Writer/Director

Natalia Almada

2012 MacArthur “Genius” fellow and two-time recipient of the Sundance Documentary Directing Award for El General in 2009 and Users in 2021, Natalia Almada's directing credits include–Todo lo demás (New York Film Festival 2016), El Velador (Cannes 2011), Al Otro Lado (Tribeca 2005) and All Water has a Perfect Memory (Sundance 2002). She lives between Mexico City and San Francisco where she works at Stanford University.

Producer

Josh Penn

Josh Penn is a producer with the Department of Motion Pictures. He has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture and Outstanding Producer at the Producers Guild Awards. He also won a Peabody Award and the Sundance Producers Award. Since 2012, he has premiered a dozen films at Sundance, earning six awards from the festival. His productions include BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD (Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Cannes Caméra d'Or, and four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture), 32 SOUNDS (Oscar Shortlist), MONSTERS AND MEN (Sundance Special Jury Prize), the series PHILLY D.A. (Gotham and Peabody Award winner), A THOUSAND THOUGHTS, WENDY, USERS (Sundance Best Directors Award), and FAREWELL AMOR, among others. He served as Executive Producer on PATTI CAKES, WESTERN (Sundance Special Jury Prize), and BLOODY NOSE EMPTY POCKETS and a Co-Producer on THE GREAT INVISIBLE (SXSW Grand Jury Prize). Josh has served on boards including the Documentary Producers Alliance, Brown Girls Doc Mafia Capacity Council, Rooftop Films, New Orleans Film Society, and Diversify.film. He has also mentored at institutions such as The Sundance Institute, Film Independent, NYU, and AFI. In 2017, the state of Louisiana officially recognized Josh as a Louisiana Ambassador for his contributions to the motion picture industry. In 2018, he became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Outside of film, Josh has worked in politics including leading roles on the digital teams for both Obama presidential campaigns.

Producer

Esther Robinson

Esther Robinson has worked on behalf of America's artists for over 20 years as a foundation program officer, technology entrepreneur, non-profit leader, and film producer/director. Most notably, she was Director of Film/Video/Performing Arts at the Creative Capital Foundation and one of the principal architects of their innovative grant-making system. Her critically acclaimed directorial debut A Walk into the Sea: Danny Williams and The Warhol Factory took top prizes at The 2007 Berlin, Tribeca and Chicago film festivals (It is currently scheduled to be re-released in 2025). Various Producer credits include (among others): The Velvet Underground by Todd Haynes (2021 Cannes, New York Film Festival, Apple TV), Through The Night By Loira Limbal (2020 Tribeca Film Festival, PBS/POV), Academy-Award Nominated Strong Island by Yance Ford (2017 Sundance, The Berlin Film Festival, NetFlix), Memories of a Penitent Heart by Cecilia Aldarondo (2016 Tribeca Film Festival, PBS/POV 2017). Additionally, She is the Founder and Executive Director of ArtBuilt (a New York City-based non-profit), an active board member of Women Make Movies, and a mom to Otis age 11.