About the team
Ellen Kuras (Director) is an unprecedented three-time recipient of Sundance Film Festival’s Best Dramatic Cinematography Award, was first recognized for her black and white cinematography on Swoon (1990), Tom Kalin’s acclaimed independent film. Other work includes Isaac Mizrahi’s Unzipped, Mary Harron’s I Shot Andy Warhol, and Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated 4 Little Girls, as well as his features Summer of Sam, and Bamboozled. She was also DP on Rebecca Miller’s Angela and The Ballad of Jack & Rose, Ted Demme’s Blow, and Harold Ramis’ Analyze That starring Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal. More recent films include Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Be Kind Rewind directed by Michel Gondry, Heart of Gold, the Neil Young concert film, Lou Reed’s Berlin, and Sam Mendes’ Middlemarch. The Betrayal (Nerakhoon) is her directorial debut.
Thavisouk Phrasavath (Co-director) Active in the Laotian American community in the United States and Canada, Thavisouk Phrasavath is a creative consultant for developing Lao TV and other media. During his early years in Brooklyn, he served as the primary liaison and translator for Laotians living in New York City and surrounding areas. His background in community work includes assisting Gang Prevention for Youth and Family Crisis Intervention through the Church Avenue Merchants Block Association and working with the police department as a liaison and interpreter for the Lao community. Formerly an Area Policy Board member, Thavi has consulted for the New York City Board of Education. His film work extends into writing, editing, directing and cinematography. His projects as editor include Mira Sorvino’s directorial debut, Making Famous, as well as Summer School, Cuba Libre, Americanos, Streaming with the Prez, Vietnam on the Cusp, Sound Painting and, most recently, Golden Venture. Thavi has also directed and edited music videos for independent artists, published poetry and won awards for his paintings and illustrations. He graduated with honors from Pratt Institute with a degree in electrical engineering. The Betrayal is his first film as both subject and filmmaker.