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Filmmaker Ross Kauffman Represents at the Producers' Lab

Firelight Media was recently honored to have renowned director and cinematographer, Ross Kauffman, as a guest speaker for The Producer’s Lab. He spent a few hours with our team of emerging filmmakers, offering advice on the field of documentary, equipment choices, as well as insight into the progression of his career from his early days as a production assistant to directing Born into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids, winner of the 2005 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Kauffman offered a detailed behind the scenes look into the making of Born into Brothels as well as the impact the film had in raising over $200,000 toward an education fund for the children in the film. He also discussed and gave us a sneak peak of one of his many current projects, including Wait for Me, a feature length documentary about a mother’s spiritual and emotional search for her son who went missing 23 years ago.

Kauffman offered insight into an aspect of the film industry that is increasingly becoming more popular—creating advocacy videos for community organizations and NGOs. Kauffman screened multiple short advocacy videos he filmed and directed for CAMFED, an NGO working on educating girls in Africa. Check out The Entrepreneurs: The Great Ones about an innovative new program in Zambia.