Team

Gilian Greenfeld
Gillian Greenfeld
Writer / Director / Producer

Gillian Greenfeld is a Canadian writer, director, and producer specializing in documentary film-making. After earning degrees in anthropology and film, she expanded her film education at the prestigious FAMU in the Czech Republic and completed an MFA in documentary media from Ryerson University. Gillian is the co-director of PHOOLAN, a feature-length docu-drama about the legendary and controversial Bandit Queen of India, Phoolan Devi. As president of Cielo Films, an independent production company, she focuses on creating thought-provoking media that highlights women’s rights and promotes healing.

Beth Fraikorn
Beth Fraikorn
Executive Producer

Beth is an Emmy-winning executive producer with a stellar reputation for her expertise in content creation, distribution, and monetization. She has launched divisions, led content development initiatives, negotiated co- productions, produced documentaries, and overseen hundreds of hours of original, archival, and branded content. Beth has collaborated with top-tier production companies and Academy Award-winning directors, placing content both nationally and internationally on nearly all major streaming platforms and broadcasters. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Producers Guild of America.

Sajid Akbar
Sajid Akbar
Editor

Sajid Akbar is an award-winning multimedia specialist with extensive experience in post-production for broadcast television, feature-length films, live sports production, and digital campaigns. His expertise spans various creative industries, including performance, musical composition, and contemporary art, showcasing a diverse and accomplished career across multiple disciplines.

Jeryl Jagoda
Jeryl Jagoda
Media Producer

Jeryl is an expert in guiding film projects and enhancing their social media presence from inception through crowdfunding to premiere. Her impressive portfolio includes the award-winning Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins and the Netflix original documentary Feminists: What Were They Thinking? Other notable projects include NC Heikin’s recently released Life & Life, The Manhattan Transfer Story (currently in production), and Phoolan: The Documentary (also in production). The Spice Girls of Rajasthan marks her second collaboration with director Gillian Greenfeld.

Apal Singh
Apal Singh
Cinematographer (India)

To Kill a Tiger, an Oscar-nominated documentary, is among Apal Singh’s standout projects, showcasing his versatile work across documentary and fiction films. Based in Nainital, India, Apal has earned significant recognition, including the Guild of TV Prize for Best Documentary Cameraman in 2019. His career has taken him to over 50 countries, where he has collaborated with esteemed broadcasters such as the BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery, covering subjects that range from war zones to everyday life. Other notable projects include Being Indian, a series exploring the lives of children from diverse backgrounds.

Husain Akbar
Husain Akbar
Cinematographer (India)

Husain is a New Delhi-based filmmaker and MCRC graduate, has over 25 years of experience as a cinematographer and producer. His work spans documentaries, corporate videos, wildlife films, and live sports coverage, with clients like BBC, National Geographic, and Discovery. Notably, he contributed to the acclaimed BBC series Kill or Cure, which won BBC Documentary of the Year in 2007.

Eleonore Voisard
Eleonore Voisard
Cinematographer (France)

Eleonore is a French documentary film director, producer, and cinematographer with a diverse body of work spanning feature films, shorts, news, and commercials. She is currently co-producing and serving as cinematographer on a feature-length documentary with Willa Productions and Neutral Productions, supported by Impact Partners and the Sundance Institute, now in post- production. Previously, Eleonore worked for the BBC in New York, where she contributed to the production of short web documentaries and helped launch BBC’s inaugural online film festival, Longshots.

Ankur Rai
Ankur Rai
Camera/Sound (India)

Ankur is a skilled cinematographer and sound specialist from India, known for his work on the National Award-winning film The Lost Bahroopiya. Driven by a passion for capturing light and motion in ways that reflect real life, Ankur has worked across various formats, including feature films, web series, documentaries, and short films. His notable credits include Qissa Punjab, Nain Singh Rawat, and Chuhal Tailer.

O.V. Satish Sathiyaseelan
O.V. Satish Sathiyaseelan
Sound

Satish is a highly experienced sound engineer with a rich portfolio spanning over two decades. Satish has worked extensively on feature-length documentaries and reality shows for renowned international channels such as BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, and Channel 4. His work includes significant projects like Phoolan, The Message, Kumbh Mela, and John Sargent On Tracks of Empire.

Rabia Abbas
Rabia Abbas
Social Media Manager

Rabia is the founder and CEO of RK Socialogy, an agency specializing in web development, graphic design, virtual assistance, and social media management. Rabia is currently the Director of Operations at Blackrose, where she manages business operations and development strategies.

Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis
Web Design/Development

Michael’s background in the entertainment industry and marketing communications evolved into web development and design. He has operated Downhill Media since 2002 with clients in many industries including film-making, writing, audiobook publishing, fine art, hospitality and various others. He has created websites for Johanna Demetrakas’ Crazy Wisdom, the Netflix original documentary Feminists: What Were They Thinking?, NC Heikin’s Life & Life, Phoolan, and Cielo Films. The Spice Girls of Rajasthan marks his third collaboration with director Gillian Greenfeld.