“Our nation is stronger when we protect the rights of individuals to speak their minds, associate with whomever they please and criticize their government and others in power.”
— First Look Media Founder, Pierre Omidyar
Boundary-defying innovation. Fierce independence. A deep passion for exploration and excellence defines First Look Media. We are a unique enterprise with one purpose and two missions.
Our for-profit houses Topic Studios, an award-winning entertainment studio that operates across film, television, and podcasts and brings to the screen some of the most culturally significant and provocative stories of our time. We also launched our new Topic branded streaming service, with premier, original, and hand-selected programming from around the globe available on Roku, Apple TV, iOS, Amazon Fire and Android with more coming soon.
Our non-profit is home to The Intercept, renowned for its dedication to fearless, adversarial journalism; Field of Vision, the critically acclaimed, filmmaker-driven documentary unit; and The Press Freedom Defense Fund, supporting journalists, news organizations and whistleblowers standing up for press freedoms and access to information that is in the public interest. Our work here breaks stories through fearless, investigative journalism, produces documentary cinema that explores the world through fresh new perspectives, and supports those who are unjustly threatened in pursuit of a free and open society and press.
Launched in 2013 by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, First Look Media was founded on the fundamental belief that freedom of expression and of the press, and the power of storytelling, are vital to both a vibrant culture and a thriving democracy.
Our Work
Dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism.
Visit The Intercept
Ambitious, independent storytelling that shapes what’s next.
Visit Topic
The award-winning entertainment studio that develops, finances and produces provocative and entertaining content for all platforms including theatrical, streaming, television and podcasts.
Visit Topic Studios
A visual journalism unit producing cinematic work that tells the stories of our world from new perspectives.
Visit Field of Vision
Supporting journalists, news organizations, and whistleblowers who are targeted by powerful figures because they have tried to bring to light information that is in the public interest and necessary for a functioning democracy.
Visit The Press Freedom Defense Fund
Leadership
Michael Bloom
CEOShani Boone
Chief Financial OfficerJeannie Kedas
EVP & Chief Communications OfficerIan Stratford
Chief Legal Officer & Head of Business AffairsRoger Hodge
Acting Editor-in-Chief, The InterceptJen Robertson
SVP, MarketingBarbara Schiola
SVP, Head of HRRyan Chanatry
GM, Topic ConsumerCharlotte Cook
Co-Creator & Executive Producer, Field of VisionBeth Nathanson
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Financials
FIRST LOOK INSTITUTE FINANCIALS
Giving democracy a fighting chance.
First Look Institute is an independent nonprofit organization committed to fearless reporting, innovative and cinematic nonfiction filmmaking, and defending those who speak truth to power. First Look Institute vigilantly protects our First Amendment rights so democracy can flourish.
First Look Institute includes The Intercept, Field of Vision and Press Freedom Defense Fund.
2020 FLI Annual Report
2019 FLMW Annual Report
2018 FLMW Annual Report
2018 FLMW Annual Report - printable