Habiba Nosheen
Co-FOUNDER

Habiba is a three-time Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker. Previously, she was the co-host of CBC News investigative documentary program, The Fifth Estate and an investigative correspondent for CBC News. Prior to the CBC, she was with CBS NEWS: 60 Minutes in New York, where her work earned two Emmy awards. Habiba’s documentary, Outlawed in Pakistan which aired on PBS FRONTLINE and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was called "among the standouts" of Sundance by The Los Angeles Times. Habiba was also named an NPR Kroc Fellow (2008-2009). Her work in radio documentary work included the 2013, This American Life and ProPublica collaboration, What Happened at Dos Erres? which was called “a masterpiece of storytelling” by The New Yorker.

Habiba is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism Masters program in New York. Her reporting has garnered numerous awards including three Emmys awards, the George Foster Peabody, the Gracie Award for Outstanding Correspondent, three Overseas Press Club awards, the New York Festival award, and the Third Coast Audio Festival award. She was also named a finalist three times for the Livingston Award, which recognizes the work of top American journalists under the age of 35. Habiba was born in Pakistan and moved to Canada at the age of nine as a refugee. She teaches at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. She is currently in post-production of her feature film, The Devil’s Advocate, co-produced with ITVS. You can watch and listen to Habiba’s work at habibanosheen.com

AMAR LOHANA
Co-FOUNDER

Amar Lohana is a filmmaker and founder of Akelo Media, a Toronto-based documentary film production company, dedicated to telling stories that shed light on complex issues and under-reported stories, with a commitment to journalistic integrity. He edited and produced the feature documentary The Devil’s Advocate (2021), which was funded by ITVS and Firelight Foundation. The film explores the real meaning of “justice for all” through the eyes of three American defense attorneys who represent accused terrorists. 

Amar is a passionate advocate for Canadian documentary filmmakers and serves on the board of the Documentary Organization of Canada, as a member-at-large and Treasurer. In 2022, Amar participated in the Creative Producer’s Think Tank organized by DOC Institute, an event that brought together experienced BIPOC producers to reimagine a more equitable documentary production landscape. He has written a forthcoming report that draws upon the insights of the think-tank participants, offering recommendations on addressing issues of equity and representation within Canada’s filmmaking industry.

Prior to filmmaking, Amar spent 15 years working in technology and finance in New York. He also did a 2 year stint as a stay-at-home dad to a special needs child, which gave him valuable perspective and deepened his commitment to creating work that resonates with a diverse range of audiences.

KELLY BENNET
HEAD OF INVESTIGATIONS

Kelly Bennett is an experienced investigative journalist and research producer based on the west coast. She reported and fact-checked the 2022 true crime podcast "The Disappearance of Nuseiba Hasan" for Gimlet Media/Spotify. Her investigations have appeared in the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, The Narwhal, The National Observer and CBC News. Previously, she helped build the nonprofit news organization Voice of San Diego. She contributed research to the body of work that won a 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. You can see more of Kelly's work at kellyrbennett.com.