Sam is a filmmaker, professor, and photographer whose work strives to uncover and share the nuanced stories that resonate deeply with human emotions and our connection to one another. She has written/produced/directed documentary programs for networks including National Geographic, The History Channel, MSNBC, A&E and PBS. Her most recent short documentary, Swimming Through, screened at more than forty festivals worldwide winning numerous awards and was released by The New Yorker Documentary in December 2023. She has directed Emmy-award-winning documentaries including Our Children: Purpose Over Pain, centered around families who have lost children to gun violence. Sam co-produced the fiction feature film American Folk. Set against the backdrop of 9/11, this road movie musical, starring musicians Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth, was nominated for the Panavision Spirit Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and won Best American Independent Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival and is distributed by Good Deed Entertainment. She also produced the feature film, Chicago Boricua, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is distributed by Screen Media. She, along with her husband, documentary editor John Farbrother, founded and runs Green River Films, an Emmy-award winning Chicago-based production company. Sam teaches film at Columbia College Chicago, where she received an MFA in filmmaking, and at DePaul University.

I make work that comes from the heart, and goes for the gut.

Ming Lai is a filmmaker and photographer. His narrative and documentary films explore the human condition, from social issues to arts and culture. His fine art and documentary photography express his artistic vision. He’s created TV commercials and videos for many international clients, including Coldwell Banker, Epson, Fujitsu, Marukome, and Yakult. With all of his projects, he strives to create enduring works of art that benefit humanity.

Shane has years of production management experience across film and television, and was part of the series and development teams at MTV, VH1 and VICELAND/VICE TV. Most recently he was Head of Production at Story Syndicate, where he oversaw documentary features and series for Netflix, HBO, Apple, Hulu, FX, and NatGeo, and is currently producing two independent documentary features.