About Us
InterPositive Media is an award-winning socially conscious production company founded by Stefan Forbes. Often collaborating with producer Tia Wou, Mr. Forbes researches, shoots, and edits his own work, which often address issues of race, class, masculinity, violence, and restorative justice.
Mr. Forbes’ documentary Hold Your Fire, about a legendary Brooklyn hostage siege and the birth of hostage negotiation, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released theatrically by IFC. A critical rave at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, The NY Times called it “audacious…a jaw-dropper” and the Hollywood Reporter deemed it “searing…urgently needed.”
Hold Your Fire won the Library of Congress Better Angels Award, a Doc NYC Grand Jury Prize, and was nominated for an Emmy and the Humanitas Prize. It was produced by Mr. Forbes, Fab Five Freddy, Tia Wou, Amir Soltani, and Sam Pollard.
Mr. Forbes also directed the doc Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story, about how controversial operative Lee Atwater reshaped the GOP. Produced with Noland Walker, Boogie Man played at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and played 40 U.S. cities theatrically.
It was a Critic’s Pick in The Washington Post, New York Times, and London Sunday Times. The Washington Post calls it “One of the greatest political movies ever”.
Boogie Man won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Documentary, the George S. Polk Award for Excellence in Journalism, the IDA Emerging Filmmaker Award, and was nominated for the WGA Award for Best Theatrical Documentary.
Collaborating with Grammy-nominated composer John Beasley, Forbes wrote and directed Monk Recut, featuring recut film of American composer Thelonious Monk in rhythmic, visual, and harmonic interplay with the big band MONK’estra. It premiered at the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall in 2018. Noted Monk biographer Robin D.G. Kelley termed the work “fabulous…breathtaking.”
Forbes also directed the award-winning one-hour documentary One More Dead Fish, about environmentally friendly handline fishermen in Canada who seized a federal building and barricaded themselves inside for 26 days to protest corporate environmental destruction.
Historian Howard Zinn called it “powerful”. CBC commentator Avi Lewis says it “unfolds like a thriller…a compelling film, filled with dignity, heartbreak, and hope.” The Detroit News calls One More Dead Fish “inspiring”, filmmaker Ken Loach says it is “an excellent film”, and the Sierra Club says “Occasionally jaw-dropping and often heartwrenching.”
Stefan Forbes is represented as a writer/director in Hollywood by Gersh and Management 360. He has shot seven features as a DP, directed many music videos, and written screenplays for narrative films. He has spoken on film at many American universities and industry panels such as Digital Hollywood, and served on juries at Silverdocs and on the Nominating Committee for the Independent Spirit Awards.
Mr. Forbes is a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow and serves on their Artists Advisory Board. He has been awarded grants from the Cummings and Jerome Foundations.
InterPositive has written and produced Emmy-nominated national PSA campaigns featuring Stanley Tucci, U2’s The Edge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron, Mike Myers, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Broderick, and others, for nonprofits such as The Posse Foundation, College Track, The International Rescue Committee, Huli Hawai’i, City Year, and Artists for Humanity about hunger in America, immigration rights, and voting in indigenous communities.
Are you a change maker? Nonprofit org? Activist? Teacher? Scholar? Policing expert? Legislator? Men’s group leader? Police trainer? Environmental activist?
Click here to view educational/training streaming licenses for Hold Your Fire, Boogie Man, and One More Dead Fish via Film Platform.Email us to join our mailing list or request info. We’ll never share your email address with anyone.