Producer/Writer
Sylvie Benavides
Born in France, Sylvie started her film career in Paris working for renowned producers such as Jacques Nahum whose introduction of “Arsène Lupin” to global television audiences in 1971 left an indelible mark on the industry.
With a wealth of experience under her belt, Sylvie now calls Los Angeles home, where she continues to produce and write.
As a filmmaker, she has demonstrated her versatility and talent across various mediums. She wrote, directed and produced the short film “The Gravedigger” which was selected for several film festivals around the world including Shortfest at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
In addition, she received an option for her thriller screenplay, “To Say One’s Prayer”. Next, Sylvie’s commitment to shedding light on untold stories led her to co-write and produce the poignant 3-part french documentary series “Débrouille à Conakry,” by Thierry Soumah, which illuminates the resilience and ingenuity of Guineans striving to survive in challenging circumstances.
Sound Engineer/Writer
Hope Vinitsky
Hope is an Emmy award winning sound engineer. She was born in Minneapolis and moved to New York City where she worked for NBC at 30 Rockefeller Center for ten years as a staff sound engineer. She was the original sound effects engineer for “Late Night with David Letterman”. Her creativity and originality led to several appearances on the show and she was one of the only persons to actually sit behind Dave’s desk during one of the show’s sketches.
Hope then moved to Los Angeles where she was a staff sound engineer for CBS at Television City where she won an Emmy for her sound work on “The Young and the Restless”. She also worked on a prime time comedy special with the legendary comedian Carol Burnett as well countless other network shows, specials, and A- level talent.
Hope also wrote the semi-autobiographical screenplay “Invisible Ladies” which has been optioned.
Hope brings her vast 34 years of entertainment industry experience, creativity and knowledge to Benvin Productions. Her goal is to produce projects that are cutting edge, and heartfelt. Hope has a particular long standing interest in LGBT material.
Distributor/Producer
Jean-Marie Vauclin
Jean-Marie embarked on a multifaceted career that epitomized versatility and excellence. Kicking off as an actor in the vibrant French entertainment industry of the 1980s. He made a lasting impression with his performances in over twenty feature films, alongside iconic appearances in numerous cult advertising spots immortalized in the archives of INA, the French National Audiovisual Institute. Simultaneously, he pursued a career as a singer, notably achieving success with the group “Chagrin d’Amour,” recording their biggest hit “Chacun fait (c’qui lui plaît)” in 1981.
In 1993, Jean-Marie relocated to New York, where he joined the esteemed team of the acclaimed radio show “Natural Living with Gary Null,” which boasted a daily audience of over 4 million listeners on WBAI.
Returning to France in 2000, Jean-Marie transitioned into film distribution, establishing his company Zelig Films in 2005. Over the span of 16 illustrious years, Zelig Films introduced 82 first-time independent films to eager audiences, amassing an impressive tally of over 1.2 million admissions. Notable releases included “I am Divine” by Jeffrey Schwarz, “My Old Lady” by Israel Horovitz starring Kevin Kline and Kristin Scott Thomas, and “Boulevard” by Dito Montiel featuring Robin Williams.
Today, Jean-Marie Vauclin stands as a beacon of inspiration in the realm of film production, channeling his wealth of knowledge and boundless passion into the esteemed domain of Benvin Productions.