Marcia Smith is the president and co-founder of Firelight Media, a renowned organization that produces documentary films, provides artistic and financial support to emerging filmmakers of color, and builds impact campaigns to connect documentaries to audiences and social justice advocates. Under her visionary leadership, Firelight Media has received the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, a testament to her dedication and commitment to her work.
As a prolific writer, Marcia has collaborated with acclaimed documentarian Stanley Nelson on several notable films, including Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities, Through the Fire: The Legacy of Barack Obama, Freedom Riders, Jonestown: The Life and Death of the Peoples Temple, Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind, and The Murder of Emmett Till. Her exceptional writing skills have earned her numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy nomination and the Writers' Guild Award for best nonfiction writing for her work on The Murder of Emmett Till.
Marcia's impressive body of work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2016 Muse Award from New York Women in Film & Television and the 2019 Luminary Award from BlackStar Film Festival. Her upcoming 4-hour documentary series, Creating The New World, on the transatlantic slave trade, will further solidify her reputation as a masterful storyteller.
In addition to her work at Firelight Media, Marcia is an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on the Peabody Board of Directors - East Coast. She is also a member of the Board for Martha's Vineyard Film Society, further demonstrating her commitment to the film industry and her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion.
