(He/Him)

As Operations Assistant, Elliot supports the Chicken & Egg Pictures team with various financial, operational, and human resources activities, while fostering a positive, supportive environment for all team members. Elliot has prior experience in a variety of roles, including excavation at an archaeological World Heritage Site and working as a research assistant on a groundbreaking gender archaeology project. While earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Columbia University, Elliot was an active participant in the undergraduate arts community. He continues to pursue his creative interests in the experimental music scene. 

(She/Her)

Jenni Wolfson is a fierce human rights advocate and a trailblazer in the art of storytelling for social change. As the CEO of Chicken & Egg Pictures, her strategic vision has evolved the organization into a powerhouse of support for women and gender-expansive documentary filmmakers. Under her leadership since 2013, Chicken & Egg Pictures has quintupled its signature grantmaking and mentorship programs, building a community with purpose and breaking down industry barriers across the globe.

Prior to Chicken & Egg, Jenni was the Managing Director at WITNESS, the international human rights video advocacy organization. Early in her career as a diplomat with the United Nations, Jenni was a human rights investigator on long-term missions in Rwanda and Haiti. Later, at UNICEF, she trained staff worldwide to protect children in humanitarian crises. These defining experiences led her to create and perform a solo play, “RASH.”

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and BAFTA, an Aspen Ideas Fellow, and a Dial Fellow of Emerson Collective, Jenni has been honored with the Women’s Media Center Lifetime Achievement Award and DOC NYC’s Leading Light Award. She holds an MA in Human Rights from the University of Essex and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde. Jenni grew up in Glasgow and lives in Brooklyn.

(She/Her)

Hannah leads storytelling at Chicken & Egg Pictures, strategizing the narratives that amplify our work, uplift our community, and contribute to making the film ecosystem a more equitable one. Previously, Hannah served in strategy leadership roles at social impact branding consultancies BBMG and Big Duck where she helped businesses, nonprofits, and philanthropies navigate complex, high-stakes challenges in order to make the world a better place. She’s worked with organizations across spheres of social justice, arts and culture, education, philanthropy, environmentalism, and beyond. She got her start learning the ropes of PR and marketing in the heart of NYC’s film community at BAM and Lincoln Center. Hannah studied Film and Comparative Ethnic Studies at Columbia University.

(They/Them)

As Program Assistant, Will ensures accurate administrative and logistical support for the growing Program team’s efforts. These include application and selection processes; filmmaker retreats and events; and program, team, and filmmaker travel.

Prior to Chicken & Egg Pictures, Will resided in the San Francisco Bay Area, working as a Civil Rights Legal Assistant and Assistant Manager of an independent bookstore. They have also held Marketing and Distribution intern positions at Cinetic Media and A24 in New York City. Will holds a BA in Film and a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley, and an MA in Film and Media Studies from Columbia University. Outside of Chicken & Egg, Will can be found at any repertory cinema or perusing the shelves of a used bookstore.

(She/Her)

As the Senior Program Manager at Chicken & Egg Pictures, Elaisha oversees the Chicken & Egg Award and the Research & Development grants for mid-career filmmakers. She believes that the documentary craft is a means to increase gender diversity and inclusion, both in the arts and in the zeitgeist.

Prior to this position, Elaisha served as Senior Producer for CBS Original Documentaries, where she oversaw several documentary series for Paramount+ and streaming platforms. Her documentary work has been featured on National Geographic, CNN, The New York Times, and Vice. She has received awards and grants from the Nation Institute, the Pulitzer Family, the Emmy Foundation, and the Ontario Arts Council. In 2018, she was a Sundance New Voices fellow and a Cine Qua Non screenwriting fellow. Her films have screened at BFI London, the Maryland Film Festival, the Brooklyn Film Festival, London Shorts, and Planet in Focus. Elaisha holds a Master’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.

(She/Her)

As Communications Manager, Mariana tells  the story of Chicken & Egg Pictures in social media, digital communications, and design. She joined Chicken & Egg Pictures after finishing an MA in Media Studies at The New School, where she also collaborated with the Documentary Studies program as Teaching Assistant and focused her studies on nonfiction media. Mariana worked for six years at Ambulante Documentary Film Festival, and also collaborated with Morelia International Film Festival. She was a 2022 Documentary Magazine Editorial Fellow. Mariana is a firm believer in the power of documentary as a tool for social change and the creation of collectivity.

(She/Her)

As the Industry & Artist Development Manager, Tobi Phang-Lyn works closely with the Program Director and Program team to provide filmmakers supported by Chicken & Egg Pictures with career-building opportunities, new networks, resources, and a vibrant community to deepen their craft and further develop their projects. She oversees the AlumNest and DocNest programs and is responsible for strengthening relationships between filmmakers and industry professionals.

Prior to this position, Tobi was the Membership & Marketing Manager at The Gotham Film & Media Institute. There, she oversaw Gotham Membership and public programming, helping independent filmmakers make valuable industry contacts, find collaborators, and advance their projects. She also led marketing efforts for the organization year-round and for the annual Gotham Week and Gotham Awards.

Tobi has a strong background in marketing and communications, and she previously worked in higher education at Columbia University and the University of Florida, her alma mater. Originally from Miami, Florida, Tobi holds a BS in Digital Communications.

(She/Her)

As Program Director Kiyoko works closely with the CEO and Program staff to strategize, plan and oversee the implementation of all Chicken & Egg programs. Previously, Kiyoko was Director of Documentary Programming and Filmmaker Labs at the New Orleans Film Society. There, she led the documentary film programming for the New Orleans Film Festival and worked to connect Southern filmmakers to resources and relationships through the Emerging Voices Directors Lab, Southern Producers Lab, and South Pitch. Prior to that, she was the Managing Director of Junebug Productions, a nonprofit organization that produces and presents art that questions and confronts inequitable conditions that have historically impacted the Black community in New Orleans. She has worked as an organizational development consultant for social justice arts organizations and is an award-winning film and theater director. Her films have screened at AFI Docs, Calgary, Hot Springs, Flickers Rhode Island, IndieMemphis, Cucalorus, and Milwaukee and have been supported by the Center for Asian American Media, Firelight Media, Reel South, World Channel, Southern Documentary Fund, and others. She is a 2017-2018 Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellow, a 2020 John O’Neal Cultural Arts Fellow, and a member of A-Doc.

Kiyoko received her BFA in Theatre Arts from NYU’s Tisch School. She was raised in Tokyo and has also lived in London and New Orleans. She is happy to be returning to New York with her husband and two children.

(She/Her)

As Operations Manager, Sarah manages Chicken & Egg Pictures’ financial, office, operational, and human resource functions. She researches innovations for operational effectiveness, seeking out insightful approaches, solutions, and tools to strengthen internal systems. Prior to joining Chicken & Egg Pictures, Sarah began her career as an actuary seeking to examine and improve the current healthcare landscape. With interests in housing and food insecurity, Sarah organized with Hotels Not Hospitals, a community based housing model rising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the Emeryville Citizens Assistance Program, a local food bank serving the Emeryville and surrounding Bay Area communities.

(She/Her/Ella)

As Associate Director of Program, Sabine oversees the design and implementation of several programs in support of women and non-binary documentary filmmakers, including the (Egg)celerator Lab for first- and second-time filmmakers, and Project: Hatched for films reaching completion and in the process of launching an impact campaign. She also works closely with the Program Director on internal management to ensure effective and equitable practices and processes for the Program department. Since 2016, she has managed a range of programs and program activities at Chicken & Egg Pictures, including the Chicken & Egg Award for advanced-career filmmakers.

In 2019, Sabine was selected to be a participant in Film at Lincoln Center’s 4th annual Industry Academy and participated in Creative Capital’s Taller, a career development program for Spanish-speaking Latinx artists in New York City. She is Colombian and French, and holds a BA in Sociology from the Université Paris-Diderot, as well as a MA in Visual Anthropology from the University of Barcelona.

(She/Her)

As Development Assistant, Mia provides key logistical and creative support to the Development department, aiding to maintain and foster new relationships with our funders. She also supports all fundraising development activities, events, and processes. Before joining Chicken & Egg Pictures, Mia served as an Office Production Assistant at Motto Pictures, where she collaborated with Oscar-nominated and award-winning producers on documentary films in all stages of production. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she created her own major titled Bridging Documentary and Fiction in Film and TV, and developed a passion for impact-driven diverse storytelling. In her free time, Mia can be found reading a book in the park or watching bad reality TV. 

(She/Her)

As Program Manager, Iva oversees the application, selection, and evaluation activities for all programs and grants, and is the first point of contact for applicants seeking support from Chicken & Egg Pictures. More broadly, her role is focused on the iterative improvement of internal processes to ensure transparent, equitable, and affirming experiences for filmmakers across key touchpoints with the organization.

Since joining Chicken & Egg Pictures in 2019, Iva has supported program logistics as program assistant and program coordinator, and prior to that, she worked as the Oral History Coordinator at the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries. She has undergraduate degrees in Anthropology and Mass Media Arts, and is a first-generation Bulgarian-American immigrant.

(She/They)

As Executive Assistant, Cristina manages the day-to-day activities of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She also plays a critical role in providing support to the rest of the team toward achieving goals of the strategic plan. Prior to joining Chicken & Egg Pictures, Cristina began her career in book publishing working at Penguin Random House and with #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. She also has experience in the humanitarian non-profit sector. Originally from Puerto Rico, Cristina earned her Bachelor's Degree in English and Creative Writing from Syracuse University. In her spare time, Cristina can be found working on her first novel and collecting miniature figurines. 

(She/Her)

As Communications Assistant, Tess supports the communications team with social media and website promotion, graphics creation, and administrative support. Currently, Tess is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Media and Screen Studies at Northeastern University, and is excited to join the team as a part of her co-op curriculum. Prior to joining Chicken & Egg Pictures, Tess had a keen interest in providing individuals and organizations with the tools and resources to run successful media campaigns. She launched her career by dedicating herself to providing support to over a dozen nonprofits, organizations, and campaigns on a consultancy basis. With social justice at the core of her work, she strives to deepen the intersection of arts and social justice. Ultimately, she hopes to take these learnings and apply them to work on criminal justice reform as well as to create engaging documentary films surrounding human rights and environmental injustices.

(She/Her)

Sarah works in close partnership with the CEO on the strategy and achievement of goals for organizational effectiveness, good governance, team development, and financial performance. Sarah oversees the design and implementation of holistic, adaptive internal systems to support Chicken & Egg Pictures’ mission and values, working with the CEO to create an environment that inspires and guides staff, Board, and other stakeholders. In addition, she manages high-level strategic planning and works cross departmentally in operational decision-making and organizational planning. As the primary liaison to the Board of Directors, she collaborates on the strategy and supports activities for growth and engagement.

Prior to Chicken & Egg Pictures, Sarah worked for the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), a human rights and accountability organization, where she managed the Program Office and the media initiative Pivot Pictures. Originally from Detroit, she holds a BA in History from the University of Michigan and Diplôme du Programme International from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po).