We are passionate about what we do and will work with you in a collaborative process, building an environment of trust that respects the sensitivities of working with vulnerable people.
Helen Cotton
Helen Cotton is the director and founder of See Change Films and oversees all content produced by the company. Helen began her career in television after graduating from Sussex University with a BA (Hons) in Politics. From 2003 – 2006, Helen worked on television commercials for Spanish based Palma Pictures and then directed and produced series television for Discovery Networks Europe.
In 2006, Helen undertook an MA in Cultural History at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her thesis explored the power of film to effect social change in rural communities of Africa. At the same time Helen produced and co–directed her first feature length documentary, Where the Water Meets the Sky, that explores how film technology can empower women in rural Africa to tell their stories. Over this period, Helen gained firsthand experience of the powerful effects of film to serve as a catalyst for social change, which provided her with the impetus to launch See Change Films.
Ross Kauffman
Ross Kauffman is the director, producer, cinematographer and co–editor of Born into Brothels, winner of the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Other projects include award–winning feature documentaries, In a Dream (Executive Producer) and Project Kashmir (Cinematographer and Associate Producer). Kauffman is currently developing projects including; Housegirl with See Change Films; Boy, Boy, Girl, Girl, a comedic narrative feature film; and Wait For Me, a feature length documentary.
See Change Films Projects: Ross shot and served as creative consultant on The Entrepreneurs, he directed Camfed's 'I Belong in School' series and is currently developing Housegirl.
Bahareh Hosseini
Bahareh Hosseini is an award–winning documentary filmmaker. Born in Tehran, she has shot and/or directed projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Zambia, Malawi and Britain.
Most recently Bahareh co–directed and shot BBC 3's award–winning documentary, Women, Weddings, Wars And Me. The documentary won Best News And Current Affairs Content at Broadcast Digital Awards, 2010. Other projects include: award–winning documentary, Afghan Girls Can Kick (Director, Producer, Camera); and This Is My Destiny (Co–director, Camera). See – www.baharehhosseini.com
See Change Films Projects: Bahareh is project co–director for the Samfya Women Filmmakers initiative. She shot Camfed's 'I Belong in School' series. And Helen and Bahareh are currently developing a number of documentary projects.
Jeremiah Zagar
Jeremiah Zagar has directed and edited a wide range of films, videos and commercials. His recent documentary, In A Dream, screened theatrically across the US and in film festivals around the world, winning awards from SxSW, Full Frame and Biografilm festivals. It was broadcast on HBO and on TV stations internationally. In A Dream has been nominated for a Cinema Eye Award and for two 2010 Emmy Awards, including Best Documentary. Other films as director include Delhi House (PBS), Coney Island 1945 (SxSW, Tribeca Film Festival) and the award-winning short films Baby Eat Baby and The Unbelievable Truth. See – www.hzfilms.com
See Change Films Projects: Jeremiah edited the fundraising trailer for Housegirl and Camfed's recent 'I Belong in School' campaign films.
David Eberts
David Eberts began his career in film as a child actor, starring in the 1988 period drama, Burning Secret, alongside Faye Dunaway and Klaus Maria Brandauer.
10 years later, he entered the world of documentary film, working as a camera assistant on several films for PBS. David went on to join Los Angeles based, Original Productions where he served as camera operator, assistant editor and co–producer on more than 18 documentaries for The Discovery Channel.
David co–produced Prisoner of Paradise, a feature length historical film which was nominated for Best Documentary Film at the Academy Awards and directed award–winning documentary, Where the Water Meets the Sky.
See Change Films Projects: Following the success of Where the Water Meets the Sky, David and Helen are currently developing Lives in Focus – an observational documentary series exploring the power of film to transform the lives of disenfranchised groups.
Marta Velasquez
Marta Velasquez began her career as a Fine Art video artist gaining a degree at Kingston University. She has worked for Birds Eye View Film Festival and as a freelance editor cutting documentaries, shorts, trailers, music and arts videos for clients such as Polly Leys (Producer of The Full Monty) and Stephen Sherman (Director of Channel 4's Bear Grylls). Most recently, Marta set up her company Filmdependence. Since its inception she has edited 5 feature documentaries, including award–winning, Afghan Girls Can Kick. See – www.filmdependence.com
See Change Films Projects: Marta has been working with See Change Films for two years. Her editing work includes, The Entrepreneurs and Hidden Truth – the Samfya Women Filmmakers' most recent project.
Abibata Mahama
Abibata Mahama is a documentary filmmaker and trainer in participatory filmmaking with a background in education. Abibata has directed programmes on single and multi-camera shoots for Ghana TV. She holds an MA in TV documentary production from Salford University in the UK and has a teachers’ diploma in English. Abibata has worked with numerous NGOs, including Camfed, on participatory filmmaking projects and is currently working on documentaries for Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC).
See Change Films Projects: Abibata is project co–director for the Samfya Women Filmmakers' initiative and recently collaborated with See Change Films, serving as production co–ordinator, on Camfed's I Belong in School short film series.
David Thomas
Classically trained cellist, David Thomas, is an established London based composer, songwriter and producer. He has worked as performance/session artist playing cello and drums for many renowned artists including George Michael, David Arnold and Louise Wener. Clients for television include EMI (Rugby World Cup) and Sky (Tour de France).
See Change Films Projects: David has written the original music for a number of films produced by See Change Films, including Where the Water Meets the Sky and The Entrepreneurs.