Rough Cut

Leonard Cortana, the Inclusion Program and Strategic Partnerships Manager at EURODOC joins Rough Cut, with guest host Keisha Knight, founder of Sentient.Art.Film and Solidarity Media Network, for a wide-ranging conversation on documentary filmmaking, collective care, and the future of global nonfiction storytelling. Leonard reflects on how documentaries can serve as tools for restorative justice, why producers need spaces built on empathy and shared values, and how initiatives like BIPOC EURODOC are challenging the inequities embedded in the international film ecosystem. Together, Keisha and Leonard explore everything from visa inequities and festival culture to burnout, representation, and the radical generosity needed to create a more inclusive documentary ecosystem.

Show Links
EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com
BIPOC EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com/bipoc
Solidarity Media Network: https://www.solidaritymedianetwork.org

Credits
Host Keisha Knight
Guest Leonard Cortana
Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio
Produced by Audrey Horwitz
Music by Zack Wright

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In this episode of Rough Cut, we explore the powerful intersection of professional duty and personal history with Emmy-nominated journalist Katie G. Nelson. After more than a decade reporting on conflict and human rights across East Africa, Katie found herself back in her hometown of Minneapolis just as it became the epicenter of a global movement. We dive into the importance of local journalism and the shifting climate of on-the-ground reportage. Join us for an insightful conversation on the art of nonfiction storytelling and what it means to fight for meaningful change when the front line is only a mile from your childhood home.

Show Links: 
Katie G. Nelson: https://videoconsortium.org/members/katie-g-nelson
Katie’s substack: https://substack.com/@katiegnelson
www.katiegnelson.com
Far on Foot Productions: faronfoot.com

Stories Discussed 
ICE Took Liam Conejo Ramos. His Classmates Have Something to Say.
Minneapolis Precinct Fire: How A Night Of Chaos Unfolded
In The Middle Of Chaos: Living With The Daunte Wright Protests At The Front Door
How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody

Credits
Host Sky Dylan-Robbins 
Guests Katie G. Nelson
Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio
Produced by Audrey Horwitz
Music by Zack Wright

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In this compelling episode of Rough Cut, esteemed journalist and VC Board member Kevin Merida, former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sits down with the visionary Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief of PBS Frontline, Raney Aronson-Rath, to explore the profound responsibility of documenting history as it unfolds. The  2024 Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol anchors Raney’s reflections about the "bittersweet" reality of investigative journalism—balancing the celebration of critical storytelling with the sobering fact that the conflicts they cover often continue long after the cameras stop rolling. Together, they discuss why documentaries are essential tools for navigating our modern, turbulent world and why, despite the heavy toll, journalists must "keep the faith" that their work serves as an indispensable record for the future.

Show Links: 
Frontline: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/ 
Kevin Merida: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kevinmerida

Credits
Host Kevin Merida
Guests Raney Aronson-Rath
Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio
Produced by Audrey Horwitz
Music by Zack Wright

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In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Andrea Arauz sits down with Mexican filmmaker and SSP fellow Viviana Zuñiga to deconstruct the evolving identity of Latin American film. The two discuss the "guerrilla mode" of production—the art of fulfilling every role to bring a dream to life with limited resources. Viviana shares how her work is inspired by the "beauty in the wound" found in the films of Tatiana Huezo and the rule-breaking spirit of Lola Arias.
This conversation is a masterclass in cinematic resistance. It’s a powerful exploration of why Latin American filmmakers must stop apologizing for their "chaotic" reality and instead embrace the grit, the shadows, and the radical honesty that define their craft.

Show Links
Andrea Arauz: https://videoconsortium.org/members/andrea_arauz
Viviana Zuñiga: https://videoconsortium.org/members/viviana-zuniga

Credits
Host Andrea Arauz
Guest Viviana Zuñiga
Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio
Produced by Audrey Horwitz
Music by Zack Wright

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In this episode of Rough Cut, we sit down with the award-winning filmmaking duo Brandon Kramer and Lance Kramer. Through stories from their acclaimed films City of Trees, The First Step, and their Oscar-shortlisted feature Holding Liat, the brothers reflect on community, collaboration, and the ethical responsibility of nonfiction storytelling. Guest hosted by Kristin Feely, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, the brothers explore how their work is a reflection of the communities and intimate relationships they’ve built over three feature films.

Show Links
Holding Liat - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com/holdingliat
Meridian Hill Pictures - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com

Credits
Host Kristin Freely
Guests Lance Kramer and Brandon Kramer
Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio
Produced by Audrey Horwitz
Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium