Cecilia Mejia: Impact Producing and Community Building in Indie Films
Multimedia Producer + Impact Producer + Storyteller + Educator + Public Media Advocate
Show Notes:
Welcome back to another episode of The Slow Dive! I'm your host, Farida Rafique. We’re thrilled to have the incredible impact producer Cecilia R. Mejia with us today.
Cecilia shares her journey from working in public spaces to becoming a champion for social change through film.
In this episode, we’ll explore the hurdles of bringing indie films to audiences, how impact producers secure funding, and the importance of community engagement in filmmaking.
Cecilia discusses her work on notable projects like "Sisters on Track" and "Asog," as well as her efforts with Asian Cinevision and American Documentary to support Asian American filmmakers.
Tune in as we delve into her initiatives, including the Art of Me podcast and the impactful documentary "Come and Take It."
Cecilia also shares her aspirations for tackling new genres and the vital role of storytelling in fostering empathy and community. Get ready for an insightful conversation that highlights the transformative power of film. Let’s dive in!
In addition to our upcoming Host and Interview episodes, we are booking guests for “The Community Round Table Series.
All are encouraged to apply via our website. More information here: https://www.theslowdivepodcast.com
Music Credit: Artist: Sero Song Title: DIVE
Takeaways:
Highlight Mejia's achievements in impact producing and film
The role of impact producers in securing film funding
Films: "Sisters on Track" and "Asog"
Focus on Asian American filmmakers and authentic storytelling
Emphasis on making an impact through storytelling
Mejia's Journey into Impact Producing
Connecting with the story, filmmaker, and urgency of the subject
Emphasis on community building and advocacy
Potential for impact producing in different storytelling genres
Intention to bring films to communities for change
ABOUT CECILIA
Cecilia is a second generation Filipino - American born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked for over a decade in development for nonprofit organizations, including NGOs at the United Nations.
She has a number of producing credits on films focusing on critical social impact issues, including the award-winning feature film Yellow Rose (Sony) and Isabel Sandoval's Lingua Franca (Array), She has also worked on a number of projects as an Impact Producer, including the award-winning Call Her Ganda by PJ Raval and and the upcoming Hybrid Documentary, Asog.
Concurrent with her work, Cecilia is also an adjunct at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, teaching courses designed for the next generation of social impact producers and filmmakers, a position she’s held since 2019.
Her documentary and narrative film work have been screened at festivals including Tribeca Festival, Cannes Film Festival and CAAMFest; she has been featured in numerous profiles and has published widely about the impact producer profession. She was one of the 2022-2023 recipients awarded NYU’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award.
She was most recently named as the new Vice President of External Affairs for American Documentary.
https://linktr.ee/ceciliarmejia
Instagram @ceciliarmejia
