On Sunday, August 6 at 4pm ET, Firelight Media co-presented the panel Disability Justice: Spotlight on unseen with BlackStar Film Festival.
The panel included Documentary Lab Fellow Set Hernandez Rongkilyo, filmmaker of unseen, along with the film's protagonist Pedro; Thomas Reid, who provided the audio description; and the film's impact producer Qudsiya Naqui, moderated by writer Keisha Zollar.
Through experimental cinematography and sound, director Set Hernandez Rongkilyo’s unseen reimagines a cinema accessible for audiences, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health. This film is a prism through which we can reflect and refract practices of care and intentionality around access in the filmmaking process. The panel discussion features key members of the filmmaking team including the director, protagonist, audio describer and impact producer who will share with us the various creative, technical, and production considerations in building more accessible and equitable worlds.
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.
