Gina Basso, Mahboob Alam, and Claire Epstein Assume Expanded Roles Supporting AmDoc’s Programming, Audience Reach and Community Engagement

Brooklyn, N.Y. — September 17, 2026 — American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc), the award-winning public media arts organization behind POV, POV Shorts and America ReFramed, today announced the promotions of Gina Basso, Mahboob Alam, and Claire Epstein to new positions within its External Affairs and Engagement departments. 

As AmDoc’s work continues to evolve across documentary programming, digital platforms and community settings, the organization is creating new opportunities for staff to assume expanded responsibilities and help shape its future. These promotions recognize the individual contributions of Basso, Alam, and Epstein while strengthening AmDoc’s capacity to support filmmakers, deepen relations with stations and cultural partners, and connect independent nonfiction storytelling with audiences nationwide.

Gina Basso has been promoted to Senior Manager of Station Relations & Partnerships, and Mahboob Alam to Manager of Marketing & Communications. Both are members of the External Affairs department and will continue to report to Cecilia R. Mejia, Vice President of External Affairs, American Documentary.

As the primary liaison to PBS member stations, Basso will oversee cross-functional collaboration and year-round digital marketing communications that strengthens AmDoc’s brand and grow audiences.  She will also develop monthly curated digital collections, and expand national partnerships with stations, venues and mission-aligned organizations. 

Alam will champion the AmDoc brand and promote its content and programs to national audiences. He will lead integrated marketing campaigns across social media, websites, and digital and print collateral, while ensuring the quality and consistency of AmDoc-branded assets. In addition, Alam will use industry trends and audience insights to inform marketing strategy.

Claire Epstein has been promoted to Senior Associate, Outreach & Community Events in the Engage department. She will lead impact campaigns, outreach initiatives and strategic partnerships that connect POV films with audiences and communities. She will continue to report to Asad Muhammad, Vice President of Impact and Engagement Strategy, American Documentary. 

“Gina, Mahboob and Claire have each made significant contributions to American Documentary, bringing fresh ideas, strategic insight and a deep commitment to our mission,” said Erika Dilday, Executive Director of American Documentary and Executive Producer of POV and America ReFramed. “In their expanded roles, they will help drive the ambitious work ahead and open new possibilities for how AmDoc champions filmmakers and brings independent documentary stories to the public.”

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Gina Basso

Gina Basso began her public media career at American Documentary in 2023 as the station relations manager. She led the annual Wyncote Filmmaker Fellowship, bringing filmmakers and PBS stations together, and initiated co-presentation partnerships with theaters and stations for in-person screenings and digital collections.

An independent film curator based in San Francisco and trained art historian, Basso worked at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from 2008 to 2018 as lead producer and program manager for live performances. She collaborated with internationally recognized artists, filmmakers and musicians including Sam Green, Miranda July, Rashaad Newsome, Yo La Tengo, Charles Atlas, Mika Tajima/NEW HUMANS, Deerhoof, Luna, Ann Magnuson and Naomi Rincón-Gallardo.

From 2018 to 2021, Basso served as SFMOMA’s film curator, directing year-round film programming and partnerships. She co-organized retrospectives devoted to renowned directors Agnès Varda, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Jia Zhangke. Her programming highlights include Black Powers: Reframing Hollywood, Haunted! Gothic Tales by Women and Voices Carry: Women in Film and initiated the Silver Screen matinee series.

In addition to her work at SFMOMA, Basso has organized film programs for The Roxie Theater in San Francisco, McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Alamo Drafthouse, California College of the Arts, Castro Theatre, Northwest Film Forum, Hunters Point Shipyard, Design Within Reach and San Francisco Cinematheque. Her film and video work has been presented at CROSSROADS Festival, Antimatter Festival, Artist Television Access and Public Records NYC. Most recently, she curated Sky Hopinka: Sonic Transmissions, at Slash Art, an artist-run nonprofit gallery in San Francisco, that was on view from January 12 through April 18, 2026.

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Mahboob Alam

Mahboob Alam is a marketing and communications professional specializing in documentary film, public media and audience engagement. Since joining American Documentary, he has helped lead campaigns for numerous documentary films, including Oscar® campaigns for Minding the Gap, The Look of Silence, and A Night at the Garden. His work spans digital strategy, social media, editorial planning, filmmaker engagement, brand development and audience growth.

Prior to joining American Documentary, Alam worked in marketing and public relations at AHAlife, where he managed social media channels reaching more than 100,000 followers, supported brand activations and digital campaigns, and collaborated with partners including BuzzFeed, O, The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, SHEfinds and The Strategist.

Alam holds a BBA in Marketing Management with a minor in Anthropology from Baruch College, CUNY.

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Claire Epstein

Claire Epstein joined American Documentary (AmDoc) as an intern in 2022 and until recently served as Outreach Coordinator, working across outreach, community engagement, and events for POV. She organizes screenings, panels, special events, and seasonal programming while cultivating relationships with filmmakers, cultural organizations, educators, and grassroots partners nationwide.

She is also Co-Director of the Adoptee Film Festival, presented in New York City and Los Angeles, and is deeply committed to adoptee advocacy, environmental justice, and supporting justice-impacted communities. Inspired by her volunteer work in reentry programs and the POV in Prisons initiative she leads in partnership with California prison librarians, Epstein is completing a 200-hour trauma-informed yoga teacher training through the Prison Yoga Project. She also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City and Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

Epstein holds a B.A. in Urban Studies with a minor in Cinema and Media Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, she worked with the Sunrise Movement, Philly Thrive’s Right to Breathe Campaign, and the Kensington Corridor Trust. She also traveled to Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp, where she collaborated with local refugee filmmakers to develop an introductory camera and editing curriculum.

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