Firelight Films

11/11/2024

Watch Director Stanley Nelson talk about Miles Davis: https://to.pbs.org/3AAwvAb via PBS American Masters.

Stanley Nelson, director of Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool, talks about why he chose to make a film about the iconic jazz musician. He also discusses how this film is more than just a film about a jazz musician and really a film about the United States in the second half of the 20th century as told....

10/11/2024

Watch Director Stanley Nelson, producer Rita Coburn, former San Juan Hill resident Deborah Gray White, and historian Virginia Sánchez Korrol discuss San Juan Hill: Manhattan's Lost Neighborhood, moderated by Film at Lincoln Center President Lesli Klainberg.

Director Stanley Nelson, producer Rita Coburn, former San Juan Hill resident Deborah Gray White, and historian Virginia Sánchez Korrol discuss San Juan Hill:...

10/10/2024

Watch Stanley Nelson in "Hollywood Black," a documentary series directed by Justin Simien, tells the epic story of the actors, writers, directors, and producers who fought for their place on the page, behind the camera, and on the screen. .

Inspired by the book

10/09/2024

Prior to the 1950s, San Juan Hill was an ethnically diverse and largely working-class Manhattan neighborhood—home to New York City’s largest Black population at the turn of the century and later a significant Puerto Rican community. The area was home to many close-knit communities and cultural icons, like Thelonious Monk, Barbara Hillary (the first African American woman to reach both the North and South poles), and James P. Johnson.

Check out these historical images featured in “San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood,” a new documentary coming tonight to ’s at . The film traces the neighborhood’s rise and fall, prior to the urban renewal project that displaced more than 7,000 families and 800 businesses.

Learn more via the link in our bio.

10/07/2024

ESPN To Celebrate 15th Anniversary Of ‘30 For 30’ With One-Hour Special. The special will revisit some of the most impactful and beloved films and will feature interviews with co-creators and original executive producers like Stanley Nelson Jr.,

ESPN has aired over 150 films in its sports doc strand 30 for 30 including The Two Escobars, Four Falls of Buffalo and Lance as well as Ezra Edelman’s O.J: Made In America. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Disney-owned sports broadcaster is airing a one-hour special. Hosted by Roy Wood Jr., ...

10/04/2024

In the first half of the twentieth century, the area in and around where Lincoln Center resides today was known by another name: San Juan Hill. Through never-before-accessed historical footage, expert commentary, first-person storytelling with former residents, and narration by Academy Award-winning actress , “San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood” traces the neighborhood’s rise and fall—and celebrates the people, arts, and culture whose enduring legacy still resonates today. The world premiere of “San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood,” directed by Emmy Award winner Stanley Nelson, will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at ’s at .

10/03/2024

Attend a screening of THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION, directed by Stanley Nelson, on Friday, October 4th at 7PM. Tickets: $15 General Admission/ $7 Reduced Price at https://bit.ly/3TWIj6h

10/02/2024

‘San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood’ comes to Film at Lincoln Center’s at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Directed by Emmy Award-winner Stanley Nelson and with narration by Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose, this documentary explores the neighborhood of San Juan Hill and the urban renewal project that cleared much of the area to make way for new developments. The stories from this community — stories of home, belonging, loss, and resilience, have gone untold for far too long… until now.

Learn more: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/lincoln-center-presents/san-juan-hill-805

09/18/2024

📣 ANNOUNCING THE RECIPIENTS OF OUR SECOND ANNUAL HULU/FIRELIGHT KINDLING FUND 📣

First announced via Variety: Firelight Films, the production company co-founded by acclaimed filmmaker Stanley Nelson, in partnership with Hulu, has announced the filmmakers and projects selected for the second annual Hulu/Firelight Kindling Fund: Byron Hurt (‘The Wildcat Way’ and ‘Murder of a Drum Major’) and lyric r. cabral (Untitled Possibility Project, w.t.). Learn more: https://firelightmedia.medium.com/firelight-films-and-hulu-announce-filmmakers-selected-for-second-annual-hulu-firelight-kindling-214720a2b0bf

In addition to a $25,000 award per project, each filmmaker will receive one-on-one professional development sessions on producing for Hulu with Hulu’s documentary division. Awardees will be expected to work with Firelight Films to develop their documentary project into a robust treatment, pitch deck, budget, and schedule for a first look by Hulu. Submissions for the Hulu/Firelight Kindling Fund were open to mid-career filmmakers who are alumni of Firelight Media artist programs.

“Firelight Films is proud to select Byron Hurt and lyric r. cabral for our second Hulu/Firelight Kindling Fund cohort,” said Firelight Films Co-Founder Stanley Nelson. “These are two filmmakers I’ve long admired and whose work has been previously supported by our sister organization, Firelight Media. With these projects, each filmmaker brings their unique talents and perspectives to urgent stories from within their communities, seeking narrative justice for the protagonists. I am grateful to our partners at Hulu for their support in developing these projects.”

08/29/2024

Director Stanley Nelson describes making the documentary "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities" via .

Director Stanley Nelson describes making the documentary "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities," airing February 19 on Houst...

08/21/2024

ICYMI: Watch this Beyond Resilience Masterclass, The Making of Tubman/Douglass, featuring Stanley Nelson Jr & via Firelight Media.

Join Firelight Media for a Beyond Resilience Masterclass, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, on the making of the new PBS documentaries ...

08/08/2024

We’re pleased to introduce some of the new faces (and headshots!) from the team behind Firelight Films, the production company founded by acclaimed filmmaker Stanley Nelson. ⬅️ SWIPE ➡️ to meet some of our new team members and visit FIRELIGHTFILMS.TV to learn more about their work.

08/08/2024

ICYMI: Watch a discussion with director Stanley Nelson Jr and author A'Lelia Bundles about the real story and legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire in America, via

A discussion with director Stanley Nelson and author A'Lelia Bundles about the real story and legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made million...

07/22/2024

A quote from our founder Stanley Nelson on the passing of Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon: “I am sad to learn about the passing of Bernice Johnson Reagon. I was honored to profile her work as founder of the a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, which she described as ‘a Black woman’s voice in the universe’ in my 2005 documentary 'Sweet Honey in the Rock: Raise Your Voice' for PBS American Masters. She will be remembered for her work as a singer, activist, and organizer and as a singular source of truth and inspiration. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and admirers. May she rest in power.”

06/11/2024

In celebration of Juneteenth and Black Music Month, join Firelight Media on YouTube Live on Thursday, June 20, from 4-5 p.m. ET, for a Beyond Resilience Masterclass and learn from the filmmakers behind some of the most lauded Black music documentaries of the decade. Moderator Leah Smith (Producer, Luther: Never Too Much) will be joined by legendary filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Director, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool and the forthcoming Make it Funky: The History of Funk), producer Lisa Cortes (Director/Producer, Little Richard: I Am Everything), and Melissa Haizlip (Director/Producer, Satisfied, Mr. Soul!) to dive into their experience creating complex, rich, and nuanced films about Black recording artists. Introduced by Marcia Smith, co-founder and president of Firelight Media.

Join us for a Beyond Resilience Masterclass with filmmakers behind some of the most lauded Black music documentaries of the decade.

06/07/2024

Stanley Nelson will be joining the 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee of National History Day. The National Contest (June 9-13) in College Park, MD where more than 2,800 students will compete with their peers from across the country. Learn More:

National History Day forms thoughtful citizens and confident teachers by improving the teaching and learning of history.

06/07/2024

Happy Birthday Stanley Nelson! Comment below, and share your favorite film by Stanley! 🎂 🎉

04/18/2024

Sound of the Police has been nominated for the Ed Bradley Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting by the New York Association of Black Journalists. Congratulations, ABC News Studios, Hulu, Firelight Films, Stanley Nelson & Valerie Scoon! 🏆