MafiaMind Is Back: Meet the 2026 Speaker Series Lineup

In 2020, Brown Girls Doc Mafia launched MafiaMind as a response to something many filmmakers were quietly craving: deeper connection. As our community continued to grow, it became clear that what members needed was not just access to industry information, but spaces rooted in intimacy, accountability and collective support.

Over the years, MafiaMind has continued to evolve alongside our community. What began as a peer-to-peer mentorship initiative has grown into a dynamic program centered on practical tools, creative exchange and sustainable relationship building for documentary filmmakers navigating an increasingly difficult industry landscape.

This year, we are excited to welcome Nicole Solis-Sison as BGDM’s new MafiaMind Program Advisor, helping lead the next chapter of the program. Nicole is a producer, impact producer and cultural organizer whose work spans documentary, advocacy and community building. From producing From Here, From There (De Aquí, De Allá) to launching the first-ever IP List with PopShift and the Nielsen Foundation, Nicole has built a career rooted in uplifting underrepresented voices and creating pathways for filmmakers historically excluded from the industry. She is also a founding member of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective and a fellow of Rockwood, Define American and Sundance’s Asian American Fellowship.

Nicole will lead MafiaMind, our 8-week program supporting members currently in production on a film, while also helping expand this year’s public-facing Speaker Series designed to bring the broader BGDM community into conversation with filmmakers and industry leaders navigating the realities of documentary practice today.

Because the truth is, documentary filmmaking does not happen in isolation. It happens through community, collaboration and shared knowledge. And at a moment when filmmakers are being asked to do more with fewer resources, access to honest conversations about sustainability, ethics, fundraising, workflow and creative longevity feels more necessary than ever.

That is exactly why we created the MafiaMind Speaker Series: a space where filmmakers can learn directly from artists and industry leaders actively navigating the realities of documentary practice in real time.

Running from May 26 through June 23, the series brings together filmmakers and creative leaders for weekly conversations grounded in real-world experience, practical strategy and collective learning. From pitching and impact campaigns to building workflows and sustaining momentum over the long haul, these sessions are designed to support filmmakers at every stage of production.

Most importantly, this year’s Speaker Series is open to everyone.

Whether you are actively making a film, dreaming up your first project or simply looking for community in a challenging industry, these conversations are meant to be accessible spaces to learn, connect and grow together.

Join us every Tuesday at 4:00 PM ET for the 2026 MafiaMind Speaker Series. Check out this year’s incredible lineup below.

2026 MafiaMind Speaker Series

✨ Tuesdays | 4:00–5:30 PM ET ✨

[May 26] Framing the Story: Impact, Style, and Ethics in Documentary with Li Lu (A Town Called Victoria)

Award-winning filmmaker Li Lu brings a deeply interdisciplinary perspective to documentary storytelling, blending narrative filmmaking, television and nonfiction practice. Born in Suzhou, China and raised in Texas, Lu’s work consistently explores identity, community and belonging. Her landmark docuseries A Town Called Victoria premiered on PBS’s Independent Lens, won Best Limited Series at the International Documentary Awards and earned her a spot on DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 list. Her television credits also include The Resident and Echoes.

This session will explore how impact goals, aesthetics and ethical responsibility shape documentary storytelling from the very beginning of a project.

[June 2] Budget Stability and Funding Growth with So Yun Um (Liquor Store Dreams)

Los Angeles-based director and producer So Yun Um has quickly become one of the most exciting voices in contemporary documentary filmmaking. Her debut feature, Liquor Store Dreams, premiered at the Tribeca Festival and screened internationally at festivals including BFI London and Busan International Film Festival. A BAFTA Breakthrough USA participant and alum of the CAAM Fellowship and Armed With a Camera Fellowship, Um brings firsthand experience navigating funding ecosystems while building deeply personal stories rooted in Korean American identity and intergenerational memory.

Her session will focus on how filmmakers can build financial sustainability and identify pathways for long-term funding growth.

[June 9] Building Teams and Workflow with Kristen Lovell (The Stroll)

Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Kristen Lovell is best known for directing the acclaimed The Stroll, a groundbreaking documentary exploring New York City’s Meatpacking District through the experiences of transgender women of color who lived and worked there. Lovell’s work is rooted in community storytelling, trust-building and collaborative filmmaking practices that center lived experience.

In this session, Lovell will break down how filmmakers can build creative teams, establish efficient workflows and sustain collaboration on lean independent productions.

[June 16] Pitch, Promote, and Growth Strategy with Laura X Moya Guerrero (What the Pier Gave Us)

With more than 15 years of experience across documentary and commercial filmmaking, Laura X Moya Guerrero brings a uniquely expansive perspective to storytelling and career sustainability. They are currently in mid-production for their poetic nature film, What the Pier Gave Us, a feature documentary with Sundance Institute, Catapult Film Fund support, and ARRI.

Beyond directing, Laura’s experience as an editor on projects connected to filmmakers like Spike Lee and Colette Ghunim offers valuable insight into how filmmakers shape stories across every stage of production and post-production.

This session will explore pitching, audience building, promotion strategy and sustainable creative growth.

[June 23] Sustaining Momentum as Doc Practitioners with Mabel Valdiviezo (Prodigal Daughter)

Award-winning filmmaker and editor Mabel Valdiviezo’s work explores migration, healing justice and gender equity through documentary, installation and performance. Supported by organizations including IDA, BAVC, AXS Film Fund and The Gotham Documentary Lab, Valdiviezo’s filmmaking practice spans multiple disciplines while remaining deeply rooted in social impact and community storytelling.

Her feature documentary Prodigal Daughter received a Cinema Tropical Best Latinx USA nomination and won Best Documentary at the Arizona International Film Festival.

Closing out the series, Valdiviezo will lead a conversation on how filmmakers sustain creative momentum, navigate burnout and continue building meaningful work across long-term documentary careers.