Through the creation and screening of their films, our fellows and their communities engage in a transformative process that fosters deep connections, skill development, and meaningful conversations.
Mamá Papaya fellowships serve as both incubators and accelerators for emerging talent, helping to launch sustainable, long-term careers in filmmaking. Filmmaking and storytelling are ancestral tools for preservation and healing.
At Mamá Papaya, we prioritize care, joy, and community-rooted processes, fostering long-lasting relationships.
Mamá Papaya is proud to co-present Cinefilmu Film Festival.
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Mama Papaya Community Annual Gathering 2023
Leadership & Board
Nicole Donoso
Tahiel Jimenez Medina
Ryan Stopera
Reyna Rios-Starr
Mariah Hanson
“My mama’s nickname was Papaya.
She migrated to the United States with nothing escaping violence and for most of her life, she did not receive the mentorship, care, and resources to condidently express her vibrant creative spirit to the world.
Mamá Papaya honors my mother’s dream and recognizes the need for everyone to have the skills, tools, and resources to tell their story.
If my mamá would tell her story, the world would be a safer and caring place for everyone.”
- Tahiel Jimenez Medina,
Founder + Director of Mamá Papaya
Founder + Director of Mamá Papaya