SELECTED
WORK
TV & INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARIES
OOH
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Saving Mum: Our Family Secret (C4) [Writer/Producer/Director/Presenter]
A one-hour broadcast, critically recognised documentary that brought a deeply personal story into the mainstream, contributing to wider conversations around addiction, culture and family.
Originated and developed the film from personal concept through to broadcast
Directed contributors and shaped the narrative across a sensitive, real-life story
Led editorial decisions across filming and post-production
Worked closely with commissioners and production partners to align creative and editorial direction
Ensured a trauma-informed approach throughout production, prioritising contributor care and ethical storytelling
Recognitions & Awards:
EDTV New Voice Award Nominee 2025
Sanford St Martin Award Nominee 2025
RTS Southern Award Nominee 2025
BAFTA TV Awards 2025 (Long-listed)
Saving Mum: Our Family Secret (Channel 4) Produced by StoryTell-Her Studios & Dancing Ledge Productions
Saving Mum: Our Family Secret is an intimate documentary following filmmaker Maleena Pone as she attempts to help her mother confront crippling grief and long-term alcohol dependency. What unfolds is a raw exploration of love, care and the limits of rescue within a British South Asian family shaped by silence and sacrifice. Filmed across the UK and Costa Rica, the film resists tidy resolutions, instead asking what healing looks like when it is ongoing, imperfect and deeply relational.
PAPA (Festival Short) 2022 [Filmmaker]
PAPA, A film by Maleena Pone, produced by StoryTell-Her Studios
PAPA film follows Grace Van Berkum, a holistic nutritionist whose life shifts when her father is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Faced with the limitations of institutional care, she makes a bold decision to bring him home, creating a space centred around holistic healing and connection. Through moments of tension, tenderness and reflection, PAPA explores the complexities of caregiving, the possibility of repair, and the enduring bond between parent and child.
A short documentary exploring forgiveness, holistic care and the evolving relationship between a daughter and her father following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Contributing to wider conversations around elder care, brain health and alternative approaches to healing.
Developed and directed the film, shaping the narrative around a deeply personal father–daughter story
Worked closely with the contributor to capture intimate, real-life moments with sensitivity and care
Crafted a narrative that balanced emotional storytelling with broader themes around ageing, memory and care
Led filming and editorial direction, ensuring the story remained grounded, human and accessible
