MafiaMind, a reintroduction

In 2020, BGDM found itself at a crossroads amidst a changing world. The organization had grown exponentially, welcoming thousands of members across the globe. However, the more we expanded, it became clear our community craved intimacy.

Piloted in 2020 by Community Programs Manager Juliana Sakae, MafiaMind (originally named Skill Share) began as an effort to connect members on a more personal level and provide a space for support, vulnerability, and accountability. Learning and adapting along the way, it soon evolved into Mafia MasterMind, a peer-to-peer model for members to mentor and learn from each other as they developed their projects.

After a two-year hiatus to reflect on the many learnings from the past, we are beyond excited to announce the next season of BGDM programming: MafiaMind!

One lesson we held includes the importance of language. We are moving away from MasterMind as we recognize the trauma held within the term master, particularly in the context of U.S. slavery of Black Americans. We are grateful to our community for consistently growing and learning with us.

We've also restructured the program to address key feedback from past participants. This latest iteration will include a weekly guest speaker series for the entire BGDM community, individualized feedback from grant writing industry specialists, themed curricula for all participants, and more spaces for members to share their knowledge and get to know one another in time zones that work for them. You will leave with a stronger vision for your project, practical skills to support its development, and most importantly, a network of relationships with fellow filmmakers.

A career in documentary film has its ups and downs. BGDM understands we are stronger together. It has been a gift to witness cohorts that have blossomed into relationships lasting far beyond the program duration.

We look forward to the connections formed and the progress of the members' project.

MafiaMind Mentors

Meet our incredible MafiaMind Mentors for 2025!

Each week, one mentor will present a case study to the community to support members in advancing elements of their project.

• Jessica Kingdon | Ascension (Dir.), Commodity City (Dir.)

• Daresha Kyi | Mama Bears (Dir./Prod.) Texas Strong (Dir.), Chavela (Co-Dir/Co-Prod.)

• Elizabeth Lo | Mistress Dispeller (Dir.), Stray (Dir.)

• Jessi McEver | Strawberry Moon (Founder), Tulsa Film Collective (Founding Member), Love and Fury (Prod.)

• Angela Tucker | Belly of the Beast (Prod.), All Skinfolk Ain't Kinfolk (Dir.) and Black Folk Don’t (Dir.)

MafiaMind Schedule: Summer 2025

Program Duration: Aug 12 - Sep 18

Program Format:

• Week 1 - Orientation

• Week 2 - 6:

1. Tuesday Speaker Sessions: Held on Tuesdays from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET, a speaker will present to the entire BGDM community, sharing insights, advice, and wisdom on that week's topic. While we encourage you to attend the live session to interact with the speakers, we understand that this may not be accessible to all. If unable to attend, it is a prerequisite that you watch the recording prior to your small group session, as the meeting will incorporate learnings from the speakers.
2. Thursday Small Group Session: In your Thursday weekly self-facilitated small groups, you will have space for deeper conversation, collective processing, advice, and individualized project feedback. Every small group session will follow a curriculum that provides activities and prompts that move forward vital parts of your filmmaking process. Specific meeting times will vary according to the small group you sign up for.

• Week 6 - Final Program Celebration: The program will culminate with an extended Thursday session to share your work. This will be a moment for the small group cohorts to come together and share their work. Time to be determined with the cohorts.

Program Topics:

• production case studies
• strengthening pitching
• refining decks
• practicing restorative justice
• grant writing best practices.

Eligibility Requirements:

• BGDM member
• Currently working on a documentary project that is in development, pre-production or production
• Availability and commitment to attend orientation, two weekly sessions over five weeks, and a final program celebration. Consistent participation is crucial. We understand that life happens, and with this, allow 1 absence from the small group session. However, if it appears that you will need to miss more than that, we ask that you apply for a later cohort and RSVP to speaker sessions individually.