MEET THE FILMMAKERS
Claudia Myers
CO-DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
Named one of "10 Filmmakers to Watch" by Independent Magazine in 2015, Claudia most recently wrote and directed ABOVE THE SHADOWS, a fantasy action drama starring Olivia Thirlby, Alan Ritchson, Jim Gaffigan, and Megan Fox. The film opened the 2019 Brooklyn Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; it was subsequently acquired by Hulu. Prior to this, Claudia wrote, directed, and produced the drama FORT BLISS starring Michelle Monaghan, Ron Livingston, and Pablo Schreiber. The film won several festival awards and top critics for The Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer both cited FORT BLISS among the best films of 2014. As a screenwriter, Claudia has won numerous awards, was twice a finalist for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, and is an alumna of the Hamptons Screenwriters Lab. Claudia teaches in the film division at American University’s School of Communication. She is currently in development on her next feature, the true crime drama OUT OF DARKNESS. Learn more about Claudia or follow her on Instagram.
Laura Waters Hinson
CO-DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
An award-winning filmmaker and assistant professor of film at American University, Laura’s films have screened at the U.S. Congress, United Nations, Smithsonian National Gallery of Art with broadcasts on PBS, WORLD, ShortsTV and Curiosity Stream. Laura’s film about reconciliation in post-genocide Rwanda, AS WE FORGIVE, was narrated by Mia Farrow and won the 2008 Student Academy Award for Best Documentary. Her follow-up, MAMA RWANDA, won the Jury Prize at the Manchester International Film Festival and screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, among others. In 2017, Laura wrote and directed the dark comedy MOVING VIOLATION, starring Milana Vayntrub, which won Best Narrative Short at the DC Independent Film Festival. Her documentary, STREET REPORTER, qualified for the 2022 Academy Awards and won Best Short Documentary at the Annapolis Film Festival and Audience Awards at Austin Film Festival and Indy Shorts. Her latest feature doc, PROJECT HOME, about 3D printed housing, was released by 1091 Pictures and can be seen on AppleTV and Amazon. Learn more about Laura or follow her on Instagram.
Mary Beth Minnis
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Mary Beth Minnis is an Austin-based producer and executive producer of award-winning documentaries on topics ranging from refugees to sports professionals, female entrepreneurs, to freedom fighters. Her passion is sharing inspirational stories of resilience and hope. She has a particular interest in stories from Africa and has served on four different films from that region, including producer on Return to Mogadishu (2013); associate producer on Imba Means Sing (2015); associate producer on Mama Rwanda (2016); and producer on Unforgivable (2018). In 2019, Mary Beth served as producer and executive producer with NBA star Steph Curry on Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. She also served as an executive producer alongside Katie Couric on Refuge (2021), which won Best Georgia Feature at the Atlanta Film Festival. Most recently, she produced Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom and executive produced the film’s accompanying soundtrack. Featuring Nobel Peace Prize nominee Opal Lee, the documentary aired on PBS and received the 2023 Wilbur Award. A member of the Cru Arts & Culture network, Mary Beth’s greatest passion in filmmaking is hearing how stories impact lives and inspire change. Learn more about Mary Beth or follow her on Instagram.