About the Filmmakers: Michael Damman & Drew Glickman

Rios del Alma is the brainchild of two passionate storytellers and conservationists—Michael Damman and Drew Glickman—whose unlikely meeting in the Arizona desert sparked a creative partnership rooted in purpose.

Michael Damman, a Las Vegas native of Puerto Rican descent, traded the scorching desert for the rivers of the Sierra Nevada, where he studied Ecohydrology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Over the past decade, he worked in hydrology with the U.S. Forest Service, where he witnessed firsthand the deep disconnect between land management policies and the ecological and cultural realities of the landscapes he served. Disillusioned by government bureaucracy, Michael found a new outlet for advocacy in storytelling. Fueled by a lifelong love for video and photography, he sought a way to make a greater impact—and that path led him to Drew.

Drew Glickman, born and raised in San Luis Obispo, California, fell in love with filmmaking during his early wakeboarding career. He went on to study film at Sacramento State and built a dynamic career in the documentary and television world. With over a decade of industry experience, Drew has honed his ability to craft compelling visual narratives that move people and make a difference.

Both living nomadically in vans, Michael and Drew crossed paths in 2022 and immediately recognized a shared vision: to use film as a force for environmental awareness. Their first project together, Spring Run: The Last Stand for California’s Wild Salmon, marked the beginning of a powerful collaboration. With Rios del Alma, they aim even higher—blending science, storytelling, and soul to protect the last free-flowing rivers of Latin America and the communities that depend on them.