By Terrence Brown | Pennsylvania Talks

Chester’s very own, Maziha Cooper is making her way to the big screens once again with her upcoming film “The Last Hospital”. The trailer is scheduled to drop September 3rd, 2026– making this the independent film makers second movie.

Born and raised in Chester, one of Pennsylvania’s oldest cities, Maziha Cooper is nearing the completion of her third feature film.

“I started making short films when I was 16. Now I’m creating longer films to reach my community in Chester,” Maziha described.

Her work reflects on real-life issues that currently surround Chester residents. From domestic violence and sexual assault to poverty and gun violence, Cooper has used filmmaking as a way to tell stories that she says deserve to be heard.

Her work has also reached an audience far beyond Chester. Cooper’s YouTube channel has more than 2,000 subscribers and 45 videos, with her most-viewed video, a domestic violence short film, reaching more than 200,000 views.

That reach is part of what makes Cooper’s latest project stand out.

Just one year ago, Crozer Health announced the closure of its remaining Delaware County hospitals, including Crozer-Chester Medical Center. For residents who watched the hospital become part of everyday life in Chester, its closure represented more than the loss of a building. It meant the loss of jobs, medical services and a major resource for the community.

Now Cooper is looking to take those real-life concerns behind the screen.

Her upcoming film, “The Last Hospital,” explores the impact of a hospital closure through the stories of a struggling single mother, a street hustler trying to change his life and an elderly woman holding onto hope.

“I want the community to know someone out there understands them,” Cooper said.

The message appears to already be resonating with people directly affected by the hospital’s closure.

For Cooper, telling stories about Chester isn’t simply about making a movie. It’s about using the tools she developed as a young filmmaker to reflect the experiences of the people around her.

Her first film, “Another Day in Our City,” came after Cooper began pursuing acting and filmmaking as a teenager. She was introduced to acting classes through a local mentor, Amanda Johnson, and eventually began creating her own projects.

“After that, I just kept on going,” Cooper said.

That persistence eventually led to “The Lick,” a 2024 feature film that Cooper wrote, directed and appeared in. The crime film follows two childhood friends trying to survive through the streets as their loyalty is tested. The film is now available through Amazon Prime.

But Cooper’s work has continued to evolve.

From a short film that reached hundreds of thousands of viewers to projects tackling domestic violence, sexual assault, poverty and gun violence, her filmmaking has consistently focused on issues that affect real people.

Now, with “The Last Hospital,” Cooper is bringing that approach even closer to home.

The story may be fictional, but the questions behind it are very real: What happens to a community when one of its most important resources disappears? And how do the people left behind move forward?

For a filmmaker who grew up in Chester, Cooper hopes the answer can begin with simply making sure those stories are seen. The trailer is expected to drop on YouTube September 3rd. Find Maziha Facebook and Instagram for more about her upcoming work.