FRANCINE STRICKWERDA, DIRECTOR
Francine’s Strickwerda’s award-winning independent feature documentaries Oil & Water, and Busting Out have screened on Showtime, PBS, Netflix, Amazon and television channels all over the world. With stories ranging from one of the world’s worst oil disasters, to the politics of America’s breast obsession, and now (with ULTIMATE CITIZENS) immigrant kids finding belonging in America, her films explore power, trauma and healing. Francine’s work has been funded by MacArthur Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and many others. As co-owner of Seattle creative video agency Hullabaloo, she directs strategic films for top brands and non-profits. Francine grew up a teacher’s kid and began her career in journalism, first as a newspaper reporter, and then as a producer at Seattle’s KCTS Public Television. She is an avid Salish Sea open water swimmer.
JAMSHID KHAJAVI, MAIN FILM PARTICIPANT
As a school counselor for nearly 40 years, Jamshid Khajavi uses the outdoors, play, and the sport of Ultimate Frisbee to help children find healing and belonging. Born in Tehran, Iran, Jamshid immigrated to the U.S. in 1977 where he received an MBA. After six long months working in an accounting firm, Jamshid quit to pursue a doctorate in education - eventually leading him to become a school counselor working with deaf children in San Diego. Jamshid moved to Seattle Public Schools in 1994 where he is known for his outstanding work with immigrants and refugees. Jamshid is an ultra-endurance athlete who’s run 57 official 100-mile races. He swam the Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, and around New York’s Manhattan Island -- all numerous times, and he’s a three-time grand slam winner of ultra-running. Now retired from counseling, Jamshid cultivates community at festival screenings of ULTIMATE CITIZENS, the award-winning documentary about his life, and while doing volunteer work with seniors in memory care, and while endurance racing and playing pickle ball.