Ana Joanes, Producer/Director
Ana was born in Portugal and grew up in Switzerland. Following a travel-abroad program exploring the impact of globalization on the environment and culture, Ana came to the U.S. to study. After a BA in political science from Barnard College, Ana graduated from Columbia Law School, where she was awarded as a Stone Scholar and Human Rights Fellow. Before dedicating herself to filmmaking, Ana founded Reel Youth, Inc., a video production program for youth coming out of detention, and other under-served youth. Her first documentary, Generation Meds, explored our fears and misgivings about mental illness and medication. FRESH, Ana’s second documentary, celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Ana is the mother of two beautiful girls, and with her new documentary project, Taking Our Places, she hopes to explore new ground in parenting strategies and childhood development.
Deana Morenoff, Co-Producer
Deana Morenoff is a documentary producer/director with 15 years experience in both independent and mainstream film. She completed her MA in Media Studies at The New School and most recently, has produced and directed content for Sesame Street, Interface Inc, The American Dance Awards and The Royal Shakespeare Company. Deana has also worked in marketing and event production, documentary outreach and holistic healthcare education. Her storytelling focuses primarily on food, children, and community building. Deana gets excited about swimming holes, the challenge of a new recipe, tea parties and helping her daughter experience the world through taste buds, dress ups and great storytelling.
Mona Davis, Editor
Mona Davis has edited numerous award-winning feature documentaries. Her credits include the critically acclaimed Love and Diane (premiered at the New York Film Festival), The Farm, Angola USA, (Grand Jury Prize winner at the Sundance Film Festival, Academy Award nominee, Emmy for Best Editing), A Perfect Candidate and Dream Deceivers (both nominated for Emmys), and the American versions of 7 Up and 14 Up. She was the consulting editor on the award winning 51 Birch Street and Girls Like Us. Her work has appeared in theaters, and on PBS, HBO, CBS, BBC, Arte, and Showtime.
Susan Minzter, Web Content and Social Media
A former .com co-founder and workaholic, Susan surprises and amuses herself every day with who she has become since becoming a mom. She has a B.S.in English literature with a minor in psychology from William Smith College and also holds a certificate in training & development. She has had jobs in various fields including advertising, training & development, casting, magazine production, and advertising. For inspiration, community, and growth, she attends workshops as often as she can. This includes 100+ hours of play therapy, 100+ hours of nonviolent communication, child development, parenting, and mindfulness. For additional nourishment, she hugs her two kids, ages 8 and 7, as often as she can. And for companionship, she teams up in life and work with her husband, who makes things.
