Leyla Tavernaro Haidarian is an international journalist, motivational writer and filmmaker. She has worked as a broadcast and print journalist in Vienna and Los Angeles for such companies as Tribune Media, the American Radio Network and Diva Magazine. More recently she has been writing and producing documentaries and television programs in South Africa. A career highlight has been consulting for the Baha’i World Center, where together with her husband and partner, Ryan, she was able to witness the 2008 international election of the Baha’i world governing body in Haifa, Israel. The mutualistic election model of the Baha’is formed the basis for their exploration of democratic governance.

Ryan Haidarian is a director/filmmaker who started his career in Hollywood directing films, documentaries, music videos and later TV series for a variety of production houses, including the USA Network. In 2003 he moved to South Africa with his wife and partner, Leyla. Ryan continued directing commercials and now heads up New Ventures at the South African national film fund. Ryan also runs Race Productions, which produces a variety of documentaries on social change. Together with his wife, they have won several awards for their work, including a Cleo in 2005. Leyla and Ryan run Doubletake.TV, which is the virtual home for much of their short work: www.doubletake.tv

Full Credits List:

Producer/Director/Editor:
Leyla & Ryan Haidarian

Music:
Benny Cassette

Additional Camera:
Zia Mohajerjasbi

Interviewees:
Iraj Abedian
Nick Binedell
Gregory Dahl
Adam Habib
Michael Karlberg
Xolela Mangcu

Archival Footage courtesy of:
Ben Patrick Johnson
Efootage LLC
Internet Archive
ITN/Reuters
TED
United Nations Visual Library
World Economic Forum

Stills courtesy of:
Austria Presse Agentur
Kevin Carter/Corbis (TED)
Live 8 (TED)
Nick Ut/AP (TED)
Sam Nzima

Special Thanks To:
Devon Lyall (ITN/Reuters)
Jian Khodadad
Jason Sheper