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A Powerful Community of BIPOC Women and Nonbinary Professionals Transforming the Documentary Industry

Brown Girls Doc Mafia (BGDM) works to disrupt inequity in the film industry by nurturing, amplifying, and investing in the creative capacity and professional success of our members.

By Edwin Flores • May 3, 2026

BGDM Member Films at CAAMFest 2026

By • May 3, 2026

Inside CAAMFest 2026: A Conversation with Sapana Sakya

By Sruthi Subramanian • March 25, 2026

Producing Is Power: A Tamil Woman's Perspective

Community Spotlight

In Focus: Curators, Connectors, Changemakers

This group of BGDM members represents the architects behind the scenes, the programmers, directors, curators, and community builders creating the spaces where documentary storytelling thrives. Across festivals, collectives, and cultural institutions, they design programs, champion underrepresented voices, and build pathways for filmmakers to connect, grow, and be seen, pushing the field toward a more inclusive and intentional future.

Akili Z. Davis

Akili Z. Davis is a curator and cultural worker supporting BlackStar’s ecosystem through operations and editorial work at Seen, helping platform critical voices across film, art, and visual culture.

Emily Abi-Kheirs

Emily Abi-Kheirs is a programmer and producer shaping inclusive documentary spaces as Programming Manager at GBH and Program Director at Salem Film Fest, where she champions historically excluded voices through film programming and distribution.

Minah Oh

Minah Oh is Director of Programming at Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, where she curates bold, thought-provoking films and creates spaces for dialogue between filmmakers and audiences.

Malikkah Rollins

Malikkah Rollins is Director of Industry and Education at DOC NYC, where she builds year-round programs, including DOC NYC PRO, that connect filmmakers to mentorship, resources, and community support.

Denise Hinds

Denise Hinds leads the Newark LGBTQ Film Festival as Board President of the Newark LGBTQIA Community Center, creating a vital platform for LGBTQIA+ BIPOC filmmakers and building inclusive spaces rooted in community care.

Neha Aziz

Neha Aziz is an Artistic Director and film programmer who curates bold, community-driven nonfiction storytelling at Austin Asian American Film Festival, Big Sky Documentary Festival, and beyond, while amplifying Asian American voices across the field.

Sabrina Avilés

Sabrina Avilés is Founder and Executive Director of CineFest Latino Boston, where she builds platforms for Latinx filmmakers and fosters deeper community engagement through documentary storytelling.

Nuha Elalem

Nuha Elalem is Manager of Digital Asset and Print Traffic at Windsor International Film Festival, where she oversees the systems and workflows that support seamless festival programming and audience experiences.

Darice Jones

Darice Jones is Co-Founder and Festival Director of Bijou Film Festival, where she curates global Black storytelling and creates spaces that celebrate Black cultural origins, creativity, and futures.

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