A native of Chicago, René Jermal
finds her deepest passions in filmmaking and traveling. With a background in event coordinating and fundraising, René helped co-found Elephant Dreams Pictures, with writer/director Ben Hicks and marketing director Jon Pauss.

René graduated in 2003 from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with a Bachelor of Arts in English, emphasizing film history and theory. Fulfilling a life-long dream, she studied Film Production at Chicago Filmmakers Co-op. She began shooting film in her teens, and has been involved with filmmaking ever since. Her duel relationship between business and the creative process turned her interests to producing films. René relocated to Tokyo, Japan for research and production of Kids Go Free to Fun Fun Time.

Elephant Dreams Pictures’ first feature film Kids Go Free to Fun Fun Time follows an ever-evolving couple across the bustling masses of Tokyo, into the tropical hills and crystal blue beaches of Taiwan and after globetrotting their way into the art infested streets of Berlin, they discover a desire of eternal life on the road and head north into the deepest of forests, leaving behind all of humanity. The project gives faith and assurance in the fight for dreams, journeys, and love.

Kids Go Free to Fun Fun Time’s unique structure and story will be shot over the course of three and a half years. This time period will create a unique, non-foreign atmosphere in each location and to allow Elephant Dreams Pictures dynamic community of artists to achieve their greatest work to date.