Independent UK filmmaker, currently living in the Netherlands, who has produced and directed documentary, narrative and experimental films for educational distribution, broadcast and theatrical release. Over the last 4 years, her film work has focussed more on issues surrounding maternal health. In this connection, she is developing an expertise filming in sensitive environments in which women and children are extremely vulnerable. She is now working as a consultant Producer for Safehands For Mothers, a UK charity developing a series of training films in partnership with Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia and the Canadian Society for International Health, to help reduce maternal mortality in remote areas of Ethiopia. Work has included filming in remote communities in the Awassa region, dealing with sensitive medical environments, communicating with medical personnel, and filming vulnerable women in labour under very harsh conditions.In 2004, Manuela began working with Women’s Global Network For Reproductive Rights, a network of over 2000 members that stimulates, informs, supports and empowers individuals and organisations around the world to be effective agents of change for reproductive and sexual health and rights and to take action to create enabling social, economic, and cultural conditions to achieve these rights at all levels.
In the winter of 2004, she began documenting a variety of events and filming/editing promotional segments for funding purposes. She is currently in discussions with Anjana Suvarnananda, the Head Office Co-ordinator, as well as the Board of Directors, about building a Film Unit with this NGO. WGNRR is currently acting as her consultant partner on her EsoDoc film project proposal: “HIV, Dreams and Motherhood.”
