WATER COOLER's world premiere in Dallas last night! Watching the ICE agents who I've been filming for months up there on a giant screen was surreal. My heart raced, still shaken by their words and actions. The way our government is treating immigrants is cruel and shameful.
But sitting in the theater, I also felt incredibly grateful for my collaborators on this film. @kirlianauras 's original score is beautifully gut-wrenching, and I'm honored to feature his music in this project. I loved working with KT Sparks, @wildshapesound and @technemcolor to elevate the visuals and soundscape of the film. And how great is this poster by @adamomaida ?! Collaborating with these incredible artists brought me joy in an otherwise bleak filmmaking process. Thank you, team.
And thank you @wearediffdallas for a great screening in a fabulously eclectic block of short films. Please check out @vecinos_unidos_dfw if you are in the Dallas area and want to get involved ❤️🔥
WATER COOLER
directed, filmed & edited by @emmaviewfinder
music by @kirlianauras
motion graphics: KT Sparks
color: @technemcolor
sound edit and mix: @wildshapesound
research assistant: @florarozarena
poster design: @adamomaida
Introducing my new independent short doc, WATER COOLER, about ICE agents on the job at immigration court. I filmed at the notorious 26 Federal Plaza courts in NYC over three months. This teaser reflects the part of federal agents' jobs that we don't see as much in the news: The hours they spend just waiting around for their "targets" before they make detentions and split families apart. Excited to share film screening info soon.
Speaking of families, I'm making this film under the artist name Emma V. F. Hello, personal rebrand! Hello, new IG handle! I've always wanted to incorporate my mom's family name into mine, and making a film about immigration feels like the right time to honor my immigrant grandparents' name in this way. I'll always be awed by the sacrifices they made to live in this country.
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#ice #icewatch #immigration #documentary #film
Hey D.C. friends! Please save the date: WATER COOLER will screen at @dcdoxfest on Saturday night, June 13 at Regal Gallery Place. I'm honored to be included in an amazing lineup of docs!
Screening this film in D.C. is not just politically meaningful, it's also a personal milestone: When I started my career in D.C. as a baby journalist at Bloomberg News, Gallery Place was one of my two favorite theaters (RIP E Street Cinema 🤍). Getting to return with my own project is a sweet full-circle moment, and I'd love to share it with you. Tickets are on sale now, link in bio!
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#documentary #filmmaker #ice #icewatch #washingtondc
Emma V.F. stopped by the DIFF red carpet to discuss the significance of her short documentary, WATER COOLER, premiering in Dallas.
The Trump administration has turned immigration courts into deportation traps. As ICE agents wait to arrest their targets outside of courtrooms, their banal conversations clash with the severity of their actions.
WATER COOLER, filmed in New York’s Federal Plaza from November 2025 through January 2026, captures the insidious callousness of ICE agents detaining migrants who are trying to stay in the country legally.
#DIFF2026 #DallasFilm #DIFFDallas #DoFilmDIFF
Thrilled to share that my short documentary WATER COOLER will premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival next month. It feels especially meaningful to launch this film in the state with the most immigration courts and ICE detainees in the country. Thank you, @wearediffdallas , for having us.
WATER COOLER is an observational portrait of how the Trump administration has turned immigration courts into deportation traps. As ICE agents wait outside of courtrooms for their "targets," their banal conversations clash with the severity of their actions.
DIFF runs April 23-30 — screening info coming soon!
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#ice #icewatch #documentary #filmfestivals #filmmaking
Still thinking about my Galentines in Dhaka 🩷 Loved talking with these very outgoing ladies after filming a political rally that happened to be on Valentine's Day. A small moment of connection and warmth during a chaotic shoot.
I was so fortunate to film Bangladeshis going to the polls on Feb 12. It was the country's first election since a student-led revolution toppled its authoritarian government in 2024, and the mood was celebratory and hopeful. 🗳️🇧🇩 💫 I'm grateful to have gotten to experience this milestone event as a cinematographer on a feature documentary (stay tuned!) that reminded me of the power of standing up for democracy against autocracy.
1. A man's body paint urges citizens to "vote yes" for a new constitutional charter. The referendum passed with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
2. My neighbor was proud to show off his inked thumb after voting.
3. We had the privilege of filming with interim head of government and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
4. Special thanks to our director of photography @ahmedhimul for being a wonderful colleague, host and friend!
5. A street vendor capitalizes on the big event.
plz note I will always make myself available for filming in apple orchards!!! might even be willing to negotiate pay in apple or pie currencies! 🍎🍏🍎
📸: @bklnyc.11
Meet my oh-so-delicious foster puppy, Coconut! 🥥🌴💕 Coco is good at lots of things (like giving hugs, sleeping in, playing tug), but she's a true prodigy when it comes to funny poses. At only 10 months old, she has already invented many new ways of sitting, standing, lying down — and combinations of all of the above! Please enjoy this selection of Coco Loco's finest work (slide names below!)
Coconut is available for adoption with @muddypawsrescuenyc and she is a wonderfully friendly and loving companion. I love this goofy girl so much and I know her forever humans will too!
Poses:
1. Cute normie to get your attention 😇
2. Sitting or standing? Yes.
3. Head too heavy
4. Coconut's impression of a coconut
5. Three down, one up
6. One down, three up
7. (Video) Not a care in the world until the puparazzi show up
8. The half twist
9. The other half twist
10. (Video) Standing or lying down? Yes.
11. "Put your feet in the air"
12. The floor is lava
13. Jawbreaker
14. Stand on the human!
15. Smushy face lovebug 💗
Which pose is your favorite?! 😂
Sidney got adopted!! I'm really proud of this gorgeous goofball, who is only 10 months old. It feels good to send this foster pup off to her forever home, and I'm grateful for the joy she brought to mine! Thank you @muddypawsrescuenyc 💖
✨holding onto the joy of sharing a stage with @martigcummings and @juliej.nyc while wearing sparkly pants✨
thank you so much to everyone who came to our @nycpride screening of @queenofnyfilm last night!! it's such a critical time to celebrate drag, discuss local politics, and appreciate joyful moments together
if you missed it, you can stream the movie for free on @revrytv ;)
📸: @milenatck (thank you!!)
