ELI LABAN

CO-DIRECTOR,CINEMATOGRAPHER,
EDITOR

Eli LaBan is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker based in Philadelphia. After learning about endangered language preservation in Nicaragua in 2016, he focused his career on supporting social development, cultural preservation and education across the world. He has since served as a Princeton in Africa Fellow in Rwanda and a Fulbright grantee in Honduras, where he first connected with Cesar and Dr. Ruíz. He also works as a Production Supervisor & Teaching Artist with Big Picture Alliance, overseeing youth apprenticeship programs and leading several award-winning projects in the Philadelphia area.

CESAR VARGAS

CO-DIRECTOR, EDUCATOR, WANARAGUA DANCER

Cesar Vargas Sabio is a language educator, researcher, and dedicated preservationist of Garifuna language and culture. Born in Sangrelaya, one of the last remaining strongholds of traditional Garifuna culture, he received his Master's in Didactics of Languages and Cultures from the National Autonomous University of Honduras and oversees primary school language teachers in Honduras. A Wanaragua dancer since childhood, Cesar witnessed the disappearance of traditional songs first-hand, and advocates for didactic language education that utilizes activities, poetry and music to engage and inspire the next generation.