On Thursday, February 25 at 3pm ET, Firelight Media presented a Beyond Resilience panel discussion centered around Firelight Founder Stanley Nelson’s documentary Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy, now streaming globally on Netflix.
The panel discussion featured a group of authors, journalists, social workers, and civic leaders, most of whom were featured in the film. The conversation explored the effects of the crack era on communities like Harlem, NYC, and considered the role that the news media played in framing the public health crisis of the crack epidemic as a criminal problem, creating a legacy of militarized police forces and mass incarceration that persists today. The event was presented in partnership with ImageNation and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement.
Opening remarks were provided by Marcia Smith, president of Firelight Media, and Moikgantsi Kgama, founder and executive director of ImageNation. The panel was moderated by NYT best-selling and award-winning author and journalist Asha Bandele. The panelists included Felecia Pullen, president and CEO of Let’s Talk SAFETY, Inc.; Dr. Malcolm A. Punter, president and CEO of Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI); Samson Styles, award-winning broadcast journalist and founder of JayCity Enterprise; and Stanley Nelson, founder of Firelight Media.
How does a documentary filmmaker fulfill their role in the midst of a pandemic and an uprising?
Firelight Media joined The Movement for Black Lives' national call to action on June 19 with a panel conversation that explored the history of Juneteenth and the burning of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, and grappled with the path toward economic justice for Black America.
As physical distancing continues to be the new norm, how can we still make an impact when apart? Sonya Childress, senior fellow at the Perspective Fund, takes us through case studies of documentary film campaigns that have launched in this moment and raise key questions around audience access, care, and how to reach social justice impact goals.
A live event featuring a music set by DJ Frotasia to give our community the opportunity to dance, sing, and shout during a time of tremendous difficulty.
Conversations on representation, labor, and equity featuring the work and perspectives of Undocumented storytellers.
A conversation with Black filmmakers on how they are navigating the ubiquitous images of Black trauma in this moment, documenting Black life, and forging new cinematic languages, practices, and formal approaches.
The recent announcement that golfing icon Tiger Woods would be the subject of a two-part HBO documentary series set in motion a heated debate in the documentary industry about equity, power, and BIPOC filmmakers' demands for structural change.
A conversation to lift up the life and legacy of the former Congressman with inside stories and reflections on his leadership.
