M'Daya Meliani
Project: Father
At a time when everything feels uncertain, MafiaMind felt like one of the few safe spaces remaining, continuing to support our projects. The weekly circles with my fellow cohort members were beautiful moments of community, vulnerability, and upliftment that motivated me to continue even when I wanted to give up. I'm incredibly grateful for this experience, which has allowed me to grow and learn from fellow artists and their projects, as well as for the trusting bond we formed during this cohort.
Jasmine "Jazz" Szympruch
MafiaMind arrived at a wonderful time in my artistic development and was a truly special space to expand my creative community. I now have more clarity on how to improve my funding materials and pitch a plan — something that once felt like a daunting obstacle. What I appreciated most about the program was having a space with other creatives to share my truth, aspirations, & trepidations. Thank you to each of my cohort members for making it an enjoyable experience to attend!
Osadolor Osawemwenze
Project: je_rêve_à_travers_mon_USB.mp3
Being part of the MafiaMind Summer Cohort was incredibly fulfilling, as it allowed me to learn more about the industry and build a community within the film world while developing my next project. I now feel more creatively affirmed and have a growing community of support within BGDM.
Shruti Parthasarathy
Project: Dear Appa & Anmol
Being part of MafiaMind was a rewarding experience. The initiative created a strong space for connection, thoughtful feedback, and accountability. The community-driven approach made it feel less like a program and more like a supportive peer network. I especially appreciated the speaker sessions; each one was well-curated and packed with insight, offering real value week after week. What stood out most was the emphasis on learning from one another and growing together.
Ann Kaneko
MafiaMind was fantastic! I was humbled and energized by my peers. These are challenging times, so we all need to share resources and build community if we want our voices to be heard. What better way than these cohorts! Everyone made big strides, advancing their projects. We plan on continuing to meet so you have launched a really important network, especially while we search for employment and develop our projects. Thank you, again, BGDM!
Hebh Jamal
Project: The Reason of State
I came into this not knowing much about directing my own project and everyone from the participants to the speakers to the facilitators seemed to really care about the end result of my work. I made long-lasting connections and now can reflect on the program with my peers. I feel like I learned the basics and gave myself a solid goal that I am successfully working towards.
Natalie Eakin
Project: Chapines en Brooklyn
Participating in MafiaMind has been a great privilege, and one for which I am very grateful. It has been heartwarming to be in community with BIPOC creators who approach film with care, humanity, and heart at the center of their work. I am grateful for the speaker sessions, which shared such personal stories and work, as well as for my cohort, with whom I can continue to connect as I develop more projects throughout my career. Thank you!
Amal Barre
Project: Awoowe's Daughter and Other Stories
MafiaMind has been such an energizing and transformative experience. The program provided me with the space to experiment, refine my project, and receive thoughtful feedback from peers and mentors who genuinely care. I loved how community and care were built into every session. Each speaker, activity, and discussion helped me sharpen my project's narrative, build a working pitch deck, and even submit a small grant proposal with the updated story I developed during the program. MafiaMind pushed me to think bigger about my work, my process, and my growth as a filmmaker.
Andrea Patiño Contreras
Project: Someone's Father
[MafiaMind] was an amazing experience that provided me with the support and encouragement I needed to continue working on my project. At a time when making creative work is very difficult, but more urgent than ever, these spaces are critical to continue supporting artists.
A huge thank you to the people who made this cohort a particularly supportive space for our members.
Speaker Series: Industry mentors who shared best practices, insights, and inspiration with our BGDM community.
- Angela Tucker | Belly of the Beast (Prod.), All Skinfolk Ain't Kinfolk (Dir.) and Black Folk Don't (Dir.)
- Daresha Kyi | Mama Bears (Dir./Prod.) Texas Strong (Dir.), Chavela (Co-Dir/Co-Prod.)
- Elizabeth Lo | Mistress Dispeller (Dir.), Stray (Dir.)
- Jessica Kingdon | Ascension (Dir.), Commodity City (Dir.)
- Jessi McEver | Strawberry Moon (Founder), Tulsa Film Collective (Founding Member), Love and Fury (Prod.)
Individualized Feedback: Expert reviewers provided individualized feedback to members about the state of their project materials.
Stay tuned for more information about our 2026 cohort. Until then, we are forever grateful for the magic of this community throughout this program and these 10 beautiful years of BGDM.
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