Stanley Nelson Jr.

An acclaimed filmmaker with over two decades of experience, Stanley Nelson has produced, directed, and written numerous documentary films and videos. He is the founder and president of Half Nelson Productions, Inc., an independent production company.

Nelson's range of work includes several notable PBS productions such as "Shattering the Silences," which explores the challenges faced by minority faculty in higher education; "Methadone: Curse or Cure," examining a methadone maintenance program; "Two Dollars and a Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker," about the first self-made woman millionaire in America; "Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide," which delves into the conflicting visions for Puerto Rico's future; and "Freedom Bags," highlighting the northern migration of African American domestic workers in the early 20th century. His film "Freedom Summer," which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was aired on PBS’ American Experience, adds to his significant oeuvre. Moreover, "Freedom Riders" received a Grand Jury Prize nomination at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS.

Nelson's television work is extensive, including producing roles on many PBS programs such as "Listening to America" and "What Can We Do About Violence?" with Bill Moyers, as well as "Election '93." He also contributed to the Fox-TV series "TV Nation." Nelson's educational background includes a BFA in film from the City College of New York, and he has shared his expertise by teaching film production at Howard University.

In addition to his production roles, Nelson co-founded the documentary production company Firelight Films with Marcia Smith and the non-profit organization Firelight Media, which supports emerging documentarians and promotes diverse audience engagement around social justice issues through documentary film. Currently, he is working on "Seize the Time: The Black Panther Party," the first installment in a series for the upcoming multi-platform PBS series "America Revisited."

Nelson was awarded the Primetime Emmy for Best Directing for his documentary "The Murder of Emmett Till," which also garnered a Special Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and other prestigious awards. His contributions to the field have been recognized with a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and he is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. As an advocate for new media and the digital future, particularly for filmmakers of color, he serves as an artist-in-residence at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School of Communication, enriching the academic environment with his expertise in documentary filmmaking and media production.