meet the  SMALL WORLD FILMS tEAM

DR. ISABELLA ALEXANDER-NATHANI  | 
Founder & Executive Director of Small World Films
​Writer, Director & Producer of The Burning

Isabella is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, educator, and human rights activist. Trained as a cultural anthropologist, he work is motivated by her belief that storytelling has the power to humanize complex political issues and create positive global change. She has held past faculty positions at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Emory University, and Morocco’s National University in Rabat.
FACT: Isabella’s latest film, The Burning, and related book, Burning at Europe’s Borders, uncover the human sides of our global refugee crisis.

MADELINE WONG BOULDIN  | 
​Social Impact Producer at Small World Films
​U.S. Projects

Previously working with the United Nations, the Carter Center, and Brand New World Studios, Madeline is known for leading successful social impact campaigns with global reach. Her past campaigns have garnered support for refugee rights, raised funding for health crises, and launched community initiatives to fight climate change.
FACT: If you don't follow us on INSTAGRAM, you're missing the incredible Human Rights Awareness Campaign that Madeline designed.

IKE NNAEBUE  | 
Co-​Producer of The Burning

Ike is a celebrated Nigerian writer, director, and producer, and he has become a champion of new African cinema. As the founder of LP House of Creatives, he built a network of creative spaces across Africa where a new generation of storytellers is thriving. He has directed six feature films and produced countless other projects.
FACT: Ike’s latest documentary, No U-Turn, retraces the migration journey he took as a young man and premiered to critical acclaim at Berlinale.

UJUAKU AKUKWE  | 
​Social Impact Producer at Small World Films
​Africa Projects

Ujuaku is a renowned African filmmaker, the founder of the Nigerian Film & Arts Initiative, and the Global Creative Director of Innovate Africa – a venture capital firm that partners with global startups to empower the African continent through innovative technology.
FACT: Ujuaku believes education is the key to positive change and is committed to reaching youth audiences around the world with every new film we make.

REVEREND JESSE JACKSON  | 
​Executive Producer of The Burning
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Reverend Jackson​’s history of work as a leading civil and human rights activist has shaped the face of our world. His long list of honors includes the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and France’s highest award, the Legion of Honor.
FACT: Reverend Jackson has successfully negotiated the release of more than 75 human rights activists who have been wrongfully detained for their work around the world, including Dr. Isabella Alexader-Nathani.

BAHAR EL CHAMMAS  | 
​Social Impact Producer at Small World Films
​Europe Projects

Previously working on research initiatives at Human Rights Watch, Bahar brings an expertise in communicating social science research to broad audiences and  using that research to ignite community action. Her past research has centered on human rights abuses in migrant and refugee communities.
FACT: Bahar believes positive change comes through diverse coalitions and is dedicated to finding common ground wherever others see difference.

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THE SMALL WORLD FILMS 
​Production Team

PEDRO BRANCO  | 
Cinematographer

TINA IMAHARA  | 
Film Editor

KEVIN OTTE  | 
Post-Production Supervisor

HICHAM ECHERFAOUI  | 
Production Assistant

SEAN MONTGOMERY  | 
Motion Graphic Designer

DAVID WILSON  | 
Sound Designer

BRADLEY GREER  | 
Colorist

IKWAN ONKHA  | 
Music Composer

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In Memoriam

ANDREW BERENDS  | 
Director of Photography

Andrew was a highly acclaimed documentary filmmaker with a rich history of work in active war zones from Iraq to Sudan. He was awarded the prestigious “Courage Under Fire” award by the International Documentary Association for his first film, The Blood of My Brother, about an Iraqi family who lost their son during the American invasion.  His subsequent films included  When Adnan Comes Home, Urk, Delta Boys, and Madina's Dream, which took audiences inside of a forgotten war between local rebels and refugees fighting to survive in Sudan's harsh Nuba Mountain region.  When not directing his own projects, he collaborated with other filmmakers as a cinematographer, including his role on Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin's Academy Award-winning Free Solo. Behind the camera on THE BURNING, he brought his unique approach to humanizing even the most brutal crises.

Our team was devastated by Andy's death on March 1, 2019, at the young age of 46. He gave his life to the pursuit of telling the untold stories of our time, and THE BURNING will be his final film.

FACT: The Andrew Berends Film Fellowship, founded in 2020, supports young filmmakers who are seeking out our world's untold stories with the same courage that he brought to all of his work. You can apply or nominate someone you know here.

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THE SMALL WORLD FILMS 
​INTERNSHIP PROGRAM​

At SMALL WORLD FILMS, we believe it's important to give back. We're committed to being active givers in communities around the world, as well as those close to home. One way we give back in our own community is by giving young people from backgrounds that have traditionally been underrepresented in the film industry the chance to develop their technical skills, build relationships with industry mentors, and tell their own stories through our internship program. Every year, we select an exceptional group of interns from a highly competitive group of applicants who all share a passion for work at the intersection of activism and the arts.  The ideal candidate believes in the power of stories to create positive change in the world, brings a high level of motivation to individual and team work, and is ready to make the most of the opportunity. The SMALL WORLD FILMS internship program provides college-aged students and recent college graduates with the chance to work side-by-side with professionals on a variety of teams – Film Production, Human Rights, Community Engagement – and prepares them for careers of socially impactful work. In twelve months, our interns touch thousands of lives.

Our recent interns have been a global group of young change-makers including individuals from China, Colombia, Guinea, Haiti, India, Iran, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Sierra Leone, and the U.S. We're proud to call them a part of the SMALL WORLD FILMS team!

If you're interested in applying for our internship program, please send us a message through our contact page and we'll get back to you with information on our next application cycle.

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Internship Program ​​GRADUATES

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