PRODUCER CHRISTINE KUNEWA WALKER
Producer and President of New Globe Films and one of the original founders of Werc Werk Works, a production/finance company based in Minneapolis, Christine Kunewa Walker is an award-winning producer of artist-driven independent film. Her film credits include: THE TURIN HORSE by Hungarian auteur Bela Tarr which was recently awarded the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize and the Fipresci International Press Prize at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival; DARLING COMPANION (in post production) directed by Lawrence Kasdan starring Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline; the Sundance Film Festival premiere film THE CONVINCER directed by Jill Sprecher with Greg Kinnear, Alan Arkin and Billy Crudup; HOWL directed by academy award winning directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman starring James Franco as the beat poet Alan Ginsberg along with Jon Hamm, and David Straithairn. ; the Todd Solondz directed LIFE DURING WARTIME which won Best Screenplay at the Venice Film Festival in 2010 and is nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards. Walker also co-wrote and produced OLDER THAN AMERICA starring Adam Beach and Bradley Cooper; FACTOTUM starring Matt Dillon, Lily Taylor and Marisa Tomei, and line produced the academy award nominated AMERICAN SPLENDOR. The film garnered more than thirty two international awards. .
Christine’s awards and recognitions include the National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award for HOWL, Producer’s Guild of America Diversity Award, Independent Spirit Award nomination for best new producer, and the Sundance Institute’s Mark Silverman Producing Fellowship Award.
PRODUCER GEOFFREY SASS
Geoff Sass has a background as an independent film producer and marketing professional. As Chief Marketing Officer of the mini-studio Werc Werk Works, he has recently guided LIFE DURING WARTIME and HOWL to theatrical distribution with IFC and Oscilloscope; tier-one festival appearances including Venice, Telluride, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin; sourcing of numerous sponsorship and product placement deals; and partnerships with top sales agents, publicists, and distributors in domestic and international markets. Geoff brings significant brand perspective to his work in film having developed innovative marketing programs for top brands including Target, Nike, Capital One, Lee Jeans, and Thomson Reuters. As a producer he has teamed up with filmmaker Shelli Ainsworth to create a series of highly regarded short films that have appeared nationwide on PBS, as well is in museums and festivals around the world. He is a winner of numerous EFFIE and AdFed awards for effectiveness of advertising and creative excellence.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STEPHANIE DILLON
Stephanie Dillon’s business acumen was developed after years of managing private trusts for large energy consortiums. On a personal level, she has devoted her life to working as a tireless advocate for women’s issues, and to serving in counseling roles at several organizations focused on women in crisis, in both Minnesota and Texas. Utilizing her vast national network of contacts and resources, Stephanie has now parlayed her skills into a lifelong passion for broadcast media and entertainment, with a focus on facilitating projects from conception and financing through distribution. Her current work includes the development of two feature films, a television pilot, various commercials and branded entertainment.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER LISA M. KEMP
Lisa M. Kemp has a background in local and national television, independent film, advertising and marketing. Lisa has been has been in film and video production since 1990, locally working behind the scenes on productions such as NORTH COUNTRY, TRAUMA and an HBO mini-series. She has also worked with local and national broadcasters KSTP, KTCI and HGTV. She obtained her film and video degree from Minneapolis Community Technical College and her B.A. in Marketing Management from Concordia College in St. Paul. Lisa has also worked in marketing and advertising for FALLON, BBDO and PBS where she delivered great experience and success. Autism is a global concern affecting families all over the world. This includes her own, since her son has autism. STAY THEN GO tackles many of the same experiences all families with autism can relate to. Lisa continues to raise her son in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
