Unveiling the Soul of Indie Filmmaking: A Conversation with BERLIN LOOP Writer/Director Emily Manthei

Making of WATER ANGEL: Impact, Care, and Maternal Justice with Nijla Mu’min & Maegan L. Philmore

In this moving episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique sits down with the creative team behind Water Angel, writer/director Nijla Baseema Mu’min and producer Maegan L. Philmore for a robust conversation on storytelling, advocacy, and maternal health justice. Together, they explore systemic inequities in maternal healthcare, particularly the disproportionate risks faced by Black women, unpacking the roots of medical racism and the emotional weight of bringing such an urgent story to the screen. They reflect on the film’s reception, the role of community screenings, and how true impact is measured through empathy, connection, and the conversations a film sparks. The conversation also widens to their creative journeys, collaboration in the film industry, and the importance of grounding, mental health, and community care in impact-driven storytelling. This episode offers a thoughtful exploration of how film can bear witness, build empathy, and help reimagine systems in need of change. Nijla Mu'min is a writer and filmmaker from the East Bay Area. Her work is informed by poetry, music, literature, and dance. Her debut feature film, Jinn, premiered at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival and won the Jury Recognition Award for Screenwriting. In 2019, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She also directed a short film entitled Black Prom [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOv5QMTyq1M] as well as episodes of “Queen Sugar,” “Insecure,” “Swagger,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” “All Rise,” and “Reasonable Doubt.” She is currently developing her second feature film, Noor. This year, her short film Water Angel, produced by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, was released on YouTube and Paramount+. She is a dual-degree graduate of CalArts' MFA Film Directing and Creative Writing Programs and a graduate of UC Berkeley. Instagram: @Nij:la1 IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2831529/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2831529/] Water Angel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMfeyUog4lo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMfeyUog4lo] Black Prom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOv5QMTyq1M [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOv5QMTyq1M] NYT Jinn Review: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/movies/jinn-review.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/05/movies/jinn-review.html] Maegan L. Philmore is an activist storyteller based in Inglewood, California. She is the founder of Hudson Philmore, a production company dedicated to creating stories that challenge Hollywood’s exclusion and center womanist, queer, BIPOC, all-abilities, and all-sizes narratives. Maegan is currently developing a slate of innovative projects and recently served as Line Producer/UPM on Water Angel (2025). Hudson Philmore earned four awards for Soul Tie. Her other titles have screened at OutFest Fusion, Frameline, Afro Latino Film Festival, Bentonville, DisOrient Asian, Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, Los Angeles Black Film Festival, and more. A proud DGA member (UPM), Maegan brings 20 years of experience across film, television, and digital media. She has served as Director of Production at Paramount and as a Production Executive at the NFL and YouTube Originals, overseeing budgets from $25K to $20M. Her credits include Naked and Afraid, Noah's Arc: The Movie, Binged to Death, and the Emmy-winning Freedom Riders by Stanley Nelson. IG @hudsonphilmore @feelingmoreofmaeg IMDB- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2434881/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2434881/]

Unveiling the Soul of Indie Filmmaking: A Conversation with BERLIN LOOP Writer/Director Emily Manthei

Independent filmmaking is often described as a labor of love — a journey defined by passion, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of story. In this episode, host Farida Rafique is joined by writer and director Emily Manthei, whose debut feature film, Berlin Loop, embodies that spirit in striking and meaningful ways. Emily’s path into cinema was sparked by an early love of movies and nurtured by a deep curiosity about what shapes human experience. With a master’s degree in theology and ethics, her work seeks out the spaces where spirituality meets the everyday, and where emotional and ethical complexity shapes the decisions her characters make. She believes filmmakers should have something to say, and that conviction is central to her storytelling. Set in Berlin and informed by the city’s layered history and subcultures, Berlin Loop is a crime-infused coming-of-age thriller about identity, power, and the struggle for a second chance. It blends genre elements with a thoughtful inquiry into the loops we find ourselves stuck in — and how we fight to break free. The film earned the Audience Award at the Berlin Sci-Fi Filmfest, signaling a resonant and promising debut. In this conversation, Emily shares what it truly takes to bring a first feature to life: the community you build, the values that guide you, and the persistence required when the path is unclear. She reflects on the importance of authenticity when resources are lean, how to hold onto your creative voice, and why independent filmmaking remains a vital space for truth-telling and cultural reflection. This episode is both a celebration of artistic courage and a grounded look at the creative process. It offers inspiration to anyone pursuing meaningful work — whether writing a first script, chasing a long-held dream, or redefining their craft in mid-career. Emily’s journey reminds us that within the challenges of independent filmmaking lies a powerful opportunity to uncover purpose, connection, and deeper meaning. Tune in, take a breath, and slow dive into the soul of indie cinema. ABOUT EMILY MANTHEI: Emily’s short films and NGO impact documentaries have screened and won audience awards at festivals in the US and Europe, raised funds for charities in Central America and Eastern Europe, and been discussed in workshops with international NGOs in South Asia, where she’s also led writing and filmmaking workshops with locals. Her first feature film, Berlin Loop, was selected for the Female Filmmaker Festival Berlin’s R-Lab in 2021 and won the Audience Award at the Berlin SciFi Filmfest in 2025. As a journalist, her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Deutsche Welle, and many other travel and arts publications. She co-produced the thoughtful podcast series Techno Spiritual Crossings in 2025 and explored the history of Christian apocalypse lore in a longreads piece for Pipe Wrench Magazine in 2021. @filmsbyemilymanthei (Instagram) Emily Manthei (LinkedIn) IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/de/name/nm1881808/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1 [https://www.imdb.com/de/name/nm1881808/?ref_=tt_ov_1_1] CTA: Berlin Loop comes to Vimeo on Demand on December 25; add it to your watchlist now: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/berlinloop [https://vimeo.com/ondemand/berlinloop] Sign up for my free guerrilla filmmaking guide: https://justmakethemovie.com [https://justmakethemovie.com] Subscribe to my Newsletter for Now: https://emilymanthei.com/subscribe [https://emilymanthei.com/subscribe]

Witnessing the World: Farrah Fazal: 9X Emmy Winner, Documentary Producer/Director & Award-Winning Former War Correspondent

Farrah Fazal is a 9-time Emmy Award–winning documentary producer, director, and former war correspondent whose storytelling meets people exactly where they are — in their truth, their struggle, their resilience, and their transformation. Her work explores what it means to be human: to feel deeply, connect authentically, and allow the world to change us in ways big and small. In this powerful conversation, Farrah sits down with host Farida Rafique to reflect on a career that has carried her across continents and into some of the most complex humanitarian landscapes of our time. From reporting inside active war zones to documenting life in refugee camps, and from investigative journalism to character-driven unscripted television, Farrah’s work remains rooted in connection, culture, and change. Together, they dive into the emotional and ethical layers of storytelling, what it means to bear witness, to earn trust, and to honor the humanity of people living through conflict, displacement, and uncertainty. Farrah shares how empathy has shaped her lens, how community sustains the work, and why she believes storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have for understanding one another. Farrah also opens up about her newest project, Agents of Change, a series spotlighting women within the intelligence community. The project expands her mission of illuminating those often overlooked, misunderstood, or underrepresented and amplifies the voices of women shaping national security, leadership, and public service from behind the scenes. ABOUT FARRAH FAZAL: Farrah Fazal is a 9-time Emmy Award–winning former war correspondent, documentary producer, and director. Her storytelling explores what it means to be human; to feel, connect, and be transformed. Her journey has taken her from the frontlines of wars to refugee camps, from Hollywood film sets to intimate living rooms, chasing the truth and shining a light into people and places too often unseen. Farrah’s work has been featured on Hulu, Oxygen, A&E, Lifetime, Peacock, and other major platforms. She marries the rigor and intimacy of journalism with the soul of cinematic storytelling. Farrah’s purpose-driven, character-rich narratives transcend borders, evoke empathy, and are rooted in connection, culture, and change. She’s known for raw, revealing conversations with people living on the edge of courage, creativity, and the quiet revolution of compassion. Storytelling is Farrah’s calling. She believes the power of a story can create the power of change. Her work invites us to see the world, and each for who we are and who we can become. IG: https://www.instagram.com/farrahfazal?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/farrahfazal?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] FB: https://www.facebook.com/farrahfazal?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/farrahfazal?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr] https://www.facebook.com/farrahfazaljournalist?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr [https://www.facebook.com/farrahfazaljournalist?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr] TIK TOKhttps:// [https://www.tiktok.com/@farrahfazal?_t=ZP-90umaPw7qrm&_r=1]www.tiktok.com/@farrahfazal?_t=ZP-90umaPw7qrm&_r=1 [http://www.tiktok.com/@farrahfazal?_t=ZP-90umaPw7qrm&_r=1]

Every Woman Matters: Social Entrepreneur Jenny McGee and the Vision Behind Starfish Project

In this deeply moving episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique sits down with Jenny McGee, founder and executive director of Starfish Project, a pioneering social enterprise restoring hope and freedom to women escaping human trafficking and exploitation across Asia. From humble beginnings around a dining table to a global movement transforming over 200 lives, Jenny shares the origin story and symbolism behind the Starfish Project name, her journey of faith and purpose, and the radical compassion that fuels her work. Together, they explore the challenges of social entrepreneurship, the importance of trauma-informed care, and the role of community in creating lasting change. Jenny reflects on the significance of creating beautiful products that empower women while resonating with customers worldwide. Through her visionary leadership, she reminds us that every woman matters, that each is worthy of joy, deserving of love, and capable of rebuilding her life with dignity and strength. This episode is a powerful meditation on belief, in oneself, in others, and in the quiet, enduring power of purpose to change the world. ABOUT JENNY MCGEE, STARFISH PROJECT FOUNDER & CEO Jenny McGee is the Executive Director and Founder of Starfish Project. She has committed her life to serving people in Asia. Jenny never dreamed that building relationships with marginalized women in brothels would result in the aftercare organization and social enterprise now known as Starfish Project. Jenny has lived in East Asia for over twenty years. She has watched in amazement as Starfish Project has grown from five ladies engaging around a dining room table to over 200 women experiencing freedom, establishing independence, and developing careers. "Every woman is here on this earth for a purpose. They are worthy of joy, deserving of love, and possess immeasurable worth. They matter. This truth fuels everyone at Starfish Project. We are driven to share this message with every woman we encounter, hoping that one day, they will believe it for themselves." She currently lives in East Asia with her husband, Douglas, and their three children. Shop gift-wrapped life-transforming gifts this Christmas at starfishproject.com [http://starfishproject.com] www.facebook.com/StarfishProjAsia [http://www.facebook.com/StarfishProjAsia] www.instagram.com/starfish_project/ [http://www.instagram.com/starfish_project/] Enter promo code SlowDive20 at check out for 20% off your first order now through January 1, 2026.

Unborn: Artist and Filmmaker Sasha Marie Speer on Art as Medicine and the Courage to Feel Deeply

In this episode of The Slow Dive, host Farida Rafique speaks with artist and filmmaker Sasha Marie Speer about her journey in art, storytelling, and philanthropy. Sasha opens up about her creative process and the role of vulnerability, explaining how allowing ourselves to create enables authentic expression and deeper human connection. The conversation explores her recent film, Unborn, a poignant reflection on motherhood and grief, and how art can serve as both a mirror and a medicine for healing. Together, they discuss the power of community, the importance of giving it forward, and how storytelling can serve as a bridge between pain and purpose. Through her art and impact work, Sasha continues to build spaces that honor the soul, celebrate creative courage, and remind us that true healing begins when we share our stories with openness and heart. This is a deep dive you don’t want to miss, a heartfelt exploration of art, empathy, and the transformative power of vulnerability. It’s an episode that invites you to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly moves you. ABOUT SASHA: Sasha Marie Speer is an artist and filmmaker whose work explores the ways humans connect—to themselves, to each other, and to the world around them. Blending photography, film, and immersive multimedia, she creates emotionally charged visual experiences that bridge the personal and the universal. Through her creative process, Sasha seeks to reveal the soul of her subjects, illuminating the tension between pain and hope and the transformation of vulnerability into strength. Her work invites viewers to slow down, feel deeply, and rediscover their shared humanity in a world often defined by distraction and disconnection. Sasha is the founder of Sawübona, a multicultural platform where art, storytelling, and the human spirit converge. Named after the Zulu greeting meaning “I see you,” Sawübona celebrates empathy and community through film and multimedia projects that invite audiences into immersive emotional experiences rather than simply telling stories. Recent releases on YouTube include Unborn, a poetic underwater meditation on motherhood, grief, and renewal, and Identity Portraits, a visual and spoken word tribute to the strength and beauty of the transgender and nonbinary community. Both films exemplify Sasha’s mission to use art as a bridge—to see and be seen, to connect beyond words, and to honor the diverse expressions of human experience. At the heart of Sasha’s work and Sawübona’s vision lies a singular intention: to create visual, emotional, and spiritual spaces where people can truly recognize one another. https://www.sashamariespeer.com/ [https://www.sashamariespeer.com/] https://www.sawubona.us/ [https://www.sawubona.us/]