Filming Seattle-based teacher Claudia Garcia with her students. Photo by John Nimmo.
Filiz Efe McKinney is a documentary filmmaker whose work sparks empathy and dialogue, guided by a vision for a more just and compassionate world. Rooted in her Turkish heritage, where old and new, East and West intersect, she focuses on cultivating a culture of inclusion by telling stories that challenge deep-seated biases.
Filiz has directed the Anti-Bias Early Childhood Films series, which explores the role families and educators play in fostering anti-bias values. Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values (2024), raises the voices of families as they help their children develop positive social identities, embrace differences, and form meaningful connections. Its companion film, Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years (2021), takes viewers into diverse classrooms, demonstrating teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice. The film earned a Northwest Regional Emmy® nomination for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and won the Silver Prize for Documentary Feature at the Social Justice Film Festival.
Shaped by her multicultural experiences and education in communications and film, Filiz brings a heart-centered approach to filmmaking. She holds a Master of Communication in Digital Media, a Master of Arts in Communication Strategies and Public Relations, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematography.
ANTI-BIAS EARLY CHILDHOOD FILMS
"My inspiration to explore anti-bias values stems from my experiences as a Turkish immigrant and a woman filmmaker. As a non-European White immigrant, I often find myself navigating assumptions about my background, feeling at times that I don’t fully belong in either American or Middle Eastern communities. Being a woman filmmaker also shapes my perspective on bias—I know I start at a ‘negative value’ in a traditionally male-led industry, having to prove myself just to be treated equally. These experiences fuel my passion for telling stories that challenge biases and foster empathy for voices that might otherwise go unheard." –filiz
Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values (2024) and its companion film, Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years (2021), explore the vital role that families and early childhood educators play in fostering anti-bias values.
Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values highlights families who intentionally parent with an anti-bias lens, focusing on their hopes, fears, and challenges as they help their children develop positive social identities, embrace differences, and form meaningful connections. Despite their unique identities and challenges, these families share a common question: What kind of world do we want to create with our children?
Set against the backdrop of current political pushback on diversity and equity efforts—where discussions in school about race and LGBTQIA+ issues are prohibited under the guise of "parental rights"—the film offers a counter-narrative, portraying families who advocate for their children and all children in the pursuit of building fair and just communities.
Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years, which received the Silver Prize for Documentary Feature at the Social Justice Film Festival (2021) and a Northwest Regional Emmy® nomination for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2022), shifts the focus from experts to early childhood educators who incorporate anti-bias values into their daily work. Through candid interviews and scenes of everyday interactions with children, the film serves as both a practical resource and a source of inspiration for those dedicated to supporting young children in building a more just world.
Both films are produced by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, directed by Filiz Efe McKinney of Brave Sprout Productions, and funded by the Tyler Rigg Foundation with support from Portland State University. The films are available for streaming at antibiasleadersece.com with options for English, Spanish, and Chinese captions.
Director's Statement
I believe that to truly feel seen, we need to actively participate in creating a world that reflects both our unique identities and our shared humanity. This involves building safe spaces where we can grow without fear, both as individuals and as part of a collective. In these environments, something transformative happens: we begin to connect on a deeper emotional level, and a simple, universal message resonates—‘I’ve got you.’ It’s a promise of support and understanding, a reminder that we are not alone and that we are truly seen in our shared journey.
In my native Turkish, we have a saying: gönül teline dokunmak, which means ‘touching the heartstrings.’ Just as a gentle touch can stir the strings of an instrument to life, my goal as a filmmaker is to evoke empathy and spark meaningful dialogue, helping us see and be seen in the truest way possible. Filmmaking allows me to put my heart out there, form deep and far-reaching connections, and participate in a greater discussion where we learn from one another and shape the culture we create together.
In the film, families with anti-bias values embrace positive social identities, respect and affirm differences, and take a stand against unfairness. While facing diverse challenges, these families are united by one central question: ‘What kind of world do we want to create with our children?’ Gabrielle, a participant in the film, shares, ‘When you surround your child with a supportive community, there are so many different ways for them to be reflected back to themselves. And in turn, when they have that confident sense of self, we hope that they’re able to give that to other people.’
Directing Families Embracing Anti-Bias Values has been a time of personal growth as I’ve embraced my own anti-bias journey. I’ve been inspired by the courage and openness of the participant families while connecting with them through our shared intersectional experiences and vision. I hope the film touches the heartstrings of many others, helping them feel truly seen, and that it inspires us all to build a fair and compassionate world where everyone is valued, cared for, and encouraged to lift up those around them.
Filiz Efe McKinney / Brave Sprout
“A major challenge in making these films was navigating the power dynamics in storytelling. Rather than holding all the control, I aimed to build trust by treating participants as equal collaborators. I explained their rights to ongoing consent, allowing them to review and shape how their stories were portrayed. Using the Turkish phrase elini taşın altına koymak—‘putting oneself on the line’—I shared the responsibility and risk, even if it meant re-editing the film. This approach fostered trust and allowed participants to share openly, knowing they had a voice in the final outcome.” –filiz
Filming for Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Action: The Early Years took place in Seattle, WA and San Francisco/CA. Shown here is Seattle-based teacher Joyce Jackson working with her students and film crew (from left to right): Jonah Kozlowski, John Nimmo, Filiz Efe McKinney. Photo courtesy of Debbie LeeKeenan.
Debbie LeeKeenan, Filiz Efe McKinney, John Nimmo (2021)
