Persons
Katy Scoggin
Katy Scoggin was a co-producer and cinematographer on Laura Poitras's films "CITIZENFOUR" and "Risk," an AP on Emmy-nominated "The Oath," and a producer on short OpDocs "The Program" and "Death of a Prisoner." She won a 2018 Glassbreaker Films grant to make a short, “Promenade,” that took her to her high school prom for the first time. "Flood," her debut feature, has been patiently supported by Sundance, IFP Documentary Lab, Film Independent Fast Track, MacDowell, DCTV, BAVC Media, and Berlinale Talents. Flood is my cinematic, decade-long search to understand my evangelical family. It begins with my failed attempt to thaw my [...]
Emily Cohen Ibañez
Colombian-American filmmaker, Emily Cohen Ibañez makes films about global labor and gender politics in science/tech, militarism, and food systems. She earned her doctorate in Anthropology (2011) with a certificate in Culture and Media at New York University. Her film work pairs cinematic excellence with social activism, advocating for labor, environmental, and health justice. The National Science Foundation, Fulbright Colombia, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and SFFILM FilmHouse Residency Program amongst others have supported her work. Fruits of Labor is the story of Ashley, an American high school student traversing the seen and unseen forces that keep her family trapped in a cycle [...]
Debra Schaffner
Debra Schaffner is an editor and filmmaker of all things short and long, with an emphasis on art, education and body parts. Her work has screened at venues including SF DOC FEST, DOCS/MX, FRAMELINE and aired on PBS and SMG (China). She enjoys breaking into zoos and setting all the monkeys and penguins free, but has never been arrested. She is most recently credited as the editor of Dawn Lodgson’s feature documentary Free for All: Inside the Public Library. Curse of the Mutant Heirloom is a hybrid documentary which explores the gift and curse of genetic knowledge. Faced with the [...]
Christian Figueroa
Christian Figueroa is a native of El Salvador where he witnessed first hand the ravages of the civil war. Images of this armed conflict inspired him to confront social issues through art and cinema. He has produced documentary films in the U.S., Cuba, China, Italy, and El Salvador. His work deals with notions of cultural identity, trauma, and memory representations. He holds an MFA in Cinema Production from San Francisco State University and works as an educator in San Francisco, California. Flowers of May represents the memories of the Sumpul River massacre. This human rights violation occurred at the beginning [...]
Brittany Shyne
Brittany Shyne is a writer, director and producer. Her works analyze race, gender and culture seeking to examine the complexity of the human experience. Shyne received a MFA in Documentary Media from Northwestern University and a BFA in Motion Pictures from Wright State University. Her directorial work includes “Painted Lady” which screened at BlueStocking Film Series, Starz Denver Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Citizen Jane Independent Women Film Festival and others. Seeds is an ethnographic and sensitive portrait of a centennial African American farm in Thomasville, Georgia. Using lyrical black and white imagery [...]
Brenda Ávila-Hanna
Brenda Avila-Hanna is an award-winning filmmaker and educator. Born and raised in Mexico City, her films focus on transnational stories between Latin America and the U.S. Brenda is a Fellow for the NMC Lab through LPB and a recipient of NALIP’s 2018 Media Market Fellowship. She is a two-time finalist for the International Documentary Challenge and a member-owner of New Day Films, where she serves as Team Lead for Equity and Representation. Brenda received an M.A. in Social Documentation from UCSC in 2013. Libertad – Alejandra, an Indigenous, transgender woman from Oaxaca, Mexico escaped violence in her hometown and fled [...]
Paula Smith Arrigoni
Paula Smith Arrigoni is the Executive Director of BAVC Media. In partnership with BAVC's staff leadership team, and Board of Directors, Paula advances BAVC's vision and strategy, partnerships, administration, and funding. Paula's background blends community development, nonprofit management and independent storytelling - from her urban planning education at UCLA, to the CDFI Fund at the US Treasury, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Youth Speaks, an independent film fund, BAVC Media, and several volunteer roles with film and media organizations and collectives, including The Roxie Theater, Watsonville Film Festival, BAMMS, and the Ninth Street Independent Film Center. Paula has executive-produced several independent films. [...]
Javan Jiles
As Media Specialist, Javan supports existing and new SF COMMONS members, manages the outreach and engagement of the public and their entry into the orientations, programs, social media support and producing content. He also provides technical support and equipment maintenance for BAVC Productions. Javan joined BAVC Media as an intern in November 2017 and became a full-time staff member in July 2018 whilst obtaining a BA in Cinema and double-minoring in Critical Social Theory and Political Science at San Francisco State University. Over the past several years, he has written 2 screenplays and produced music and video content. When not [...]
Lauren Militello
Lauren Militello is thrilled to support BAVC Media's mission as Office Manager. She's a former BAVC Media student, having completed the Video Production Certification program. Lauren is the owner of Take Root Productions, a video production company launched in 2014 specializing in marketing videos that plant a seed of connection. She's passionate about using her talents to help create a better world. Previously, Lauren worked in CRM and Sales for Numi Organic Tea, completed a Hatha Yoga Teacher Training in India, repaired bicycles at Eki Cyclery in Honolulu, and graduated from Women's Initiative Business School in Oakland. She holds an [...]
