Michael Collins (Director/Producer) is an Emmy® nominated filmmaker and the founder of Thoughtful Robot Productions. In 2005 he directed Caught In an Injustice, a one-hour documentary broadcast on Spanish national television that received Special Mention at the 15th International TV3 Actual Awards. Michael's short film, Gerthy's Roots, won the Belief Matters Award and was selected for the Media that Matters collection. In 2011 he completed Give Up Tomorrow, his documentary feature film seven years in the making. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize for Best New Director. The film went on to screen in over 80 festivals in 40+ countries, winning 18 major awards. Recently Give Up Tomorrow was selected for the Britdoc Impact Award and was nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism.
Originally from the Philippines, Marty Syjuco (Producer) moved to NYC in 2000 and worked in film distribution at Focus Features. In 2005, his first film Atrapado en la Injusticia was broadcast on Spanish national television. He later developed it into the feature-length documentary, Give Up Tomorrow. The film was an ITVS co-production and commissioned by Nick Fraser for BBC's Storyville, with support from Sundance, CAAM, Tribeca, Fledgling Fund, Good Pitch, BRITDOC and Bertha Foundation, among others. The film has reached millions thru broadcasts around the globe, including on the BBC, DR, SVT, Planète, Canal+ and on PBS, as part of POV's 25th anniversary season. In addition to being nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Investigative Journalism, Give Up Tomorrow received recognition from the Grierson British Awards, Cinema Eye Honors, Amnesty International's Media Awards, and the Britdoc Impact Awards.