Podium

Rachel Leah Jones is an Emmy-winning nonfiction filmmaker whose trajectory in the field — from producer to director to editor to writer — has spanned two decades and three continents. Her work, which received top prizes from the Israel Academy, Israel Documentary Forum, and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, has also been nominated for the PGA Awards, the IDA Awards, selected by the European Academy, honored by Cinema Eye and shortlisted for the Oscars. A two-time Sundance Festival and Institute alumna, her critically acclaimed films — Advocate (2019); Gypsy Davy (2012); Ashkenaz (2007); 500 Dunam on the Moon (2002) — have screened in festivals worldwide (e.g. IDFA, Sheffield, CPH:DOX, DocNYC, Hotdocs) and aired on dozens of channels (e.g. PBS’s POV; BBC Storyville; ARD1 Germany; France 2; RTS Switzerland; YLE Finland; DR Denmark; SVT Sweden; 2M Morocco; and HBO). In addition to maintaining a prolific career as a working artist, Jones, a Documentary Branch member of AMPAS, has collaborated extensively with other filmmakers and worked as a story consultant, directing mentor, and film curator.

Philippe Bellaïche is an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker whose trajectory in the field has spanned three decades and four continents. His work, which received top prizes from the Israel Academy, Israel Documentary Forum, and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy, has also been nominated for the PGA Awards, the IDA Awards, selected by the European Academy, honored by Cinema Eye, and shortlisted for the Oscars. A two-time Sundance Festival and Institute alumnus, his critically acclaimed credits as DP include Advocate (2019), Avi Mograbi’s Avenge But One of My Two Eyes (2005 Cannes FF), Arnon Goldfinger’s The Flat (2012 Tribeca FF), Shimon Dotan’s The Settlers (2016 Sundance FF), and Rachel Leah Jones’ Gypsy Davy (2012 Sundance FF), among dozens of titles. In addition to maintaining a prolific career as a cinematographer, Bellaiche, a Documentary Branch member of AMPAS, has taught extensively in Israel’s most prestigious film schools and as of this year is a tenured professor.

Libby Lenkinski is the founder and president of Albi, a new fund, institute and lab built to power culture change in and about Israel-Palestine. Over the years, she has worked as a strategy consultant for documentary films including Budrus (2012 Berlin Puma Brtidocs Impact Award) and The Law in These Parts (2012 Sundance Grand Jury Award). In conjunction with her work as VP of Community Engagement at the NIF, out of which Albi grew, Libby has served as Impact Producer for H2: The Occupation Lab  (2022 DocAviv), Consulting Story Producer for Sabbath Queen (In Production).