Jacob Burns Film Center Welcomes Two New Board Members

Pleasantville, NY – The Jacob Burns Film Center announced today that Rod Brayman and Sara Bernstein have been elected to its Board of Directors for three-year terms.

“Rod Brayman has an unwavering belief in the power of the arts, especially its life-changing effect on young people,” said Mary Jo Ziesel, Executive Director, Jacob Burns Film Center. “I have witnessed firsthand Rod’s profound dedication to the arts and I am thrilled we will have his energy, deep knowledge, and vast experience on our board.”

“From our start in 2001, documentary films have been an integral part of our mission, and we are fortunate to have Sara Bernstein—with her impressive and extensive background in nonfiction storytelling—join our board,” said Lynn Sobel, JBFC Board Chair. “When our fellow board member Ron Howard recommended Sara for consideration, we were delighted to get to know her, and look forward to working with her.”

Rod Brayman is the CEO of Phoenix Beverages. Rod has served as trustee on a number of nonprofit boards including The Peter Westbrook Foundation, the American Ballet Theatre, Co-Lab Dance, and the Salmagundi Club, and is a former member of the JP Morgan Regional Advisory Board. Rod has been married to his wife, Cheryl, for almost 46 years. She is an avid golf player and past President of the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association.

Sara Bernstein is Co-President of Imagine Documentaries and leads the development and production of premium feature documentaries and non-scripted series, including Rebuilding Paradise and D.Wade: Life Unexpected. Prior to joining Imagine, Sara was SVP, HBO Documentary Films, overseeing various award-winning documentary films and nonfiction programming for the network including Emmy® winner The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, Academy Award® and Emmy® winner Citizenfour, Emmy® winner Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Emmy-nominated Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, and Mommy Dead and Dearest. Over the years, Sara has garnered 10 Emmy® wins, 28 Emmy® nominations, 11 Peabody Awards, while the films she has supervised have won two Academy Awards® and 13 Academy Award® nominations.

For more information, visit burnsfilmcenter.org, FB: @JacobBurnsFilmCenter, Twitter: @JBFC_ny and Instagram: @JBFC_pville.

The Jacob Burns Film Center is a nonprofit arts and education hub located on a three-building campus in the New York Metro area. The JBFC brings the transformative power of film to the surrounding community through unique programming and discussion, support for working artists, and educational initiatives. Since opening in 2001, millions of people have enjoyed the best of current American and foreign cinema, unique film series, and special events at the five-screen theater complex. A pioneer in visual literacy, the JBFC offers educational experiences for students of all ages at our state-of-the-art Media Arts Lab, including curricula for public schools. Creative Culture offers robust filmmaker fellowships and residencies to champion diverse voices, and fosters a community of thriving artists.