Firelight Media

Supported by CPB since 2014, the Documentary Lab has become the epicenter of Firelight Medias network of programs and events supporting diverse documentary filmmakers, including the Groundwork Regional Lab, which launched in 2017 with CPB funding to support early career documentary filmmakers living and working in underrepresented regions of the U.S., and the FRONTLINE/Firelight Fellowship for investigative documentary filmmakers, which began in 2018 and is also supported by CPB. Firelight Media-supported filmmakers have produced short films on emerging artists of color for In the Making, a partnership between Firelight Media and PBS American Masters; and Hindsight, a series of short films made in 2020 by BIPOC filmmakers living in the American South and Puerto Rico, which marked a first-time partnership among Firelight, the Center for Asian American Media, Reel South, WORLD Channel and public television stations.The $4 million from CPB represents an increase of 33% in funding. Together with $1.5 million in new funding from PBS, the grant will allow for expansion and integration of Firelight Medias three key artists support programs:The Firelight Documentary Lab, Firelight Medias flagship 18-month mentoring program, which supports filmmakers from a projects conception through its completion, will expand the number of filmmakers in each cohort.Groundwork Regional Lab will serve 40 early career filmmakers in partnership with local stations.Digital short films will be commissioned from Documentary Lab and Groundwork fellows or alumni and other regional BIPOC filmmakers for the PBS system.