BEFF IGNITE: A Place at the Table

Director Biographies: 

Kristi Jacobson, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and founder of Catalyst Films based in New York, specializes in crafting nuanced, intimate, and thought-provoking portrayals of individuals and communities. Her work has graced prestigious festivals like Sundance and Tribeca and found its way to global theaters and prominent platforms such as Netflix, HBO, ESPN, PBS, ABC, CBS, and Discovery. Notable works include the Emmy-winning “SOLITARY” (HBO), the NAACP Image Award-nominated “HOMEFRONT,” and contributions to the Netflix Original Series “DOGS.” Jacobson’s acclaimed documentary “A PLACE AT THE TABLE” and her dedication to urgent issues earned her accolades, including the Pare Lorentz Award and a Chicken & Egg Pictures Breakthrough Filmmaker Award. A member of AMPAS and the DGA, she actively champions diversity and equity in the media landscape as a founding member of Beyond Inclusion.

Lori Silverbush is an acclaimed independent writer-director known for her emotionally honest storytelling and keen attention to narrative detail, exploring themes of personal autonomy, social justice, and human connection. Her work has premiered at prestigious film festivals such as Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, and Tribeca and has received critical acclaim from outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. Notably, her debut feature film, “ON THE OUTS,” and the documentary “A PLACE AT THE TABLE” garnered praise for their fresh perspectives and compelling storytelling. Silverbush’s current projects include a bilingual series set in Mexico City and a feature film about teenage girls who resisted Hitler’s occupation of Holland.  Silverbush also founded the social justice organization A Place at the Table. Launched after the film’s release, its mission is to ignite the public around democratic solutions to poverty and hunger.