Persons
Vatsala Goel
Vatsala Goel is a San Francisco-based DP specializing in documentary, narrative, and brand films. Her work has premiered at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, earning a Peabody Award nomination, an Oscar shortlist, and an NAACP Image Award. Featured on Netflix, HBO, and Amazon, she has taught at SFSU, led workshops at CDWC and IWCC, and is an ASC Vision Mentorship honoree. Born in Kolkata, India, she holds an MFA from the FTII, India. Vatsala has collaborated on films that have premiered at major US festivals like Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, earning accolades including a Peabody Award nomination, an Oscar shortlist, and [...]
Stanley Ng
Stan has been teaching at BAVC since 2018, when he retired as a digital/semiconductor electronics engineer. As a sound engineer, he has been a production sound mixer and a postproduction sound designer on over a hundred short films, thanks to his longtime collaboration with the Scary Cow filmmaking collaborative. He has also contributed to award-winning TV shows and documentary/profile shorts as a producer, shooter, and editor. Stan has been recognized for his public access video productions five times by the Association for Community Media (Western Region) and at the national level. His film audio work has been recognized in several [...]
Ken Schneider
Ken Schneider, ACE, is a Peabody winning producer and editor who believes in the power of film to affect hearts and minds. Ken has edited over 40 feature-length documentaries, focusing on war and peace, human rights, artists’ lives, American history, and contemporary social issues. Ken co-edited the Oscar-nominated Regret To Inform, a film the New York Times described as “unforgettable … exquisitely filmed, edited and scored.” Ken has professed Films he edited have won primetime and documentary Emmys, three Peabodys, a Columbia-Dupont, IDA (International Documentary Association) awards, an Indie Spirit, top awards at Sundance, other major festival awards, and have [...]
Mateo Sof Allier Lechuga
Mateo Sof is an Animation Instructor and Program Specialist for the NextGen Program. They create curriculum for this program, as well as lead students through various different animation techniques and software. Mateo Sof Allier Lechuga is a mexican multimedia artist with a focus on animation. They graduated from California College of the Arts, where they specialized in Experimental Animation. After teaching art classes in various schools, and being a 3D animation guest instructor at CCA, they are joining BAVC Media. They have completed three short films, with their thesis being screened at the historic Roxie Theater. They graduated from CCA [...]
Michael Banerjee
Michael Banerjee is a Community Engagement Specialist at BAVC Media, handling BAVC Media's engagement with San Francisco via social media, newsletters, and in person outreach at schools. Michael's first introduction to BAVC Media was in 2023 as a Bridges fellow after graduating from UCLA with an English BA and a film minor. He has done lots of small jobs for BAVC Media, and is happy to officially join the club. He has completed BAVC's PG&E Editing Fellowship and Bridges Fellowship. Michael likes to spend his time playing video games, writing scripts, and watching movies.
Leena Joshi
Leena is the Director of Youth Programs at BAVC Media, supporting both our SF youth programs and Reel Stories in the East Bay. Through curriculum development, instructor support, and program evaluation, partnership, and capacity building, Leena supports the learning of young media makers and growth of BAVC Media’s youth programs on both sides of the Bay. Leena joined BAVC Media in March of 2024 with experience leading Digital + New Media arts and writing initiatives within SFUSD, as well as at Oakland-based studio for disabled artists, Creative Growth Art Center. As an artist who came of age within DIY, punk, [...]
Christopher Castro
Christopher (Chris) Castro is the Preservation Lab Manager at BAVC Media. He preserves cultural memory by traversing the world of VTRs and deteriorating videotapes in order to create the highest quality transfers. Chris is originally from the East Bay. Prior to joining BAVC Media in December 2023, he oversaw the digitization, access, and preservation of audiovisual media at a community archive. He also worked in Collection Services at the UCLA Film & Television Archive while he earned his MLIS, specializing in Media Archival Studies. He holds a certificate in Film Preservation and Restoration from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and [...]
Almetria Vaba
Almetria Vaba is the director of partnerships and distribution at KQED. In her role at the San Francisco public media station, she leads collaborative efforts with education agencies, public media stations, and nonprofit organizations. Almetria has held various roles focused on media and storytelling including as a producer at Peninsula Television, a performing arts educator in Oakland, and an instructor at Cal State Northridge while a graduate student in the Communication Studies department. Her efforts in East Bay Schools as a parent volunteer included managing a parent education program at Bishop O’Dowd, leading the African American Parents Alliance at Canyon [...]
Rachel Holbrook
Rachel is a 20-year production industry veteran, leading creative teams in the marketing and entertainment industries. After ten years leading global production at The Coca-Cola Company, Rachel joined Airbnb to build the creative and production team that would see the brand’s evolution from tech start-up to global travel platform. Following Airbnb’s IPO, Rachel executive-produced the Tribeca Film Festival Audience-Award winning documentary Gay Chorus Deep South, and led its successful sale to 26-time Oscar-winning producer Sheila Nevins and Viacom. Rachel currently directs and produces film projects with her production company, Cypress Trail Films, and continues to advise brands on how they [...]
Peter Hockaday
Peter Hockaday is Director of Communications at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the nonprofit partner to the National Park Service at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Video has been an important part of his work for almost 20 years, from multimedia reporting for news organizations like SFGATE and the San Jose Mercury News, to his current role connecting people to the national parks of the Bay Area. He has produced a wide range of video pieces from in-depth narratives to social video. Peter was born in San Francisco and enjoys a good matinee whenever possible.
