Hi, we are Amira and Joel, the Co-Directors and Editors of Blue Skies! We met at NYU Tisch film school in 2018 and quickly connected over our overlapping mixed identities (Latino, Jewish, Midwestern). Over time, our documentary styles and approaches have evolved in tandem, shaped by shared cinematic experiences (movie watching and making) that have forged a common language.

Right now, our films observe cultural intersectionality and explore what ancient traditions can look like in a modern society. As people of mixed heritage, we hold deep reverence for those who manage to walk with their cultures against the pressures of assimilation. Our shared affinity for observational documentary underscores our commitment to authentic, transparent, and intimate storytelling. Building genuine connections with our protagonists and their communities is paramount. 

Born in 2021, Blue Skies involved two years of on and off-site research and relationship building before finally filming in summer 2023. We continue to visit and consult our friends and collaborators up in Northern Wisconsin and are grateful for the lasting relationships generated by the project.

We are aware that while film has the potential to heal, it too has the power to harm. We are committed to a lifelong journey of minimizing the extractive and intrusive tendencies of filmmaking. 

We have a strong and growing sense of how to direct a space rooted in relationship, humility, trust, and care. In this evolving practice, we study those seasoned in healing-centric and collaborative filmmaking. We learn from leaders like our Cultural Advisor, Heather Bruegl (Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee) and the Documentary Accountability Working Group (DAWG), and directors such as Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Ivete Lucas, and Verena Paravel.