Joshua Seftel
Founding DirectorJoshua Seftel is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker known for directing the Emmy-winning groundbreaking series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, the feature film War, Inc. starring John Cusack, Marisa Tomei and Ben Kingsley, and his regular appearances on CBS Sunday Morning where he interviews his 86-year-old mother. Stranger at the Gate, Executive Produced by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and nominated for an Academy Award® in 2023, is the latest film in Seftel’s Emmy- and Peabody-nominated Secret Life of Muslims project (SXSW), which combats Islamophobia with filmmaking. Seftel, who experienced antisemitism as a child, has been committed to working on this subject matter for the past seven years. His other award-winning films include Taking on the Kennedys (POV), Ennis’ Gift (HBO), The Home Team (SXSW) and The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano (NYT Op-Docs, Tribeca). He is also a contributor to the Peabody Award-winning podcast This American Life and The New York Times.
Aman Ali
ProducerAman Ali is a producer and storyteller based in New York City. His first feature film, Two Gods, a documentary about a Black American Muslim casketmaker in Newark, NJ, was a 2021 NY Times Critics Pick and won several awards at top tier documentary festivals such as HotDocs, DocNYC, Full Frame, New Orleans and Big Sky Film Festivals. The film aired on PBS and Vice in 2021 with institutional support from Sundance, Tribeca Film Institute, Ford Foundation and Independent Television Service.
As a storyteller, he’s performed on stages in all 50 states and 34 countries. He first gained worldwide attention as the co-creator of the social media phenomenon “30 Mosques in 30 days,” a 25,000 mile road trip he took to all 50 States in the U.S. with the mission of telling groundbreaking and profound stories about Muslims in America.
Wajahat Ali
ProducerWajahat Ali is a journalist, writer, lawyer, an award-winning playwright, a TV personality, and a consultant for the U.S. State Department. He helped launch the Al Jazeera America network as co-host of The Stream, a daily news show that extended the conversation to social media and beyond. He was also a National Correspondent, Political Reporter, and Social Media Expert for Al Jazeera America. There, he focused on stories of communities and individuals often marginalized or under-reported in mainstream media. As a playwright, Ali is the author of The Domestic Crusaders—the first major play about Muslim Americans post-9/11—which was published by McSweeney’s and performed off-Broadway and at the Kennedy Center. He is a Peabody-nominated producer of the series The Secret Life of Muslims, a series of short-form, first-person documentary films featuring a diverse set of American Muslims. Ali was also the lead author and researcher of Fear Inc., Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America, the seminal report from the Center for American Progress.
ANNA BICK ROWE
Executive Producer, Head of ProductionSince starting with Smartypants in 2012, Anna has filmed in airports around the world with Delta Air Lines, chased sunsets for the perfect shot with NPR, learned photography for The Many Sad Fates of Mr. Toledano, attended a Refugee summer academy with the International Rescue Committee, learned to salsa dance with Bill Nye for PBS, among others.
Anna's short documentary Stand Up, Fight Back, which follows a Boston-based non-profit as they help underprivileged locals fight eviction due to illegal foreclosures, premiered at the Short Film Corner at the Festival de Cannes in 2010. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University, and is a self-proclaimed google spreadsheet enthusiast.
anna@smartypants.nyc
Anais Blondet
DirectorAnais Blondet Medina is a Peruvian-born / New York City-raised artist and filmmaker. She has spent most of her career making experimental films and music videos in collaboration with underground artists using magical realism, absurdist humor, in-camera special effects, and narrative sound design as her main storytelling tools. For the past decade, Anais has worked as an editor and director on documentary, fiction, and commercial films. Her work has been featured on Netflix, CNN, NatGeo, MTV, OWN, Travel Channel, Canal +, The American Museum of National History, The Smithsonian Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Commercial clients include Chevy, Toyota, Target, Spotify, Peloton, and Coors, among many others.
ERIKA FRANKEL
Executive ProducerErika Frankel directed the feature documentary King Georges (Sundance Selects, Netflix), a portrait of mercurial master chef Georges Perrier in the twilight of his career. The film was praised by Variety (“Poignant, emotional...steady stream of laughter”) and The Philadelphia Inquirer (“A remarkably presented lion-in-winter story”). Erika also produced Frontrunners (Oscilloscope), a smart and funny look at the hard-fought race for student body president at Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
When she's not dipping her toes into the independent film world, Erika has produced numerous television specials and web series on everything from paleoanthropology to Swedish meatballs. At Smartypants, Erika has worked on branded campaigns for institutions such as Caltech, Harvard, Columbia, Duke, NPR and Liberty Mutual Insurance. But she is most well known for her chocolate chip banana bread.
erika@smartypants.nyc
Suzanne Hillinger
Producer, DirectorSuzanne Hillinger is an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has been featured on FX, Hulu, Discovery Channel, PBS, Viceland, CNN and MSNBC. Most recently, she was one of three directors and producers of the feature documentary, Totally Under Control. She directed episodes of the New York Times documentary series, The Weekly, for FX and Hulu, and her episode investigating the New York City taxi medallion bubble won a 2020 News and Documentary Emmy, and was part of the series that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting.
CONALL JONES
Supervising ProducerConall Jones is an Academy Award-nominated producer based in Northern California. He’s been devoted to nonfiction for nearly 20 years and loves nothing more than pushing the genre forward in features, shorts, series, video journalism and anywhere nonfiction lives. He’s worked on three continents producing for Netflix, Vice, CNN, NBC, Nickelodeon, A&E, and many other companies. but he's best known for his work with Michael Moore (Fahrenheit 11/9), Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me 2, CNN's Inside Man), and Wim Wenders (8).
conall@smartypants.nyc
Christiana Mecca
Associate Creative DirectorChristiana Mecca has over 9 years of experience and a background in creative production. She has a clear understanding of all phases of the creative process, from concept to execution. Christiana has collaborated with talented teams to find innovative and thoughtful solutions that elevate creative projects for renowned brands such as Nike, Outlier.org, Amazon, Apple, Laura Mercier, and more. When she's not busy brainstorming creative ideas, you can find Christiana surfing or making some homemade ice cream.
christiana@smartypants.nyc
Merete Mueller
DirectorMerete is a writer and documentary filmmaker based in NYC. Her work explores landscapes, bodies, architecture, the environment - how we fill space and find ourselves at home.
Merete’s films have screened at SXSW, Hot Docs and DOC NYC, via Al Jazeera, the Canadian Broadcasting Channel, Netflix, The New York Times Op-Docs series, and in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, VICE and as a Vimeo Staff Pick. She’s been supported by Rooftop Films, The Fledgling Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2018 she was a Logan Nonfiction Fellow at the Carey Center for Global Good.
In addition to her independent film work, Merete also directs commercial and editorial pieces. Past clients include GE, Toyota Prius, Ford, Facebook, Citbank, Vox Media, Vice Media, and Conde Nast.
Trey Nelson
DirectorTrey chooses to connect to the world through the compassionate lens of his work and life. He enjoys success creating and producing features, documentaries, television shows, and commercials that resonate with authenticity and intimacy.
In 2016, he wrote and directed the feature film Lost in the Sun starring Josh Duhamel, Josh Wiggins, & Lynn Collins. Filmmaker Magazine praised the film as “one of the most beautiful and best acted independent films of the year.”
He finds the most powerful and impactful projects require a deep and honest exchange of ideas with his collaborators. He prides himself on maintaining long lasting friendships with these co-creators well after the projects have been delivered.
ERIC NICHOLS
Executive Producer, Director of Creative DevelopmentEric Nichols is an accomplished Executive Producer and Director of Creative Development at Smartypants, an Academy Award® Nominated production company based in New York. With a strong passion for storytelling and a keen eye for creative excellence, Eric plays a pivotal role in overseeing a wide range of documentary, narrative, and commercial projects. As the Director of Creative Development, he has contributed to the company's reputation for producing high-quality and impactful work with vital purpose across mediums.
Eric graduated Cum Laude from Tufts University and further honed his skills as one of the youngest fellows in his class at the renowned American Film Institute (AFI).
In his current role, Eric finds great joy in launching projects. From nurturing a seed of an idea to witnessing its flourishing fruition, Eric thrives on the collaborative process.
Eric's notable achievements include serving as an Executive Producer of the Academy Award® Nominated documentary, STRANGER AT THE GATE, a powerful exploration of growing radicalization in America. This thought-provoking film, directed by Joshua Seftel and Executive Produced by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, has garnered critical acclaim, with Sandy Kenyon of WABC calling it "a story so remarkable it could restore your faith in humanity," and the Washington Post selecting it as their 2022 Short Documentary Critic's Pick, describing it as "profoundly moving."
Throughout his career, Eric has led impactful campaigns for esteemed institutions such as Dartmouth, Princeton, Caltech, Boston University, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and non-profits like Facing History and Ourselves. He has also collaborated with renowned brands such as Delta Air Lines, Lincoln Motor Company, Cadillac, adidas, Macy's, and Unilever, delivering compelling stories that define their purpose.
eric@smartypants.nyc
Chelsea Noll-McClintock
Executive ProducerWhen it comes to production, Chelsea-Noll McClintock has quite literally, done it all. From documentaries and broadcast television to social platforms and commercial advertising – Chelsea has run point on projects of all scales.
She learned the ropes in daytime talk television for ITV; managed logistics across comedy specials and docu-series for the likes of IFC, Comedy Central, Investigation Discovery and MSNBC; and did a multi-year stint with HBO running office, field and studio operations on the award-winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
After leaving Brooklyn for the suburbs of Philadelphia in 2018, she has expanded her producing-expertise into commercial advertising, largely working with major pharmaceutical companies on projects across the US.
Chelsea loves all forms of organization and her rescue dog Franklin.
chelsea@smartypants.nyc
Lizbett Perez
Production AccountantLizbett Perez is a New York-based filmmaker with experience managing budgets for film production companies and local public and cable TV. She has worked on independent productions as an assistant director and line producer for documentaries, film and television. Her credits include the independent documentary, And...Seen: A Woman’s Journey to Walk Again by Liz Ortiz.
lizbett@smartypants.nyc
Jody Snider
Executive Producer, Development Non-Profit & EducationJody is a producer and creator of award-winning television and radio shows. At Smartypants, she focuses on creative and new business development with health, higher education, and not-for-profit organizations. Her passion is using media for social impact and change.
Kristin Thompson
Post Production Manager, ProducerBorn in Detroit and raised in Kansas City, Kristin Thompson has done a little bit of everything in the production world. Starting her career as an editor, she moved into producing commercial productions and boomeranged back to become a post producer. She has worked with brands ranging from Garmin International to the Kansas City Royals to non-profit organizations across the country.
Whether sitting in a dark edit room, pouring over schedules or trekking down a mountain bike trail in Italy to find the perfect shot, Kristin is at home in all parts of production.
kristin@smartypants.nyc
Jess Weiss
ProducerJess Weiss is a producer who cares deeply about the art of storytelling. With her masterful budgetary skills, she loves the logistical puzzle of making a project happen. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jess is used to finding resources in different parts of the world and loves collaborating with new teams - though New York is her home. She has produced projects all over the United States, as well as internationally in Latin America and Europe. With over ten years of production experience, Jess has worked in narrative and documentary feature films and TV shows, commercials, branded campaigns, theatre, immersive, experiential and live events. She has produced content for Instagram, Diet Coke, Delta Air Lines, Panera Bread, among many others, which have garnered her a few Cannes Lions, Webby, D&AD and Clio awards. Her films have also been selected for international festivals worldwide, recently at Tribeca and Camerimage. She’s a member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy.
jess@smartypants.nyc
