We see film as a medium of connection, liberation, expression, joy and community building. Our programs nurture empowered storytellers who create films that bring together and vitalize their communities.
We are an organism because we believe in an expansive concept of change, growth, responsive reciprocity, fluidity, non-linear processes, and root ourselves in long term communicative relationships with each other, the land, and spirit.
Mama Papaya Community Annual Gathering 2023
“My mama’s nickname was Papaya.
She migrated to the United States with nothing but a dream and for most of her life, she did not receive the mentorship, care, and resources to fully embody her vibrant creative spirit.
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 tells her story, she change the world.”
- Tahiel Jimenez Medina,
Founder + Director of Mamá Papaya
Founder + Director of Mamá Papaya