Tommy Haines and Andrew Sherburne (directors) are documentary filmmakers based in Iowa (yes, Iowa) and the founders of Northland Films. Their debut nonfiction feature, Pond Hockey, an ode to outdoor ice hockey, has been called “the best hockey movie ever” by ESPN, and broadcast across North America on PBS. Gold Fever, an examination of a destructive gold mining operation on a remote village in the Guatemalan highlands won the 2013 International Federation for Human Rights Film Award and has screened in 35 countries worldwide. Sherburne is the co-founder of FilmScene, a nonprofit cinema in Iowa City, Iowa where Haines serves on the Board of Directors. The tandem have served on festival juries and currently curate the well-regarded Vino Vérité screening series. Saving Brinton, their most recent feature has played at AFI Docs, Rotterdam, Doc NYC and numerous festivals around the globe. It has been hailed as “a cinephile’s delight” by The Hollywood Reporter.
John Richard (director of cinematography) is an independent documentary filmmaker, video producer and photographer living in Iowa City, Iowa. He works on a variety of projects for clients including The Guardian, LA Times, New York Times, BBC around the world and has a background in photojournalism. Richard’s work combines a strong visual sense with intimacy and humor. His short films have won top prizes at festivals including the Nordic International Film Festival, Chicago International REEL Shorts Films Fest, Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival and Iowa City Documentary Film Festival.
