Sarah Mueller leads with heart, hustle, and a deep belief in the power of community. As founder and executive director of cinéSPEAK, she’s spent over a decade creating spaces where film is more than entertainment—it’s a language of justice, empathy, and connection.

“I took a job doing digital storytelling in Kensington. One day I was tasked with helping to host a Scribe video center community movie screening at our playground. I was thrilled and in awe of the thoughtfulness of the shorts program that was put together and the care of those who were producing the event. I asked Jos Duncan-Ase of Love Now Media, who was running the program at the time, if she had any needs for extra crew members. Jos was my first boss in the film industry in Philadelphia. I’ve had the great privilege over the last fifteen or so years to work for some of Philadelphia’s most beloved media arts organizations.”

Her leadership is personal. From advocating for fair pay to checking in on the mental well-being of her team, Sarah cultivates a culture where care isn’t an afterthought, but at the foundation of her work. “Love shows up in the little things,” she says, like her partner Chris making coffee at dawn, or mentors who’ve shaped her—Black and Brown women whose guidance taught her to lead with transparency and tenderness.

For Sarah, love ripples through every frame of her work. It’s the antidote to competition, the spark behind collaboration, and the reason she remains devoted to Philadelphia’s arts community. In her world, love is action. Always.