Flashpoint
Protests, Policing, and the Press
As part of the LA Times’ Oscar-winning Short Docs series, Flashpoint examines the eroding relationship within the United States between journalists covering protests and law enforcement, and discusses the implications those tensions have on democracy at large.
Directed by Max Esposito, Flashpoint was commissioned by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, an organization committed to protecting freedoms of speech and the press through litigation, research and advocacy. The 25-minute documentary compliments a report published by the Knight Institute on the same subject matter, authored by Joel Simon, a 2022-2023 Knight Institute Fellow and Founding Director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Newmark Journalism School.
Director: Max Esposito
Producer: Daisy Schmitt
Executive Producer: Candace White at Columbia University
Editor: P. Nick Curran at Loroto Productions
Graphic Design: Matthew Watkins
Animation: Chris Zuppa
Taking Back the Groove
Taking Back The Grove tells the story of Bronx-born, disco superstar Richie Weeks, whose hit song Rock Your World made it to No. 1 on the dance charts in the 80s. Like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip-mined to enrich white-owned record labels. Weeks and his manager Jerome Derradji narrate the story of how they clawed back the rights to Weeks' music and the ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.
Director: Celia Aniskovich
Executive Producer: Raekwon
Executive Producer: Russell Peters
Editor: Brett Banks
Design/Animation: Chris Zuppa
Facing the Falls
The film tells the story of international disability rights advocate and entrepreneur, Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan. Deep in the throes of an aggressive, fatal muscle-wasting disease and no longer able to walk unassisted, Cara ventures out on a daring, 12-day expedition through the Grand Canyon. Cara's journey to live an extraordinary life and shatter stigma against people living with disabilities unexpectedly becomes a deep dive into fear, trust and vulnerability. As the entire expedition team grapples with unanticipated dangers in a truly remote wilderness, they also come face to face with their individual demons, insecurities, and internal conflicts. Facing the Falls is a story of fear, adrenaline, ambition, determination, hubris, courage, and perseverance against the odds.
Director: Celia Aniskovich
Producer: Liz Yale Marsh
Executive Producer: Hillary Clinton
Executive Producer: Chelsea Clinton
Editor: Nick Lear BFE
Animation: Chris Zuppa