medalia (Film Director/Producer) Now based in NYC, Medalia earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and television from Southern Illinois University (2001) and a master’s degree in Mass Communications: Professional Media Practice (2004). Recently, she was a senior producer of the award-winning documentary 39 Pounds of Love, (2005 Ophir Award, “Israeli Oscar”). The film also won “best documentary” at both The 2005 Palm Beach and Mill Valley film festivals. 39 Pounds of Love was released in U.S. (Landmark) theatres in late 2005 and made it onto the Academy Award short list for best documentary film. Medalia has received numerous honors and recognitions including a 2005 Regional Emmy Award for the documentary project Condition: John Foppe, and the 2004Angelus Award for directing the short film, Daughters of Abraham. The project also won second place in the documentary category at 2004 BEA, received the 2003 UFVA Carole Fielding Student Grant, and was screened at festivals around the world. She also won a National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) Film and Student Award for ALT.LANDSCAPE, a five-minute scripted narrative. Medalia is currently in the postproduction of her new HBO feature documentary To Die in Jerusalem that she directed and produced. The film is expected to release in the fall of 2007.
	John, Ed & Mark Priddy (Executive Producers) Priddy Brothers – John, Ed and Mark Priddy, co-founders of Priddy Brothers develop, produce and distribute independent films that explore with respect, grace and artistry the depth and breadth of the human experience. The company champions high-quality film projects created by self-energized, entrepreneurial filmmakers passionate about their art and its message. Staunch supporters of young filmmakers, the Priddys were instrumental in launching the Windrider Forum, which takes place each year during the Sundance Film Festival. The Forum includes lively, creative workshops and discussions, which allow both cutting-edge graduate and undergraduate film students to interact with the year's top film projects. John and Ed are long-time sponsors of the Angelus Student Film Awards and creators of the Triumph Award. The Priddys are executive producers of award-winning documentaries: 39 Pounds of Love, Doug Block’s thought provoking film 51 Birch Street and Hilla Medalia’s soon to be completed To Die in Jerusalem. Upcoming projects include Craig Detweiler and John Marks new film Purple State of Mind and Michael Hoffman’s Out of the Blue
	James Lecesne (Producer) James created the critically acclaimed solo performance Word of Mouth directed by Eve Ensler and produced by Mike Nichols. His live action short film, Trevor, won an Academy Award in 1994, and inspired The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization that operates the only 24-hour suicide prevention helpline for GLBT teens. Working with young people in Cambodia, Tibet and Bosnia, Mr. Lecesne created The Road Home: Stories of Children of War, which premiered at The Asia Society in NYC and was presented at The International Peace Initiative at the Hague. Absolute Brightness, will be published by Harper Collins in Fall 2007.

Photos by Donn Young