The Association of Independent Video & Filmmakers (AIVF) interviewed Fanlight founder Ben Achtenberg in 2002 about the company's philosophy and goals. To read the interview, click here.

Company Description

Fanlight Productions is a leading distributor of innovative film and video works on the social issues of our time, with a special focus on:
    •  healthcare
    •  mental health
    •  professional ethics
    •  aging and gerontology
    •  disabilities
    •  the workplace
    •  gender and family issues

Founded by independent filmmakers more than twenty years ago, our goal has been to create for our clients a select collection of educational programs which are independent in their vision, emotionally and intellectually engaging in their approach, and accurate and up-to-date in their content. Our catalog strives to present contemporary cross-cultural perspectives on the issues of concern to our many audiences, and we are engaged in an ongoing effort to maximize the accessibility of our collection.

Our collection includes Academy Award winners and nominees, as well as films that have been honored by the Sundance Film Festival, the DuPont-Columbia Journalism Awards, and major media festivals throughout the United States.

Most of our releases represent the personal vision of independent filmmakers; others have been created by broadcast producers and by organizations in our fields of interest. We currently represent almost three hundred titles and one hundred and fifty producers.

Who We Are

Ben Achtenberg, Fanlight's founder and owner, received an Academy Award nomination for Code Gray: Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing — possibly the only nursing film ever so honored. Ben's other award winning documentaries have focused on such topics as parenting, homelessness, disabilities, aging, and healthcare ethics. He has also been active in collective efforts to support the distribution of independent media. He is the Director of The Refuge Media Project for which he is producing a documentary, Refuge: Caring for Survivors of Torture on the healthcare and social service needs of refugee torture survivors living in the United States. For Ben's resume and filmography click here.

Anthony Sweeney is Fanlight's Marketing Director. Anthony previously worked with Roundtable, Inc., where he managed national public engagement campaigns, and with the Urban Scholars Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Nicole Johnson is our Publicity Coordinator and handles press releases, contacts with journals and reviewers, and festival entries, as well as assisting professional organizations interested in featuring our films at their national meetings.

Joshua Kastorf is Fanlight's administrative assistant and helps out with customer service and accounting. He attended USC School of Cinema-Television and has worked on several films and television shows.

With a Little Help from our Friends

Our order processing and fulfillment are now being handled by Transit Media, Inc., a company with long experience in meeting the needs of independent media producers and distributors and their customers.

Our new website design was created by David Gerratt of DG Communications, "promoting the good work of others by helping them look good."

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