An International Independent Film Production Company

Global Ambassador & Executive Producer

Lucy Chow is one of Farasha Pictures' most recognizable international representatives, connecting the studio with creative, business, and cultural communities across the Middle East, Asia, and North America.

A Chinese Canadian based in Dubai, Lucy has built a distinguished career at the intersection of entrepreneurship, publishing, innovation, and women's leadership. She is the author of Changing the Game and co-publisher of Women of the Future UAE, a platform celebrating women shaping the region's future. Through decades of cross-cultural engagement, she has established an extensive network spanning the public, private, and creative sectors.

At Farasha Pictures, Lucy serves as the studio's Global Ambassador & Spokesperson, advancing its international presence, cultivating strategic relationships, and championing stories that explore identity, belonging, migration, and the evolving experiences of women across cultures.

Cultural Patron & Executive Producer

Linda Harding brings more than three decades of experience in education, writing, and community leadership to Farasha Pictures. A lifelong educator, her 36-year career in the classroom shaped a deep understanding of human development, empathy, and the enduring power of storytelling. She is also a writer whose thoughtful approach to language and narrative reflects the same care and discipline that defined her years in education.

An American with deep roots in the United Kingdom and longstanding ties to the UAE, Linda has long championed curiosity, resilience, and meaningful human connection. Her perspective has been enriched through a lifetime of international experiences and a belief that stories have the power to inspire, preserve memory, and bridge cultures.

As Farasha Pictures' Cultural Patron & Advisor, Linda champions stories that celebrate courage, compassion, and transformation. She sees the studio's name—Farasha, the Arabic word for "butterfly"—as a fitting symbol of hope, renewal, and the enduring beauty of the human spirit.

Head of International Development & Executive Producer

Kersti Krepp leads Farasha Pictures' international development and cross-border growth strategy, bringing more than two decades of executive leadership across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. As the founder of Krepp Global and a senior executive in the aviation and logistics industry, she has led complex commercial operations, strategic transformations, and international partnerships at a global scale.

Currently serving as Head of Global Scheduled Service at Atlas Air, Kersti oversees a global transformation initiative spanning Asia and the Americas, with a focus on governance, network performance, and commercial integration. Her experience navigating multinational organizations and diverse regulatory environments provides Farasha with a strong foundation for international collaboration and growth.

Based in Hong Kong, Kersti builds the strategic partnerships and operational frameworks that enable Farasha's stories to reach audiences across borders. She believes that enduring creative work is supported by disciplined execution, trusted relationships, and a genuinely global perspective.

Head of Corporate Affairs & Relationships

Winola Hamdan oversees Farasha Pictures' financial strategy, business affairs, and operational infrastructure, ensuring the studio has the discipline and resources to support ambitious creative work with long-term sustainability.

A Certified Public Accountant and strategic financial advisor, Winola brings more than two decades of experience spanning Big Four consulting, Fortune 100 companies, and high-growth Silicon Valley startups. She is also Co-Founder and Principal of DarWin Co., where she advises organizations on financial strategy, governance, risk management, and operational excellence.

A second-generation Chinese American, Winola spent more than a decade living in Kuwait and Dubai before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area. Alongside her finance career, she is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work explores identity, memory, cultural heritage, and the evolving experiences of women. At Farasha Pictures, she brings together financial rigor and creative insight to help build a studio where meaningful stories can thrive.

Founder & Managing Director

Mimi Yoo is the founder of Farasha Pictures, an independent film studio dedicated to cinematic excellence and storytelling that transcends borders. She established the company to bring together filmmakers, patrons, and cultural partners in support of independent cinema with lasting artistic and cultural impact.

Before entering the film industry, Mimi built her career in the United States before serving as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch's Beverly Hills International Office, where she advised ultra-high-net-worth individuals and international families. Her experience shaped a deep appreciation for legacy, stewardship, and the role of patronage in supporting meaningful creative work.

Based in Dubai since 2007, Mimi has lived and worked at the crossroads of the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. Her international perspective informs both her creative vision and her commitment to fostering cross-cultural collaboration through film and education. She also serves as Managing Director of the ExploreXtraordinaire Center.

Guided by a lifelong love of literature and storytelling, Mimi is building Farasha Pictures as a home for distinctive filmmakers and globally resonant stories—championing films with artistic integrity, cultural depth, and lasting impact.

Director of Development & Associate Producer

Debbie Barella spent over thirty years inside under-resourced schools — as educator, counselor, and trusted presence for students navigating identity, hardship, and defining moments of change. She worked across special education, high school classrooms, and college advising, building sustained relationships with students whose stories stayed with her long after they left her care.

That lived proximity — to resilience, unspoken trauma, unexpected brilliance, and survival — became the foundation of her voice as a writer and story consultant. Many of those former students remain part of her life today, continuing to shape her perspective and her sense of responsibility as a storyteller.

At Farasha Pictures, Debbie brings that depth to her role as Associate Producer and Story Consultant. Her work is grounded in emotional truth, cultural awareness, and an unwavering commitment to portraying underrepresented lives with full humanity — not as narratives of circumstance, but as the complex, layered experiences they truly are.