VIOLETA AYALA

(Writer/Director/Producer/2nd Camera)

Violeta Ayala is an award-winning filmmaker, writer and theatre performer from Bolivia. She has a BA in Journalism from Charles Sturt University in Australia. While at university she made her first documentary about the effects of cervical cancer on indigenous women in Bolivia. In 2006 Violeta began her collaboration with Dan Fallshaw in North Africa on BETWEEN THE OIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, an investigative documentary about corruption in the oil industry. In 2007 Violeta and Dan made A VEGAN IN THE MEAT AISLE, a short drama selected for Tropfest.

In 2009, their first feature film STOLEN premiered internationally at the Toronto IFF and at IDFA in competition. 2010 saw STOLEN win best documentary at the Pan African FF at its US premiere and receive a special mention at its New Zealand premiere. STOLEN has been invited to more than 20 prestigious film festivals worldwide.

Violeta’s new film was one of the 10 projects selected for the Berlinale 2010. She is developing a framework on documentary for the Australian Film Television Radio School and has given master-classes at the National Film and Television School in London and the Edinburgh College of Art. Violeta is a recipient of the Jan Vrijman Fund. 

DAN FALLSHAW

(Director/Producer/Editor/DOP)

Dan studied Visual Communications at the University of Technology in Sydney and St Martins College in London. He worked in London and Germany as an Art Director and later in Italy as a film editor. In 2004 Dan returned to Australia to take up a position in the respected design department at SBS Television. Dan made his first documentary while at university, that looked at the lives of four women dealing with the consequences of chemotherapy.

In 2006 he and Violeta Ayala created UNITED NOTIONS FILM, they travelled to Mauritania and made BETWEEN THE OIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA a documentary about corruption in the oil industry. In 2007 Dan directed A VEGAN IN THE MEAT AISLE a short drama and finalist in the competitive Tropfest.

Dan and Violeta have spent the last 3 years working on their first feature film, STOLEN, that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2009 and has been selected for more than 20 prestigious festivals worldwide including IDFA. Recently Dan received the Best Editing Award at the Documentary Edge Festival in New Zealand for Stolen.

TOM ZUBRYCKI

(Producer)

Tom Zubrycki is one of Australia’s most respected documentary filmmakers and has an impressive body of work with more than 30 films. In 2008 Tom was awarded the Cecil Holmes Award by the Australian Directors Guild for his creative output, as well as for his contribution to the film industry, especially his mentoring of emerging directors.

Tom’s films have premiered at film festivals from Berlin to Toronto. He has won two AFI Awards, the highest award in the Australian Film Industry with THE DIPLOMAT and KEMIRA–DIARY OF A STRIKE and an international Emmy for producing EXILE IN SARAJEVO. Tom is also known for films such us MOLLY & MOBARAK, HOMELANDS, BILLAL, STOLEN GENERATIONS, MAKING VENUS, THE PRODIGAL SON, A FIGHTING CHANCE, MAD MORRO, WANJA, THE INTERVENTION and more recently STOLEN.

DEBORAH DICKSON

(Producer)

Deborah Dickson is an independent filmmaker who has had three films nominated for an Academy Award: FRANCES STELOFF: MEMOIRS OF A BOOKSELLER; SUZANNE FARRELL: ELUSIVE MUSE (co-directed with Anne Belle) and LALEE’S KIN, co-directed with long time colleague, Susan Froemke and legendary cinematographer Albert Maysles. She is also known for films such as THE EDUCATION OF GORE VIDAL; RUTHIE AND CONNIE: EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE; WITNESSES TO A SECRET WAR; the CARRIER series and ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE. Dickson’s films have premiered at film festivals from Sundance to Berlin and been shown on PBS, HBO and other major networks. She has been funded by American Film Institute, Sundance Documentary Fund and ITVS. She is on the faculty of the new masters program of social documentary film at the School of Visual Arts.

JOHN MCDOWELL

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Film composer John McDowell achieved worldwide recognition with his soundtrack to the Academy Award winning documentary BORN INTO BROTHELS, winner of Best Musical Score at the Bend Film Festival. Subsequent film scores by McDowell include ORGASMIC BIRTH: THE BEST KEPT SECRET, WHO DOES SHE THINKS SHE IS? and A SON’S SACRIFICE.

McDowell is also a highly gifted pianist, percussionist, producer, commissioned composer and instructor. McDowell served as founder, artistic director and leader of several musical projects including The Born Into Brothels Ensemble, the world music band Mamma Tongue. His touring and recording credits include: the platinum selling band Rusted Root, Krishna Das, and Ram Das. His solo CD Speaking the Mamma Tongue is featured on Raven Records and he was commissioned by Gaiam to create a CD for health and healing called Reflections. He has recently begun a piano/violin duo with the young Canadian violinist and composer Emmanuel Vukovich, who is also featured on the film STOLEN.

JUSTINE MOYLE

(Associate Producer)

Justine Moyle has 10 years of radio and television experience worldwide. She has a degree in Media and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, USA. In 2003 she worked for the BBC’s radio 1 newsroom, covering the Iraq war with the world’s best journalists. In 2004 Justine returned to Australia to produce TV commercials for Volkswagen, Carlton Breweries, QANTAS and Coca Cola. From 2005 to 2008 she worked with different production teams and produced Radio 2UE’s morning and afternoon program, SBS’s Pizza series, Australian Idol and Masterchef Australia.

In 2009 Justine set up her own company, a creative consultancy specialising in film and music production. Stolen is Justine’s first feature film as an associate producer and has been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival 2009.

ELLEN PECK

(Associate Producer)

Ellen works as producer and creative/content advisor to documentary film, music and other projects in the arts associated with social and environmental issues, including the film and soundtrack for BORN INTO BROTHELS which garnered the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2005.

Ellen worked for over 15 years at Save the Children in Resource Development and in launching new program initiatives.  She maintained a particular passion and focus on Protection and Children in Crisis programs.  Ellen currently is consulting in the Non-Profit sector for projects and artists focused on similar issues, and serves on the Board of Transfair USA which provides the FairTrade certification and market linkages for North America, and is a member of FLO, the global certification agency for Fair Trade.