OUR TEAM

Jason DaSilva

President and Program Founder

Jason is a director, producer, writer, and disability rights activist best known for the Emmy Award winning documentary, When I Walk, the first film in a documentary trilogy. As President of AXS Lab, Jason is the key creative and strategic voice of the organization, providing insight to necessities in disability activism and facilitating AXS Lab’s work with the United Nations and partner organizations around the world. Jason is also responsible for the creation of AXS Map, a digital mapping tool that allows users to rate and review venues’ accessibility.

In 2014, Jason won three awards: the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) Paul G. Hearn Leadership Award, the New Mobility Magazine: Person of the Year Award, and the Christopher Award for Excellence in Film. In 2019 he was awarded the Top 40 Trailblazers Award from the Community Resource Exchange, an award for leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities and the larger world, and the Made in New York recognition at the Gotham Awards.

Naomi Middleton

Program Director

Naomi Middleton is an independent filmmaker and producer who is interested in stories that paint portraits of humanity in conversation with larger issues of human rights and social justice. In 2021 she produced the short, Predicting My MS, (2022) for NOVA, which broadcasted on PBS/NOVA. Her short doc, HELO (Home, Education, Love, Opportunity) (2019), was an official judge’s selection and opened the Bennington Alumni Film & Creativity Festival in 2019. Naomi firmly believes in the powerful intersection of filmmaking and social justice. She continues to serve as AXS Film Fund’s Program Director. She is thrilled with the conversations the fund is starting and is excited about the continued growth of AXS Film Fund and its mission to support and raise an oftentimes invisible group of filmmakers.

Mimoza Thana

Controller

Mimoza is an analytical and detail oriented banking professional with 10 years of experience. Exceptionally organized and focused demonstrating an outstanding aptitude to manage and balance a variety of day to day transition, providing overachieving assistance services team management products cross sales. She ensures effective control over the activities of the AXS Film Fund in order to fully comply with the provisions of the legal and regulatory framework, as well as with the policies and procedures of the Organization, AXS Lab.