Q&A with Filmmaker Fatima Loeliger

Sep 29

Fatima is a filmmaker and producer, a Harvard graduate with an MFA/MBA from New York University. Her distinctive voice and innovative approach have established her as a rising star in film and narrative production. Before NYU, she produced Created Sleep Transmissions (2022), which won Best Short Film at Michael Moore’s Traverse City Film Festival. As Co-Founder of The Magi Company, Fatima has championed bold, character-driven stories celebrating the mosaic of shared humanity. She has produced over 15 award-winning short films and is presenting her latest short, Nita, at the Bushwick Film Festival.

This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series

What inspired you to create this film, and how did the initial idea come to you?

I’m always drawn to the gray areas of life — people who are imperfect, yet doing their best to navigate what we all face. For women, I think there’s something quietly revolutionary in simply showing that truth. With Nita, I wanted to create a woman we all know, and that many of us are: someone exploring the contradictions of desire, responsibility, and reinvention.

What was your favorite part of making your film? Memories from the process?

What I loved most about this process was creating a film alongside people I care about. Christina Elmore and I have known each other since college, and working with her here was nothing short of a gift. She’s a singular talent — able to infuse even the smallest moment with depth and magnetism — and I still marvel that I convinced her to bring that brilliance to Nita. The truth is, the film doesn’t exist without her.

Why is filmmaking important to you? Why is it important to the world?

Toni Morrison writes, “In times of dread, artists must never remain silent. This is precisely the time when artists go to work.” I return to those words often. They remind me that filmmaking is more than storytelling — it’s a tool for empathy, a way to speak when silence is dangerous, and a medium that carries human truths into the lives of strangers.

How do you feel about your film being screened in front of a festival audience?

It’s truly indescribable. There’s something almost surreal about making a film — so many amazing artists come together, working tirelessly to shape a story, and yet it never feels complete until it’s shared with an audience. That’s why screening Nita at the Bushwick Film Festival is such an incredible joy. It feels like a dream come true.

What’s the last film you watched?

Hedda by Nia DaCosta. Gorgeous and haunting.

What’s the last book you read?

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

This Q&A is part of the Bushwick Film Fest Filmmaker Q&A series

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