THE TEAM

  • Betsy Hershey

    Co-Director

    Is a musician and documentary filmmaker dedicated to using art as a force for social change. She co-directed GUERRILLA HABEAS (Telluride Film Festival 2022) and executive produced PAVEMENTS (Venice Film Festival 2024). She has filmed for the Mind and Life Institute at the Dalai Lama’s residence. As the musician BETS, she has released three albums, toured the U.S. and Europe, and recently had a song featured in CURL POWER.

  • Emma Wall

    Co-Director

    Is a Danish American documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Guest House Productions. Her debut short, GUERRILLA HABEAS, focused on the US immigration crisis and premiered at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival. A former child psychiatrist trained at Oxford and Columbia/Cornell, she worked at UCLA and in the U.S. foster care system, and volunteered with refugees in Greece,  India, and South Africa. Her storytelling is deeply shaped by her work in youth mental health and human rights.

  • Trevor Noah

    Executive Producer

    Trevor Noah is a South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and former television host. He was the host of The Daily Show, an American late-night talk show and satirical news program on Comedy Central, from 2015 to 2022. Noah has won various awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards. He was named one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media," and Time magazine named him one of the hundred most influential people in the world. "The Daily Show" host is no stranger to unpacking big political and cultural stories with his nightly monologue and news satire program. Trevor Noah serves as Executive Producer on Guerrilla Habeas as part of "The Turning Point," a documentary series that will tackle the big issues of the era — from voting rights to civil rights, human rights to climate change, to the fight for American democracy.

  • Michael Sugar

    Executive Producer

    Michael Sugar is an acclaimed producer, known for his Academy Award-winning work on "Spotlight," and his executive roles on "The OA" and "The Knick," earning him a Peabody Award. His contributions extend to documentaries, enriching his diverse portfolio. A member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Sugar is also committed to education, frequently lecturing at USC, NYU, Columbia, and AFI​​​​​​.

  • Nancy C. Kennedy

    Editor

    Nancy C. Kennedy is a New York-based, award-winning editor. Her many credits include Sundance Grand Jury winner WHY WE FIGHT (BBC Storyville/Arte/CBC), FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO, GREGORY CREWDSON: BRIEF ENCOUNTERS, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE'S ANGRY, WHEN THE DRUM IS BEATING, ORCHESTRA OF EXILES, and WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS? Recent projects include THE JINX, a six-part doc series for HBO, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO, and HARRY & SNOWMAN. Nancy has also worked for major networks on series such as American Experience, American Masters, National Geographic, and Saturday Night Live.

  • Anita Hei-Man Yu

    Assistant Editor

    Anita Hei-Man Yu is a New York-based, multi-faceted assistant editor. After an early career in short-form videos and web series, she transitioned to feature documentary projects. She has assisted on several major feature documentaries, including Academy Award-nominated STRONG ISLAND, Academy Award-nominated HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING, and Academy Award Winner documentary short LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL). She has executed motion graphics for the feature documentary SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY and THE PEOPLE VS. AGENT ORANGE. Recently, she co-edited the feature documentary FREE CHOL SOO LEE, with editors Aldo Velasco and Jean Tsien, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.

  • Lewanne Jones

    Archival Producer

    Lewanne Jones is a New York City-based, Emmy-nominated archival producer, audio-visual researcher and project archivist. After beginning her career in the 1979 documentary THE TERROR AND THE TIME, she has researched or network and public television programs, museum installations, and university-sponsored educational websites. Lewanne's research encompasses archives around the world and subjects ranging from African American history to neuroscience. Her most recent News Emmy nomination was for her work on CURED in 2022. She has contributed to many award-winning projects, including ABC’s CENTURY, PBS’s AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION (Firelight Films), and REVERSING ROE (Netflix). She is currently consulting on several projects, including an independent documentary about a school of radical American women poets and another about the Native American history of California.

  • Chris Ruggiero

    Composer

    Chris Ruggiero is an Emmy-nominated Composer and music producer. His work includes the scores to Oscar-nominated MINDING THE GAP, LOS COMANDOS, I AM ANOTHER YOU, HOOLIGAN SPARROW, and the celebrated PBS series SOUNDBREAKING. His compositions have appeared in over 160 television series, such as THE VOICE, PAWN STARS, and AMERICAN PICKERS. As a music producer, Chris works with bands and artists across genres.

  • Byron Young

    Consultant

    Byron Young, MD is an emotional wellness program developer, consultant, and outpatient psychiatrist with LA County Department of Mental Healths Enhanced Specialized Foster Care Program. Dr. Young was born and raised in the New Orleans, LA metro area and attended Xavier University of Louisiana for undergrad and Tulane University School of Medicine for medical school. Dr. Young came to NYC for a general psychiatry residency at Hofstra Northshore-LIJ at Zucker Hillside and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia and Cornell Universities. Dr. Young is passionate about being impactful in under-resourced and marginalized communities, particularly communities of color, in both his daily work with the LA County Dept of Mental Health and various community service projects. He participates in, consults on and develops creative programs and initiatives to serve as tools for the improved emotional wellness of citizens of LA, NYC, New Orleans and beyond. Dr. Young has also consulted with program development for organizations like Teen Hub Program of New York Presbyterian Hospital of Columbia and Cornell Universities as well as Google, the New York City Department of Health, and the LA County Department of Mental Health.

  • Claudia Folgar

    Consultant

    Claudia Folgar is an educator and consultant who focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. She has developed workshops and lesson plans for students, employees, and parents that engage and teach about different cultures and global citizenship. She has also presented workshops on empathy and multiculturalism and how they can benefit the greater community. Claudia has delivered innovative strategies and created curriculums to promote accountability and awareness around microaggressions. She has also offered creative outlets to various constituents in order to foster a safe and supportive environment. Currently, Claudia is attending the Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by NYSAIS. In addition to her DEIJ work, Claudia is a designer who has attended Polimoda’s summer program in Florence, Italy, and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in their Continuing and Professional Studies Program.