Jun
72025
archive
Award-winning documentary photographer Miora Rajonary, cinematographer Liza Gipsova, and producer Yusuf Ahmed believe in the power of visual art as a tool of advocacy to advance elimination of neglected tropical diseases. Join the END Fund for a viewing of the documentary short The Fly Collectors and hear their perspectives about how storytelling can drive awareness and action for the health of communities around the world.
Presenters: Miora Rajaonary Yusuf Ahmed Liza Gipsova
Moderators: Laura Parrotta
Location: St. Ann’s Warehouse
Presented by:
Join the END Fund for an evening that explores the power of storytelling to advance global health. This special event will feature a screening of The Fly Collectors, followed by a dynamic panel discussion with three artists working on global health issues.
The Fly Collectors is a 25-minute documentary short that offers an intimate look into the fight against river blindness, one of the world’s most neglected tropical diseases. Through the lenses of scientists and communities on the frontlines, the film captures the human stories behind this preventable disease and the innovative efforts underway to eliminate it. Filmed in Senegal, the film beautiful captures the scientific rigor and personal commitment that drive progress in global health.
Additional film credits include Heran Abate (Video Story Editor), Loulwa Khoury and Mahdokht Mahmoudabadi (Editors).
Following the screening, award-winning documentary photographer Miora Rajonary, cinematographer Liza Gipsova, and producer Yusuf Ahmed will share their experiences of bringing stories about neglected tropical diseases to life. Moderated by the END Fund, the conversation will explore how visual storytelling can foster empathy, build awareness, and inspire action to address neglected diseases affecting millions worldwide.
The evening will conclude with a happy hour reception at the Photoville Beer Garden, just steps from the venue.
Born and raised in Madagascar, Miora Rajaonary is a photographic artist currently working and living between Mauritius and her native island. Having simultaneously become a mother and photographer, she credits her son and motherhood as her main sources of inspiration. Using photography to examine herself and the world, she strives to find answers to a wide range of questions from her own identity and cultural heritage to humans’ future on the planet.
Rajaonary is a Magnum Foundation Fellow, one of four winners of the inaugural Getty Images + Array Grant, the winner of the Juror’s Choice of the 2019 edition of THE FENCE, and a First Prize recipient in the Addis Foto Fest 2018 Portfolio Review. Her work was exhibited at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, the PhotoVogue Festival in Milan, the Arles Off Festival, The Fence, MOCADA in Brooklyn, Pen&Brush, Fondation H, Stanford University, Addis Foto Fest, and the Alliance Française Network of Southern Africa.
Yusuf Ahmed is an Ethiopian-American documentary filmmaker, photographer, and communications strategist based in New York City. Yusuf’s work in documentary portraiture and film examines contemporary conditions of globalization and how it impacts the construction of memory, identity, and notions of belonging. Yusuf received his B.A in international relations and communications from Denison University. He has directed, produced, and documented projects across Africa and the Middle East tackling diverse issues including migration, heritage conservation, agriculture, and disease elimination. He recently produced the short film “The Fly Collectors” in Senegal and is currently directing and producing his first feature film “Love Belt.”
Liza Gipsova is an award-winning East-Coast based cinematographer working across narrative, commercial, documentary, and the ones in between. Her work has taken her to four continents and played at festivals worldwide, most notably Tribeca, Fantasia, and many Academy-qualifying festivals, as well as at venues such as the United Nations, Museum of the Moving Image, and Anthology Film Archives. She was selected to participate in the ASC Vision Mentorship and is a member of International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600).
Laura Parrotta is the Senior Director of Investor Relations at the END Fund. In her role, Laura focuses on promoting the work of the END Fund by developing meaningful relationships and partnerships, providing excellent stewardship to private investors, and identifying new funding opportunities. Laura is passionate about making a difference in the public health sector. Prior to joining the END Fund she spent eight years raising awareness and funds in both Europe and the US for blindness prevention in Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America. She’s also been volunteering in a women’s health clinic in Haiti. Prior to working for INGOs, Laura worked in the private sector on lead acquisition, client retention and digital strategies in Finance and Education.
The END Fund is a leading collaborative philanthropic fund dedicated to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that limit the lives and livelihoods of 1.65 billion people globally. Through our partners, we support country-led programs that control and eliminate intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, trachoma, and visceral leishmaniasis.
We efficiently put private capital to work in support of NTD programs that are innovative, integrated, cost-effective, and sustainable. By facilitating strong partnerships with governments, private sector, multilateral organizations, and local program partners, we collaboratively support national disease programs that improve the well-being of communities.
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