2016 Oscar Nominated Shorts LAST DAY OF FREEDOM & BODY TEAM 12

LAST DAY OF FREEDOM is a documentary featuring the testimony of Bill Babbitt, whose brother Manny, a war veteran suffering from undiagnosed PTSD, murdered a woman and was sentenced to 20 years before undergoing a flawed trial that lead to his execution in 1999. BODY TEAM 12 chronicles the efforts of Garmai Sumo, the only female member of the titular group in Monrovia, Liberia, one of many commissioned to collect the bodies of Ebola victims. Filmmakers Dee Hibbert-Jones and Nomi Talisman (Last Day of Freedom) and David Darg and Bryn Mooser (Body Team 12) discuss capturing social responsibility, funding and the challenges in telling stories on issues that are critical and complex in this Oscar’s edition of BYOD hosted by Ondi Timoner.

Guest Bio

David Darg is an award winning filmmaker and co-founder of RYOT Media. Named one of Esquire Magazine’s “2012 Americans of the Year” and Details Magazine’s “Hollywood Mavericks,” David spent the last decade as a first responder and front line contributor for Reuters, the BBC and CNN, covering some of the world’s largest natural disasters and wars. David grew up in the Middle East and England.

Bryn Mooser is the Co-founder of RYOT, the first immersive media company based in Los Angeles linking content to action. Bryn has overseen the production of over 60 virtual reality films created by RYOT in collaboration including global VR news partnerships with The Huffington Post and The Associated Press. As a documentary filmmaker, Bryn has co-directed and produced 10 award-winning documentaries. Bryn was named one of Esquire Magazine’s “Americans of the Year” as well as a “Hollywood Maverick” by Details Magazine.

Dee Hibbert-Jones & Nomi Talisman are artist/filmmakers who tell stories that bring to life larger issues of criminal justice and civic responsibility. Their current film project Last Day of Freedom won the Jury Award for Best Short at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. Dee is an Associate Professor of Art & New Media at the University of California Santa Cruz. Nomi is a freelance editor and media specialist. Born in the UK and Israel respectively they now live in San Francisco. This is their first documentary film.