Joseph Overbey
Director & CinematographerJoseph Overbey is a Brooklyn-based director, cinematographer and motion picture colorist whose work celebrates the interplay of light, color and the human experience. With a diverse portfolio spanning narrative, documentary and experimental films, Joseph brings a distinctive aesthetic style shaped by a lifelong love of visual storytelling to his collaborations. His approach is driven by a deep curiosity about life, culture and the dynamic world we live in.
As Director of Photography, Joseph has lensed several independent narrative and documentary films, featured at prestigious festivals, including the San Diego Independent Filmmaker’s Festival, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Fantasia and Toronto’s Inside Out Film Festival. His commercial work includes collaborations with notable clients such as ARTE, Communiqué Magazine and others.
A 2024 Filmshop Breakthrough Fellow, Joseph has been an active member of this nonprofit collective of independent filmmakers since 2018. In 2020, he was selected for Filmshop Studio, Brooklyn’s first cooperative film studio and has served as co-leader of the North Brooklyn workshop group (2021~2022).
stephen lyman
Executive ProducerAn epidemiologist by training and vocation, Stephen has produced 5 narrative fiction films including the 2006 Native American short film, Sunshine, which aired on PBS' Short Cuts and is now part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Lower Manhattan. He also co-wrote and directed the short film, The Fairy Princess, which played at film festivals in 7 countries and won best comedy short film at the 2010 Moondance Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado.
Stephen is also one of the leading global experts on authentic Japanese shochu. He has been working at Yamatozakura Distillery seasonally since 2013 and has now made shochu in Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Brooklyn. In 2018 he relocated from NYC to Fukuoka, Japan. On International Sake Day 2019 his first book, The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks, was released worldwide by Tuttle Publishing and in 2020 was nominated for a James Beard Book Award. He is also co-host of the Japan Distilled podcast. The Spirit of Japan is his first documentary he has produced.
Tom Bayles
Tom Bayles is an independent filmmaker and freelance editor with over 10 years experience in every aspect of production and post. Tom has written, directed, and edited several short films in both the US and Japan. A Japan film scholar and translator by training, he has made films in both English and Japanese, and provided subtitling and localization for film and games.
Editor
tin lee
Tin Lee is a writer and director based in New York. Born in Hong Kong, she moved to San Francisco in 2001 to study at San Francisco State University where she received a B.A. in Film Production, going on to coordinate a variety of Asian and Asian American film festivals in SF.
Creative Producer
Lisa Y. Allen is a creative distribution strategist and impact producer based in Washington, DC, specializing in partnerships for documentary films that address social impact issues. Films include ROLEPLAY (2024 SXSW), BAD PRESS (2023 Sundance), HOME IS A HOTEL (2023 SFFILM), NO MATTER WHAT (2023 ReelRecovery).
Impact & Distribution DirectorLisa Allen
Associate ProducerTaeko Takigami
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Akiko Katayama is a food writer and Forbes.com columnist based in New York City, and the host and producer of "JAPAN EATS!", a weekly radio show/podcast. She is a board member of Heritage Radio Network as the Host Representative. She is also a director of the non-profit organization The New York Japanese Culinary Academy, which promotes a deeper understanding of Japanese cuisine in the US. With her diverse global business expertise, Akiko has worked as an advisor to the Japanese government and consulted for Japanese, American and other global businesses.
Associate ProducerAKIKO KATAYAMA
Associate ProducerChristopher Pellegrini
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Composer…
Adam Kromelow
ComposerDaniel Rufolo
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