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The Straylight Creative Team

What truly makes Straylight special are the people we work with. Making movies is hard. The only way it works is through collaboration, enthusiasm and joy. That starts with these incredible filmmakers. 

Sam French

Founder / Creative Director

An Oscar-nominated filmmaker, Sam’s work has appeared on HBO, BBC, CNN, Channel 4 News, Vice, Al Jazeera, National Geographic, and other outlets.

 

Sam spent five years in Afghanistan, where he directed the Oscar-nominated narrative film Buzkashi Boys. His most recent documentary With This Breath I Fly, about two Afghan women fighting for their freedom after being imprisoned for “moral crimes,” is Executive Produced by Angelina Jolie and has won over a dozen awards at major film festivals.

 

Sam has directed episodes of the Emmy-nominated documentary series Religion of Sports and Why We Fight, and the Red Bull series All In and Life of Kai. He is currently working on the documentary feature Dominion, about a new generation of evangelical climate activists, and the narrative feature Valley of the Shadow, a true story about former neo-Nazi Frank Meeink, exploring one man’s inspiring battle to choose love over hate. Sam has served on juries for the IDA Documentary Awards, the Austin Film Festival, the Istanbul Film Festival, the Dumbo Film Festival, and New York Shorts International.

 

Sam believes storytelling is an engine of empathy and has the power to change the world. He lives in Los Angeles.

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Sam French / Producer / Director

Mark Rinehart

Producer, Director

Mark Rinehart is an Emmy-nominated director who has created cinematic character driven lifestyle spots for a wide range of brands including Intel, Disney, Google, HP, Autodesk, Blue Shield, Chevy, Autodesk, Porsche, Condé Nast, Pepsi, Universal Music Group, and Under Armour. He was nominated for an Emmy for his directing work on Food Interrupted, a digital series sponsored by Panera and co-produced with Participant Media.

After receiving his masters degree in documentary filmmaking from Stanford University, Mark directed long form programming for Discovery, National Geographic, Travel, OWN, NBC, and Current Television. Mark also produced “Joshua: Teenager Vs Superpower” a Sundance audience award-winning documentary acquired by Netflix Originals. His other documentary producing credits include “Decoding Deepak”​, a feature length travel documentary film on Deepak Chopra and #Chicagogirl, a profile on a young woman who used social media in Syrian Revolution. He also executive produced and series directed “Embedded”​, a half-hour music journalism series, which premiered on Current Television. The in-depth profiles of artists ranging from Mos Def to Ben Harper earned the show positive reviews in Rolling Stone and Billboard magazine.

Mark has directed several independent films screened at festivals including SXSW, Silverdocs, IDFA, and SF International.

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Mai Iskander

Director, Cinematographer

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Mai Iskander is producer, director, and director of photography whose body of work spans various genres.  

Her work includes the feature-length documentaries GARBAGE DREAMS (SXSW, IDFA), and WORDS OF WITNESS (Berlinale, Los Angeles Film Festival). GARBAGE DREAMS was shortlisted for an Academy Award, nominated for a Director's Guild of America Award and garnered 26 international awards.

Mai’s recognizable visual watermark and innate understanding of diverse storytelling have also landed her in the director’s chair for major commercial clients, such as Dove, Kate Spade, Garnier, and Apple. Her impactful “Care Counts” campaign for Whirlpool received four Lions at the Cannes Festival.

Mai’s cinematography, described as having a “you-are-there vitality” by the Los Angeles Times, has been recognized in ARRI’s centennial website and book.

Mai Iskander / Director / Cinematographe...
Garbage Dreams
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Garbage Dreams

Watch the trailer for Mai Iskander's Oscar-nominated documentary about Cairo's trash entrepreneurs. On the outskirts of Cairo lies the world’s largest garbage village. A labyrinth of narrow roadways camouflaged by trash, the village is home to 60,000 Zaballeen — Arabic for “garbage people.” Long before today’s “green” initiatives, the Zaballeen have survived by recycling Cairo’s waste. Members of Egypt’s minority Coptic Christian community, these entrepreneurial garbage workers recycle nearly all the trash they collect, maintaining what could be the world’s most efficient waste disposal system. Garbage Dreams follows three teenage boys born into the Zaballeen’s trash trade: 17-year-old Adham, 16-year-old Osama, and 18-year-old Nabil. Laila, a community activist, who also teaches the boys at their neighborhood Recycling School, guides Adham and Osama as they transition into adulthood at a time when the Zaballeen community is at a crossroads. With a population of 18 million, Cairo — the largest city in the Middle East and Africa — has no sanitation service. For generations, the city’s residents have paid the Zaballeen a minimal amount to collect and recycle their garbage. Each day, the Zaballeen collect more than 4,000 tons of garbage and bring it for processing in their village, where plastic granulators, cloth-grinders, and paper and cardboard compacters hum constantly. They recycle 80 percent of what they collect. In 2003, following the international trend to privatize services, Cairo sold multi-million-dollar contracts to three corporations to pick up the city’s garbage. Shimmering waste trucks now line the streets, but these multinational corporations are only contractually obligated to recycle 20 percent of what they collect, leaving the rest to rot in giant landfills. As foreign workers came in with waste trucks and begin carting garbage to nearby landfills, the Zaballeen watched their way of life disappearing.
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Hasan Oswald

Director

Since the start of his filmmaking career, Hasan Oswald has established an ability to capture the human experience through verité cinema. His unfettered access and intimacy with his subjects create a seamless veneer between the filmmaker and subject that heightens the immediacy and personal nature of his storytelling.

He has covered the water crisis in Flint, Michigan (Forgotten USA), drug trafficking and homelessness in Camden, NJ (Higher Love), and the international diaspora of conflict refugees for NatGeo (Hell on Earth).

His latest documentary, Mediha, is executive produced by Emma Thompson and follows a teenage Yazidi girl processing her trauma after being held captive by ISIS. 'Mediha' won the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award runner-up at Doc NYC 2023. Hasan was also named one of Doc NYC’s 40 under 40 documentary rising stars to watch co-presented by HBO Documentary Films.

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Oliver Riley-Smith

Director / Editor

Oliver Riley-Smith is a director and Emmy-nominated editor. In 2011 he was named one of BAFTA’s Brits to Watch, and has since crafted TV series, documentaries, and commercials for channels and clients including Apple TV, HBO, Netflix, Showtime, Paramount Plus, National Geographic, Nike, and Microsoft. His work on 2017’s NatGeo Breaking 2 documentary was Emmy-nominated for ‘Outstanding Long Form Editing’, and 2021’s Simone vs Herself was Emmy-nominated for ‘Outstanding Documentary Series’. His short film The Riot Act was longlisted for the BAFTA for Best British Short in 2019.

 

His work directing health equity documentaries for Direct Relief has sent him to every corner of America documenting doctors and clinics fighting on the front lines of the healthcare system. Additionally, he has taught filmmaking in Kosovo and Vietnam, working with the European Union to craft original series that played on local TV networks in those countries, and worked on the documentary series Kabul At Work, which told stories of hope in Afghanistan.

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Direct Relief: Family HealthCare in North Dakota Meets Needs of Recent Refugees

Direct Relief: Family HealthCare in North Dakota Meets Needs of Recent Refugees

Oliver Riley-Smith reveals the inspiring stories of refugees who have made Fargo their new home. Fargo has seen a growing refugee community over the last few decades. One refugee shares her journey from Ukraine to the U.S., driven by the need to protect her family amidst the war. She recounts the challenges, fears, and hopes that accompanied her during this significant transition. Upon arrival, she connected with Family HealthCare's Refugee Health Department, where the dedicated team, including Dr. Springhoff, provides essential support and care. This department is often the first point of contact for refugees navigating the complex healthcare system in a new country. The compassionate staff at Family HealthCare not only address immediate health concerns but also offer a beacon of hope and stability, helping refugees cope with trauma and depression. Her story and the support she received highlight the transformative power of community and purpose. The refugees, with their diverse perspectives and resilience, contribute significantly to the community, demonstrating that migration builds strength and unity. They offer invaluable lessons about endurance, hope, and the importance of providing opportunities for everyone to share their talents and gifts. Family HealthCare’s vital work is supported by Direct Relief’s Fund for Health Equity, which awarded them $200,000 to enhance healthcare access and improve outcomes for marginalized communities. This funding is crucial in helping refugees not just survive but thrive in their new environment. This video celebrates these incredible journeys and the powerful impact of compassionate healthcare and community support. Learn more about Direct Relief's work at https://www.directrelief.org

Alexander Spiess

Producer / Director

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Alexander Spiess is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist, directing, producing, shooting and editing short and feature length documentary, series, narrative film and branded content. His area of focus is investigative stories surrounding conservation, global conflict, human rights, culture and politics. Alex brings a story-driven approach to every project he's on, and prides himself on getting things done efficiently and on budget.

 

His clients include, CNN: Fareed Zakaria, National GeographicNBC PeacockChannel 4A+E Networks / Six West MediaNike CommunicationsBlinx ShahidBirchboxTSMCShowtimeLionsgateHistory ChannelGoldcrest Films, Gravitas Ventures & Saboteur Media.

 

His most recent film, Mediha, Executive Produced by Emma Thompson, premiered at Doc NYC in 2023 where it won the Grand Jury Award in US Competition, and earned runner-up for the Audience Award. Since it's premiere Mediha has won 7 Grand Jury awards and also premiered at Big Sky Film Festival, CPH DOX, Human Rights Watch, Thessaloniki, and Movies That Matter, where it earned The Activist Award.

Bryan Donnell

Director of Photography

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Bryan’s projects have screened at the Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and Toronto Film Festivals, among others, and have aired on HBO, Showtime, Netflix, CNN, ABC/NBC/CBS/FX, ESPN, and most cable channels. He has worked with a number of notable documentary directors, such as Lauren Greenfield, Morgan Neville, Lucy Walker, Matthew Galkin, Morgan Spurlock, and Allison Berg. Shoots have taken him to Moscow, Vladivostok, Tokyo, Bangkok, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Slovenia, Ireland, South Africa, Haiti, Gabon, and other countries, though he also seems to find plenty of shoots in towns with strip malls that include a Walmart and an Applebees.

HBO’s We’re Here was nominated for primetime Emmy, IDA, and Independent Spirit awards for best series in its category. The independent film Hillbilly won Best Documentary Feature at the LA Film Festival, and a short fiction film he shot while an MFA student at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts was the only film in the history of the school to win the Palme d’Or for shorts at the Cannes film festival. He himself has been nominated for a primetime Emmy for cinematography.

Recent projects include Morgan Neville’s Steve Martin biopic and a year of shooting a TV project for Lauren Greenfield.

Bryan has his MFA from USC’s school of cinema. As an undergrad, Bryan was a fine art major at UNC-Chapel Hill and completed its prestigious creative writing program (at the time there was no degree), so film was a natural progression as a way of combining visuals with storytelling. Originally intending to shoot only fiction, at USC he shot his first vérité documentary and recognized it immediately as an ideal way to pursue his fascination with people and culture(s) as well as storytelling. He views shooting as an improvisational and athletic art that is a visual and physical form of empathy.

Bryan Donnell Reel

Bryan Donnell Reel

Bryan’s projects have screened at the Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and Toronto Film Festivals, among others, and have aired on HBO, Showtime, Netflix, CNN, ABC/NBC/CBS/FX, ESPN, and most cable channels. He has worked with a number of notable documentary directors, such as Lauren Greenfield, Morgan Neville, Lucy Walker, Matthew Galkin, Morgan Spurlock, and Allison Berg. Shoots have taken him to Moscow, Vladivostok, Tokyo, Bangkok, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Slovenia, Ireland, South Africa, Haiti, Gabon, and other countries, though he also seems to find plenty of shoots in towns with strip malls that include a Walmart and an Applebees. HBO’s "We’re Here" was nominated for primetime Emmy, IDA, and Independent Spirit awards for best series in its category. The independent film "Hillbilly" won Best Documentary Feature at the LA Film Festival, and a short fiction film he shot while an MFA student at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts was the only film in the history of the school to win the Palme d’Or for shorts at the Cannes film festival. He himself has been nominated for a primetime Emmy for cinematography. Recent projects include Morgan Neville’s Steve Martin biopic and a year of shooting a TV project for Lauren Greenfield. Bryan has his MFA from USC’s school of cinema. As an undergrad, Bryan was a fine art major at UNC-Chapel Hill and completed its prestigious creative writing program (at the time there was no degree), so film was a natural progression as a way of combining visuals with storytelling. Originally intending to shoot only fiction, at USC he shot his first vérité documentary and recognized it immediately as an ideal way to pursue his fascination with people and culture(s) as well as storytelling. He views shooting as an improvisational and athletic art that is a visual and physical form of empathy.

Nick Bradford

Editor

Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma - "where the wind comes sweeping through the plains!"  Nick Bradford moved to Los Angeles after graduating from San Diego State University  in 2007 with a BA in Film, Television and New Media and began a career as an Assistant Editor and Editor in film and television.

Over the years, Nick has had the pleasure of working with such Directors as Alejandro González Iñárritu (The Revenant) and the talents of Lady Gaga (Gaga: Five Foot Two).  His work has spanned across everything from sizzle reels and BTS work, to scripted feature films, documentaries and docu-dramas.

A musician at heart, Nick has always had a keen sense of rhythm, pacing and creating 'moments.' And as a screenwriter, he knows what it takes to drive a story forward.  "Editors are storytellers. And I take a huge amount of pride in collaborating with Directors and Producers to make sure we are serving the story in every sense possible. From character arcs all the way down to the style and emotion impact of the cuts."

Nick hopes to continue collaborating with great minds and working on projects that connect with audiences around the world. "C'mon Safdie Brothers, give me a call!"

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Board of Advisors

The Straylight Brain Trust

Tom Gratian

Tom has over 25 years of HR and business experience in the Healthcare, Technology, Media Entertainment, Financial Services, and Restaurant sectors, spanning startups and Fortune 100s such as TikTok, Comcast NBCUniversal, and American Express. He consults privately in executive assessment, onboarding and coaching, executive team assimilation and integration, and large-scale organization and culture transformation.

Most recently he was the Global Head of Talent Management & Organization Effectiveness for TikTok, leading executive assessment, onboarding and coaching, executive assimilation and integration, leadership development, succession planning, and organization design.

Prior to his TikTok role, Tom was Head of Learning & Development for Sweetgreen, Head of Leadership & Organization Development for Comcast NBCUniversal’s Filmed Entertainment Group, and enterprise-wide Vice President of Learning & Development for Paramount (then Viacom), where he built large leadership development and coaching programs.

Earlier in his career, Tom spent over 7 years with American Express, serving as Director of Talent Development and Organization Effectiveness, building global leadership development and coaching programs, and consulting on global reorganizations. He spent over 6 years in Bay Area technology startups in business operations positions, streamlining product development processes.

Tom holds a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. in Leadership & Change Management from the NYU Stern School of Business. He has completed an International Coaching Federation certification program and all required coaching hours.

Tom lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kelly and their two children, who enjoy swimming, water polo, and tennis.

Tom Gratian, board of advisors, consultant bio photo
Jeff Zimbalist, board of advisors, director, producer bio photo

Jeff Zimbalist

Jeff Zimbalist is a multi-Emmy, DuPont and Peabody-winning filmmaker most known for IDA and Tribeca Film Festival winner Favela Rising (HBO), Emmy winner and Cannes Film Festival favorite The Two Escobars (ESPN, Disney), Emmy and Tribeca Film Festival winner Momentum Generation (HBO, Universal), Pelé: Birth of a Legend (Magnolia, Universal), How To Come Alive (Kino Lorber, Showtime), the Emmy-winning series Remastered (Netflix), Emmy-nominated The Line (Apple), Emmy-nominated 11 Minutes (Paramount+), multi Emmy-winning Super League: The War for Football (Apple), Sundance favorite Invisible Beauty (Magnolia), and Sundance and Tribeca hit Skywalkers: A Love Story (Netflix, IMAX).

 

Jeff's company All Rise Films has produced award-winning content for commercial clients including UEFA, Verizon, PepsiCo, Gatorade, the NFL, the United Nations, Ford Foundation, the World Bank, DirecTV, as well as premium entertainment content for studios and distributors including Netflix, Universal, IMAX, HBO, Apple+, CBS, BBC, ESPN, Fox, Showtime, Paramount+, PBS, Imagine, Overbrook, and Jigsaw. Additionally, Jeff has partnered with industry leaders like Irving Azoff, Quincy Jones, Robert Redford, Angelina Jolie, Connor Schell, Barbara Kopple, and Brian Grazer.

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