Angelight Films creates inspiring short films in collaboration with children and young adults living with rare diseases and chronic illnesses, giving their stories a powerful platform.
This platform will continue to grow through a dynamic collection of both archived and newly produced short films, celebrating authentic creative self-expression.
We also support bereaved siblings, offering a place for their enduring love to be expressed, remembered, and given somewhere to land.
Angelight Films elevates voices and builds connection, awareness, and understanding.
Angelight Films partners with children and young adults living with rare and chronic illnesses to co-create short films that share their stories and perspectives. Through storytelling, we amplify young voices, build community, and raise awareness.
Children and families in treatment often feel isolated and unseen
Young people want to be recognized beyond their diagnosis
Families and providers need meaningful, human-centered support tools
Patients and their families are often lacking in relatable content and have limited emotional support outside of clinical care
Parents seek connection and reassurance
Healthcare providers need human-centered tools
Stephanie Angel is a filmmaker, director, and certified hospice volunteer who founded Angelight Films in honor of her younger sister, Ilana, who passed away from a brain tumor when she was five years old. She also serves as a Bereaved Sibling Coordinator for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, supporting children navigating loss and grief. With over 20 years experience working in the film industry on feature films, television, and more than 200 national commercials, Stephanie brings a high level of creative and production expertise to mission-driven storytelling. Stephanie has led the creation of 15 short films made by children with serious illnesses, helping them express their creativity, identity, and voice beyond their diagnosis. Her work transforms deeply personal experiences into uplifting, professionally produced films that inspire both participants and audiences.
Michele Kuvin Kupfer is a documentary filmmaker, behavioral therapist, and educational consultant with extensive experience supporting young people navigating medical and developmental challenges. She has worked in hospital settings focusing on the psycho-social needs of adolescents as they move toward independence. As the creator of Difference Diaries, Michele has built a powerful storytelling platform that amplifies the voices of young adults living with chronic and life-altering conditions, fostering empathy, awareness, and meaningful dialogue. Her work is also deeply personal, her son is a young adult living with a brain tumor, whose journey she captured through film. Michele brings a unique combination of clinical insight, lived experience, and storytelling expertise to the mission of Angelight Films.
Wendy Lobel is an accomplished producer, director and writer of documentaries, primetime specials and other television programming, Wendy Lobel has won EMMY, CableACE, Gracie and Peabody Awards for her work with Nickelodeon’s Nick News with Linda Ellerbee and Lifetime’s Intimate Portrait.Wendy is currently a producer and co-writer of specials for Nickelodeon’s Nick News with Linda Ellerbee. She has been a television producer for more than two decades with dozens of cable, network and public television credits to her name. Her credits include: several documentaries for public television nationwide, Uncommon Americans for A&E, The Mating Game for MSNBC, a dozen Intimate Portraits for Lifetime, Inside TV Land: Primetime Politics for TV Land, the real-life series Adoption for Hallmark Entertainment, and Driven: Jennifer Lopez for VH1. Wendy wrote and produced her first television documentary in 1986, The People vs. Mel Kramer.
One of Wendy’s proudest accomplishments is a fundraising video she developed and produced for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. This video, hosted by Sissy Spacek, was a labor of love, as it was produced in memory of her niece, Ilana.When Wendy’s niece, Stephanie, asked her to be Vice President of Angelight Films, Wendy was honored and has served proudly in that role ever since.
Ryan S. Curran became the Treasurer of Angelight Films, Inc. in July of 2008. He is involved with all financial aspects of the organization, including budgeting, tax compliance, and managing the Organization’s assets. Ryan is a certified public accountant in New Jersey and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from Rutgers University.He is committed to using his financial and business expertise to grow the Organization’s programs and establish Angelight Films as an extensive, well respected, and successful non-profit organization.Ryan fully believes in Angelight Films’ missions and understands that in order for that mission to be ultimately fulfilled and the tremendous amount of love to be shared by those who Angelight Films seeks to serve, that cogent financial management is necessary.
Amir Arison can currently be seen as a Series Regular in the Apple TV + limited series DOPE THIEF for director Ridley Scott, after nine seasons as a Series Regular and fan favorite ‘Aram Mojtabai’ on THE BLACKLIST (NBC). He currently has a recurring role in the recently released Netflix series THE BEAST IN ME. Other TV credits include THE DROPOUT, RAMY, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, BILLIONS, GIRLS, BULL, and HOMELAND. In film, he can be seen in the features 20 WEEKS, THE VISITOR, JANE WANTS A BOYFRIEND, HANDLE WITH CARE (upcoming), BEFORE THE SUN EXPLODES, BIG WORDS, MERRY FRIGGIN CHRISTMAS, and VAMPS. Arison has an extensive theatre career and was honored with the 2023 Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway Production for his turn in the leading role, ‘Amir,’ in THE KITE RUNNER. Arison also won a daytime Emmy for hosting the 2022 NBC/Telemundo special CLEAR THE SHELTERS, helping 171,000 rescue pets nationwide get adopted. Arison is also an award winning short film director: FORTRESS by Anna Ziegler and TATI’S FASHION SHOW for Angelights Films where he was recently named the Director of the Creative Advisory board helping Kids with Brain or Spinal Cord Tumors star in their own Short films. Upcoming, he is the director of the new Stage Play DEL VALLE, and his new talk show THE REEL ONES (EP, Creator, Host) will feature documentary filmmakers and their extraordinary subjects.
Jesse Scolaro is a Sundance-winning producer with experience creating multi-format content in various mediums including feature films, documentaries, branded content, digital series, music videos and short films. Over the past two decades, much of Jesse’s work has included collaborations with first-time directors, A-list actors, and producing stories from marginalized voices. His projects have ranged from award-winning independent films which premiered at major international film festivals and acquired by A24, Paramount+, and Netflix to branded content campaigns with Fortune 500 companies and short-form documentaries profiling individuals whose stories uplift and inspire. Jesse is currently in post-production on three feature documentaries and is a visiting producing professor at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Dr. Gary M. Kupfer is a professor of oncology and pediatrics at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University where he is a physician-scientist and directs a laboratory focused on cancer biology while maintaining a busy clinical practice, leading programs, and teaching. Gary is a board member of The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and Team Cancer America.
Dr. Marc Atkins is a prominent Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago holding key roles like Director of the Institute for Juvenile Research and focusing on children’s mental health, school-based services, and evidence-based practices, with extensive research published and cited globally.
A music video created by a young girl with a brain tumor, Lillian Langbein. This short film magically captures all that she loves from music to dance and beyond.
A music video created by a young girl with a brain tumor, Lillian Langbein. This short film magically captures all that she loves from music to dance and beyond.
In 'The World Fading From Darkness' the king who is Colin a young boy with a brain tumor sets out on a journey to save his family and bring magic and color back to his kingdom.
Amanda shows the world through her talent-fashion show that it is important to have fun and sometimes be a little different!
Duane The Great' is a short documentary/music video where Duane, a young boy with a brain tumor and doesn't let his illness stop him from dancing, enjoying family, and watching wrestling. He also shows his appreciation for the gifts and notes he received, including one from President Barack Obama.
Sterling has a brain tumor and is also blind but neither stops him from following his heart and soul. His film is abstract, unique and truly weaves together what is most meaningful and joyful to Sterling.
In 'The Kyle Show,' Kyle thanks the people who have helped him along his journey after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. He also discusses the challenges he has faced along with the importance of still having fun.
Faces We Know, Hearts We Don't' is a short artistic documentary made by seventeen year old Tatiana Gomez. Her film weaves in photography and animations, highlighting her love for nature and photography as she sheds light on the importance of the little moments and how being strong is a choice that she made.
Melany a young girl with a brain tumor expresses herself through creative dance as she finds strength and courage from within.
‘Tati’ is a 9 years old cancer survivor. She created, developed, and designed the short film “Tati’s Fashion Show” with director Amir Arison for Angelight films while undergoing treatment because she loves acting, dancing, and modeling.
The extraordinary story of a boy who battles an inoperable brain tumor, soul-crushing bullying and depression. Alex's life takes a surprising turn when he attends a camp for kids with cancer and begins to see his world through a different lens
Katrina and her friends enter a whole new world of adventure, when they all make the same birthday wish at the same time. They soon discover that sometimes what you think you want may not always be as great as what you already have. This fictional story is a journey of finding yourself and learning to accept and love who you are.
David's Miracle' is a short documentary which illustrates the remarkable life of seventeen-year-old David Cain. David stays strong through the challenges he faces with having a brain tumor, by choosing to stay positive and focusing on the many fun activities that he enjoys. David knows that his life is a miracle and he appreciates his time by enjoying each day to the fullest.
The Wonderful Life of Kyle is a short documentary that illustrates Kyle Kratzke's love for theater and comedy. Kyle's family and friends discuss his unique and special character. Kyle's strength is demonstrated as he continues to perform, despite the challenges he faces.
Nora, a 9 year old girl with a brain tumor plays a therapist and helps other kids through their challenges, including another girl who also has a brain tumor.
Zev, a brain tumor survivor, works to manage depression, anxiety, and multiple medications while building greater independence.
Feel the movement as Alyse, who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at two years olds, experiences freedom through dance.
Akilah has had sickle cell anemia all her life and is now preparing to transition from pediatric to adult care.
Sports is Dylan's outlet for showing the world that cystic fibrosis can look different for every patient.
Follow Liddy’s story as she navigates life with Achondroplasia and decides whether to undergo limb-lengthening surgery
Jimmy defies the odds and pushes himself to try new things while learning to manage his Hemophilia.
Growing up in foster care and later being adopted while living with HIV, Clifford battles fear and anger before discovering purpose through the people who love and support him.
Facing a lung transplant, Cassie wrestles with the question “Why me?” after her diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
Angelight Films Inc.
186 Mantoloking Rd. Suite 2A
Brick, NJ 08723
Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.
We are a 501(c)(3) non profit production company that co-creates short films with children and young adults living with rare and chronic illnesses to share their stories.
