Mentors

The Maisha mentors form the backbone of the Maisha film labs. Each session, Maisha invites a diverse group of directors, screenwriters, film professors, and other industry professionals to hold seminars as well as work one-on-one with Maisha’s screenwriting and directing participants. Participants are encouraged to keep in touch with their mentors in the post-lab period.

2011 Maisha Mentors

Screenwriting Lab Rwanda (RIFF)

  • Annmarie Morais
  • Malia Scotch Marmo
  • Joel Kerekezi

Annual Screenwriting and Directing Lab

  • Esther de Rothschild
  • Jeff Wynne
  • Sabrina Dhawan
  • Steve Cohen
  • Yemane Demissie
  • Shimit Amin
  • Mrinal Desai
  • Shernaz Italia
  • Baylon Fonseca
  • Bj Perlmutt
  • Peter New

Documentary Lab

  • Peter Chappel
  • Linette Frewin
  • Fabbri Philippe

Screenwriting Lab Kenya (KIFF)

  • Don McKellar
  • Alison Maclean
  • James Gayo

Screenwriting Lab Uganda (UIFF)

  • Mathew Bell
  • Fellipe Barbosa
  • Cajetan Boy

2010 Maisha Mentors

Screenwriting Lab Rwanda (RIFF)

  • BJ Perlmutt
  • Devlin Johan Belfort
  • Katie O’Connell

Screenwriting Lab Zanzibar (ZIFF)

  • Cajetan Boy
  • Leonard Farlinger

Annual Screenwriting and Directing Lab

  • Ami Boghani
  • Mira Nair
  • Annmarie Morais
  • Dan Kleinman
  • Sooni Taraporevala
  • Jenna McGrath
  • Giancarlo Esposito
  • Lee Percy
  • Miles Goodall
  • Mehreen Jabbaar
  • Vivek Sachidanandan
  • BJ Perlmutt

Documentary Lab

  • Peter Chappel
  • Abdelsalem Shehada
  • Shireen Pasha

Screenwriting Lab Kenya (KIFF)

  • Ashwini Malik
  • Anjum Rajabali
  • Holly Ayelet

Screenwriting Lab Uganda (Amakula)

  • Matthew Bell
  • Justin Ware
  • Michael Hobert

2009 Maisha Mentors

Screenwriting Lab (Tanzania – ZIFF)

  • Maria Essen
  • Sabrina Dhawan
  • Steve Cohen

Annual Screenwritng and Directing Lab

  • Anjum Rajabali
  • Annmarie Morais
  • Aswini Malik
  • Biyi Bandele
  • Dan Kleinman
  • Judy Dennis
  • Osama Qashoo
  • Patricia Riggen
  • Amala Popuri
  • Rajen Kotheri
  • Shernaz Italia

Screenwriting Lab (Rwanda – RIFF)

  • Adam Countee
  • Mathew Bell

Documentary Workshop (Uganda)

  • Gary Hawkins
  • Josh Gibson

Screenwriting Lab (Amkaula)

  • Alan Brown
  • David Vainola
  • Annmarie Morais

TV Workshop

  • Katie O’Connell
  • Elisa Roth

2008 Maisha Mentors

Pangea Day 1 Minute Shorts 2008

  • Carol Kamya

Ghetto Film School Short Cultural Exchange

  • THE SHADOW CREW
  • Kwezi Kaganda Ruhinda
  • Terrance Gicho
  • Wanjiru Kairu
  • Richard Ngugi
  • Tony Kinywa
  • BEHIND THE SCENES CREW
  • Elizabeth Nakawungu Buyondo
  • Paul Mugisha

Unicef Project 15 Minute Commissioned

  • Peter Chappell

Annual Directors, Screenwriting, Technical, Actors Lab Shorts

  • Don McKellar
  • Semi Chellas
  • Sabrina Dhawan
  • Steve Cohen
  • Maria Maggenti
  • Craig Weiseman
  • Barry Braverman
  • Annie Ryan
  • Shernaz Italia
  • Giles Khan

Screenwriting Lab (Kenya – KIFF)

  • Jack Amiel
  • Mathew Bell
  • Justin Ware

Screenwriting Lab (Tanzania – ZIFF)

  • Augustine Hatar
  • Cajetan Boy

2007 Maisha Mentors

  • Jason Filardi
  • Joshua Marston
  • Barry Alexander Brown
  • Alison Maclean
  • Drew Kunin
  • Kerwin DeVonish
  • Fellipe Barbosa
  • David Keating

2006 Screenwriters Lab Mentors

  • Anjum Rajabali
  • Steve Cohen
  • Sabrina Dhawan
  • Mahamat Saleh-Haroun
  • Misan Sagay

2006 Directors Lab Mentors

  • Raoul Peck
  • Santosh Sivan
  • Kristina Boden
  • Abderrehmanne Sissako

Previous Maisha Mentors

  • Vishal Bharadwaj
  • Steven Cohen
  • Sabrina Dhawan
  • Mira Nair
  • Matthew Robbins