This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

Lyla Mzayek discusses her film, The Rain Lady, a beautiful love letter to immigrant mothers. Lyla talks about her approach to the project, her courage to make it, and how it became a family affair.

We also interviewed Faranak Sahafian from Iran. From poet to filmmaker, her short film Kisses and Bullets perfectly captures the urgency of the moment and the importance of love in the face of hate.

Both Lyla and Faranak also partake in a Gimme Three segment, where they each share three film recommendations!

Join us at LADFF 2025, where you can see both of these amazing films.

Tickets are on sale now at LADFF.com

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You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

This week we’re talking with two outstanding filmmakers from this year’s 2025 Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival.

Lee Ott discusses their journey to filmmaking and stop-motion animation, which led them to their directorial debut, Dragfox. A wildly impressive short film loaded with heart, design, and a fox in… you guessed it, DRAG! The short also features the voice-over work of Sir Ian McKellan.

We also interview Bijon, a remarkable filmmaker from Bangladesh. Bijon chats about the Bengali film community and his jaw-dropping short film, A Thing About Kashem. His approach to direction, and the brilliant use of color in his film, are all subjects of conversation.

Both Lee and Bijon also partake in a Gimme Three segment, where they each share three film recommendations!

Join us at LADFF 2025, where you can see both of these fantastic films.

Tickets are on sale now at LADFF.com

❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️

Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.

As we gear up for the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, Bella and Nick explore the work of some of the most important figures in Black Independent Cinema and Independent Cinema in general.

These powerful voices are a huge reason why this podcast and the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival exist today - so tune in for our discussion on these bold movies.

• We start with A Symbol of the Unconquered by the legendary Oscar Micheaux. Nick and Bella discuss this impressive silent-film work by Micheaux, as well as the inspiring journey of getting the film made and distributed.
• Second, independent-film icon Melvin Van Peebles dips his toe in the studio pool with his audacious and unforgettable film, Watermelon Man.
• Finally, Cheryl Dunye takes the torch and creates a film that blends genres, presents ideas, and remains uniquely her own in her debut feature film, The Watermelon Woman.

❗️SEND US A TEXT MESSAGE ❗️

Support the show

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive Bonus Content.

Follow the podcast on Instagram @gimmethreepodcast

You can keep up with Bella on Instagram @portraitofacinephile or Letterboxd
You can keep up with Nick: on Instagram @nicholasybarra, on Twitter (X) @nicholaspybarra, or on Letterboxd

Shout out to contributor and producer Sonja Mereu. A special thanks to Anselm Kennedy for creating Gimme Three's theme music. And another special thanks to Zoe Baumann for creating our exceptional cover art.