Seth Chase

A director and writer known for critically acclaimed independent documentaries on complex African subjects. His first short documentary "Bang For Your Buck" achieved critical success and premiered at Tribeca in 2010. The documentary went on to win 'best film' in the "Shooting Poverty" film competition and as a result Seth was invited to New York to speak about African weapons trafficking issues at the United Nations that same year. Five years later Seth would release his first feature length documentary "We Will Win Peace" on the subject of conflict minerals in the Congo. The film took almost three years to make and was predominately funded by the Swiss government. The film takes viewers deep into the deadly mines of Eastern Congo most of which have never before been filmed. Seth meets with rebel groups, government officials, and a few celebrities, whose lives all interconnect due to the conflict mineral mining that the Congo has become known for. The film has a cult following among academics and aid workers living and working in Africa but has so far not reached a mainstream audience. The film premiered in Oslo at the "Human Rights Human Wrongs Film Festival" to critical success. Seth was born, Seth Daniel Chase on April 27th, 1977, Bremerton, Washington, and was raised just outside Annapolis, Maryland. He is the son of Marjorie Elizabeth Chase, and Robert Joseph Chase, a builder and entrepreneur. He has a older brother, Jesse Chase, and a younger sister, Jaime. At Severna Park High school Seth was involved in sports, journalism as well as a few theatrical productions. Seth attended Montana State University, where he majored in Media Theatre Arts with a focus on Motion Picture, Television. While there, Seth won the Panavision New Film maker award for his script: "Talking Smack" Seth graduated with honors, fourth in his class. Seth would spend the next five years paying off exorbitant student debt by working in the automotive industry in Portland, Oregon. Once free of debt, Seth left the United States to live in central Africa where he would begin his independent film career. Seth based out of Bujumbura, Burundi for the next eight years funding himself by making advocacy films for international aid organizations. He made the first ever feature length documentary on Gender Based Violence in Burundi. The film was funded by the European Union and went viral upon completion. Called "GBV" the film remains one of the most widely viewed Burundian documentaries. The film is praised for being the only documentary featuring all Burundian local experts rather than having expat commentary on Burundi issues which is a continual annoyance for many Africans. This creative choice gained Seth a faithful Burundian following as a result.