An in-depth conversation with documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, whose career has defined a legacy of chronicling the lives of Black Americans, and their histories of struggle, resilience, and emancipation. Nelson’s films draw from archival material and oral testimony to tell vibrant stories of under-explored social movements, cultural achievements, and collective memory. His practice demonstrates how nonfiction cinema can serve as both historical record and political intervention, shaping the ways we understand the past and its unfinished struggles.

This conversation is moderated by director, producer and writer Roger Ross Williams.

This Filmmaker Talk accompanies a screening of We Want the Funk!. Purchase tickets to the film screening here.

Photo: Firelight Films