ELIZABETH DETTKE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER.
Elizabeth helped found the Duterimbere Bakery in 2014 during her time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Rwanda. Inspired by Christine Nyirahabimana's entrepreneurial spirit and energy she wanted to support her dream of launching a social enterprise. Ever since, she has supported Christine to the best of her ability to achieve her goal of a sustainable and profitable business. Presently, Elizabeth is based in New York City working in Corporate Social Responsibility. She came to New York in 2017 to attend Columbia University's School of Social Work where she studied Social Enterprise Administration and Business. Before moving to New York City she worked in international development traveling regularly internationally for a social sector consulting firm.
CHRISTINE NYIRAHABIMANA, FOUNDER.
Christine is the fearless leader of the Duterimbere Bakery. She founded the business together with Elizabeth Dettke in 2014, selecting an incredible group of women to form her team. Together they have broken barriers for women in business in Zaza. With a background in economics, Christine always had her sight set on supporting the most vulnerable women in her community in a way that was sustainable and empowering. She is a known figure in Zaza, playing active roles in church, local government as well as teaching entrepreneurship at the public high school. Christine has 3 children (she is pregnant with her second child in this picture) and her husband Vincent is one of her biggest supporters.
LENA STROTHE, DIRECTOR/PRODUCER.
Lena has a passion and talent for storytelling and film is her medium. Her creative genius and film production expertise shaped Christine's story into Zaza Rising. Based in Los Angeles, she is a Producer at Trailer Park Inc. where she specializes in long and short form home entertainment, theatrical marketing and branded content. She has experience working on the sets of films such as Ocean's 8, Horrible Bosses II and The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies. Filming Zaza Rising was her first experience in Rwanda but it definitely did not show. She guided the team's preparation for the trip and her hard work and meticulous planning enabled the crew to start shooting on day one.
AARON GRASSO, CINEMATOGRAPHER.
Aaron Grasso took the traditional route of getting into the film business; working his ass off and crawling up the ranks. As a Focus Puller, he relished any opportunity to assist great cinematographers because he could observe the craft from the best seat in the house. He was a sponge, retaining various techniques and styles which influenced much of what we see in his work today. Aaron believes in taking a truly objective approach to every project, allowing STORY to inspire the world around it. He has a desire to find new ways to challenge himself, to create films that make us think and feel, that push boundaries both technically and emotionally. This sentiment rings particularly true in the way he shot Zaza Rising, capturing the essence of Christine's spirit perfectly.
SILAS HITE, COMPOSER.
Silas Hite is an Emmy-winning composer with music in his DNA. He began his career co-scoring blockbuster and independent films such as Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs with his uncle, noted composer Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO). His documentary scores include the award-winning films The Invention of Dr. Nakamats and The Record Breaker. His music plays in television shows around the world, from kids shows like Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue! and Disney’s Dance-A- Lot Robot, to adult shows such as Blue Mountain State, Eureka, and Chef's Table. He has scored hundreds of commercials for clients such as Apple, McDonalds, and Chevy, earning him an Emmy, Adweek's Campaign of the Decade, and most recently a Titanium Grand Prix from Cannes. He’s contributed memorable music to some of the top selling video games of the past ten years such as The Sims 2, Skate 3 and The Simpsons. His music has played in such venerable institutions as the SanFrancisco Museum of Modern Art, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the New York Museum of Modern Art, and The Whitney Museum.
DAVID LIZMI, EDITOR.
David joined the team in post production with unrivaled spirit and enthusiasm. As an Editor for Trailer Park Inc. based in Los Angeles, David edits promotional theatrical content for feature film releases. In 2017, he worked on box office hits such as IT, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Dr. Strange and Inside Out. David started his career working as an Assistant Editor for a National Geographic documentary. The Zaza Rising team greatly appreciated his wealth of knowledge and expertise.