Firelight Media produces documentary short film series in partnership with a variety of public media organizations. Ongoing series include 'In the Making,' with PBS American Masters, and a collection of regional shorts, 'HOMEGROWN,' presented in partnership with the PBS.
Homegrown is a documentary short film series that spotlights stories rooted in regions and communities often excluded, overlooked, or stereotyped in national media narratives. Each season of Homegrown focuses on a specific U.S. region, amplifying the voices of local filmmakers as they reflect on issues of identity, memory, resilience, and justice in their communities. Through a combination of production support, tailored mentorship, and strategic distribution—including partnerships with PBS and community organizations—Homegrown ensures that deeply local stories resonate with national and international audiences. Originally piloted as HINDSIGHT, with a collection focused on the American South and Puerto Rico, subsequent seasons have focused on the American Midwest (Season 1) and U.S. Territories and Hawai'i (Season 2) with episodes distributed through PBS and available to stream on our WATCH page. The forthcoming Season 3 will focus on the Mountain West region and will premiere in 2026.
IN THE MAKING is a documentary short film series from Firelight Media and PBS' AMERICAN MASTERS that follows emerging cultural icons on their journeys to becoming masters of their artistic disciplines. The series showcases how the artists' work explores and influences American culture today. Seasons 1-3 are now streaming via PBS and available on our WATCH page. Season 4 will premiere in the fall of 2025.
*Program hero image courtesy of Ozi Uduma, from her HOMEGROWN film Detroit We Dey.
