The biggest misconception about me and my work is that I only make political films denouncing human-rights atrocities, even though all of my films are about people fighting for their rights and their quest for justice. My films aren't depressing, are very human, and always offer a way forward.

Everyone has access to a pen and paper, but to be a great writer is difficult.

When you make a documentary film, after many years the only thing you remember is what you put into the film, not what you took out.

I believe that those who believe in the power of human rights must find new ways to address economic injustice - and on a scale commensurate with the millions of people around the world that are mired in poverty.

I'm a storyteller who uses all of the beauty and power of cinema to tell tales of human struggles for positive social change.

My advice to emerging documentary filmmakers would be: try to find other people, a group, a cooperative that you can work with. Filmmaking is hard and lonely and decidedly unglamorous. Find like-minded souls and share the joy and the misery.

I'm both an artist / filmmaker and a human rights defender.