The Filmmakers

Marjan Safinia

Marjan Safinia is an Iranian documentary filmmaker. Her first film, But You Speak Such Good English (UK), is a witty and poignant short exploring the first generation Iranian immigrant experience from the insider's perspective. The film played at over 20 festivals internationally.

Her feature debut, SEEDS, tells the story of ten brave teenagers from the world's most troubled conflict zones coming together to live side-by-side for one life-changing summer in Maine. SEEDS premiered as the Opening Night Film at AFI/SilverDocs and went onto play at over 50 international film festivals. The film has been broadcast in the US, UK, New Zealand, Jamaica and across the Arab world.

Marjan also produced the award-winning film for Audi A3/AFI Fest, Life As You Know It. The film was broadcast on A&E.

In 2008, Marjan was selected as a Filmmaking Fellow for Jehane Noujaim's global, Pangea Day, sponsored by TED. In 2009 she joined the Board of Directors of the International Documentary Association and became one of the co-hosts of the preeminent international documentary community online, The D-Word.

Marjan has lived in Tehran, London and New York and is now based in Los Angeles where she works through her production company, The Department of Expansion, and serves as Chair of Outreach of the South Robertson Neighborhoods Council, chartered and funded by the City of Los Angeles to promote citizen participation in government at a grassroots level.

She's still naive enough to believe that individual people really can make a difference in the world.

Joseph Boyle

Joseph Boyle started his career in film production as a Production Manager and Line Producer on dozens of Music Videos, Commercials, Interactive, and Film projects. Mentored by executive producer Tim Van Rellim, Mr. Boyle transitioned into the feature film world, where he cut his teeth on the productions of Ravenous, starring Guy Peirce, for 20th Century Fox and The Invisible Circus, starring Cameron Diaz, for New Line Productions before managing the 2nd Unit, Stunts and Special Effects teams in the production of A Knight's Tale, starring Heath Ledger, for Sony Pictures.

Seeking a change in direction, Mr. Boyle teamed up with documentary film producer Marjan Safinia to direct and produce the award-winning documentary, SEEDS, which follows a group of courageous Israeli, Palestinian, Indian, Pakistani, Afghan and American teenagers as they come together for three weeks at the Seeds of Peace International Camp in Otisfield, Maine. SEEDS was the opening night film of the 2004 AFI/Discovery SILVERDOCS film festival, has screened at over 50 international film festivals and is now being distributed by PRG/PBS, Hallmark Channel, Much Music Arabia, and several international broadcasters.

Having found new passion and voice in telling the stories of real people, Mr. Boyle channeled his energies into the documentary television arena—writing, directing and producing for the Discovery Channel hit-show Biker Build Off and Ballroom Bootcamp for TLC, both produced by Thom Beers' Original Productions. Mr. Boyle took on greater responsibilities for Original Productions by heading-up multiple productions for Original Productions, including Fugitive Strike Force and Verminators for Discovery Channel. He most recently Supervised Madhouse for History Channel. Today, he continues on the path of finding and producing unique stories for documentary television.