Firelight Media Awarded Capacity Grant

A Films by Firelight screening of Mr. Soul! at The Apollo Theater. Photo: Angela McCrae.

NEW YORK — In April, UMEZ awarded a three-year, $288,760 Capacity Grant to Firelight Media. Led by its founders, Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith, Firelight Media works with emerging documentary filmmakers of color to bring their films about underrepresented people and stories to the mainstream media. Through its signature program, DocLab, these emerging documentary filmmakers receive access to mentorship, networking opportunities, and support in the creation of their films. Recent major grants have allowed Firelight Media to expand its range of services to documentary filmmakers at multiple stages of their careers, thus placing new demands on the organization’s staff and administrative operations.  

Firelight undertook a strategic planning process that identified key areas for improvement in operations and infrastructure, particularly the need for additional personnel. Firelight Media will use its UMEZ Capacity Grant to hire three new staff members: Director of Communications, Director of Development, and a Finance Associate. The new staff will support Firelight Media’s growth as the organization develops new programs for documentary filmmakers of color across the country. 

 “Audiences in Upper Manhattan have a documented appetite for documentary film, yet rarely have opportunities to see them or to interact with the diverse artists of color who create them. Support from UMEZ will allow Firelight Media to strengthen our operating infrastructure, allowing us to offer more live and online programming to the people of Upper Manhattan and beyond,” said Marcia Smith, president of Firelight Media. “We are enormously grateful to UMEZ for helping us to build our organizational capacity and look forward to our continued partnership toward building Harlem and Upper Manhattan's cultural offerings.” 

“UMEZ is proud to support Firelight Media. Its role as a leading voice in the representation of diverse perspectives in the documentary film industry is important for Upper Manhattan residents, including the artists in front and behind the lens,” said Blair Duncan, president and CEO of UMEZ. “We look forward to seeing how this UMEZ Capacity Grant helps expand the great work Firelight Media does in Upper Manhattan and how it impacts the careers of our local residents.”   

To learn more about Firelight Media, click here.