Filmmakers Collaborative

09/07/2026

Haven’t listened to our most recent episode yet?

🎙️ In this clip from our latest Making Media Now episode, filmmaker Alizé Jireh reflects on how crossing the Atlantic transformed not only the way she made her debut documentary—but the way she experienced life. Women & The Wind

⛵ Filming in the middle of the ocean meant letting go of plans, expectations, and control. Instead of chasing the perfect shot, she learned to be fully present, allowing the sea to shape both the journey and the film.

✨ Sometimes the most powerful stories aren’t captured—they’re lived.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation now: https://fcmakingmedia.podbean.com/e/women-the-wind-three-bold-adventurers-sail-across-the-atlantic/

09/07/2026

"...Speaking in Venice ahead of the film's world premiere, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and co-director Rachel Lauren Mueller described how their doc uses the language of horror and dystopian cinema to challenge the normalization of ICE violence in Minneapolis..."

Speaking in Venice ahead of the film's world premiere, the Oscar-winning filmmaker and co-director Rachel Lauren Mueller described how their doc uses the language of horror and dystopian cinema to challenge the normalization of ICE violence in Minneapolis.

09/07/2026

REEL SOUTH is an award-winning documentary series that showcases authentic and inspiring stories which unearth the spirit of the South today.

With every film, the series explores the multifaceted layers of Southern life across themes of social justice, cultural experience, environmental challenges, and more.

REEL SOUTH aims to leverage our region’s rich storytelling tradition as a catalyst for positive change and deeper understanding — in the American South and beyond.

REEL SOUTH is a co-production of PBS North Carolina, South Carolina ETV, and Louisiana Public Broadcasting, and is produced in association with Alabama Public Television, South Florida PBS, Tennessee Public Television Council, and WABE, with fiscal and organizational support from the Southern Documentary Fund.

REEL SOUTH Submission Guidelines For all the wonders of the South — the food, the music, the people, the land — the collective heritage of the region is complicated, to say the least. But the ability to witness and understand that complexity and foster empathy is more important than ever. Which ...

09/05/2026

"...Ms. Bartiromo’s cancellation was a dramatic split between the nation’s most-watched cable news channel and one of cable’s earlier, defining stars.

But it also revealed an important shift at the network in the years since the 2020 election — one that could have real consequences for Mr. Trump as he seeks to again assert the American election system is rife with fraud before a midterm election that, polling shows, could be rough for his party..."

The network this week took Maria Bartiromo off the air, pulling one of the last hosts whose coverage of Dominion Voting Systems drew an expensive defamation lawsuit.

09/04/2026

FC member Mary Mazzio has a feature film coming to the big screen!

"Might Mary" chronicles an amazing group of “we eat nails for breakfast” type of women: the first all-women’s sailing team to contend for the famed America’s Cup, the holy grail for one of sport’s most elite and exclusive racing events.

This is a true underdog story about a team which reshaped what could be possible in a sport that had long been inaccessible.

Winner of the Maria Mitchell Visionary Award at the 2026 Nantucket Film Festival, the film will open theatrically across the country with AMC Theatres on September 11, 2026, including AMC BOSTON COMMON.

And amazingly, on Sept 21, 2026, the America’s Cup itself will usher in the 38th running of the Cup in Naples, Italy with a signature event featuring "Mighty Mary."

Directed by: Mary MazzioProduced by: Allison Abner, Grant Hill, Ma...

09/04/2026

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW

🎙️ On this episode of Making Media Now, host Michael Azevedo sits down with filmmaker and photographer Alizé Jireh to discuss her breathtaking debut documentary, Women & The Wind. Women & The Wind

🌊 The film follows three young women as they sail from South Carolina to Portugal on a month-long voyage across the North Atlantic. For Alizé, it wasn’t just her first feature documentary—it was also her first time sailing.

✨ Filled with awe, uncertainty, resilience, and unexpected challenges, Women & The Wind is a powerful reminder of what can happen when we embrace the unknown and trust the journey.

🎥 Women & The Wind is now available to rent on Vimeo.

🎧 Listen now to hear the incredible story behind the film: https://fcmakingmedia.podbean.com/e/women-the-wind-three-bold-adventurers-sail-across-the-atlantic/

09/04/2026

"...Though conceived and assembled by David Grabias and Brendon Schulze, the documentary gives director credits to its three subjects:
Salome Cummins, a chatty high school student from Missouri who is competing at the Junior Varsity level for the first time;

Christopher Morgan, a levelheaded Braille Challenge winner from Atlanta;

and Isaiah Gauthier, an 11-year-old from Canada..."

This experimental documentary follows three students as they compete in an annual Braille tournament in Los Angeles.

09/04/2026

Is Netflix more concerned with churning out quantity vs quality these days?

Salon writer Coleman Spilde has some thoughts:

"...With Netflix, these misfires happen frequently. If you’ve kept up with the streamer’s original lineup over the last few years, none of this will come as a surprise.

Poor quality is no longer the exception, but the rule. And the worse the Netflix originals get, the clearer it becomes that artistic inferiority has been baked into the company’s business model.

These films are being churned out with lightning-fast turnaround times, and most are lucky to spend three weeks in the platform’s Top 10.

The executives in charge of programming know that these movies will get watched simply because they’re on Netflix, and then they will be drowned by another wave of content.

In an environment where everything is designed to be ephemeral, nothing can ever truly stand out..."

"The Whisper Man" rounds out a trio of original films revealing Netflix's cruel intentions.

09/03/2026

"...He's known for his globetrotting lifestyle, but travel writer Rick

Steves is making an enduring commitment to his hometown: he bought the 103-year-old Edmonds Theater.

Before he became famous for writing guidebooks about traveling the world, Steves was writing a love story of his own at the Edmonds Theater.

The 200-seat theater has been a fixture on Main Street in Edmonds for more than a century. Its longtime owner passed away a few years ago, leaving it to his daughters, who wanted to make sure it stayed in good hands — so they sold it to Steves.

'When I buy this theater, I don't think of it as mine. It's our community's,' Steves said..."

Travel writer Rick Steves has purchased the landmark theater. He says it's an investment in community, not commodity.

09/03/2026

After over a year of rebuilding an old boat, three women raised anchor and set sail from South Carolina with their compass pointing east.

Their mission was simple: to follow the movement of plastic pollution along the Gulf Stream to Europe.

As they departed, however, it became apparent that the journey would encompass so much more.

Among the three onboard was filmmaker and photographer Alizé Jireh. Her stunning debut documentary Women & The Wind captures it all.

Alize joins Michael Azevedo on the Making Media Now podcast tomorrow (September 4) to share this fascinating story!

Learn More: https://greenplanetfilms.org/products/women-the-windAf...