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Favorite Films
A brilliant film poster for "Om Shanti Om" depicting 2 gold clad dancers waving their arms beneath an arc of light

From This is Spinal Tap to Blue Velvet, Cinema Paradiso to The Thin Blue Line, filmmakers are film aficionados, and their favorites are many. Each season we ask Independent Lens directors and producers to choose their three favorite films of all time.

Check out the latest batch—from film classics and mega-hits to obscure cult favorites, they’re sure to expand your horizons. Did your favorites make the list? Find out and submit your own.

Explore Filmmakers’ Favorite Films >>



Animation, drama, documentary and poetry in motion—shorts that pack a punch! Immerse yourself in an eclectic mix of stories and storytelling with this year’s batch of Independent Lens Online Shorts winners.

Check out the festival winners and view the shorts online >>


Headshot of Jon Else

Inside Filmmaking
“I actually saw the glow of an atomic explosion when I was about eight years old…. It really made an impression on my little mind. We carry these things around forever, and we spend our lives making movies about stuff that clutters up our childhood memories.”
—Jon Else, WONDERS ARE MANY: The Making of Doctor Atomic

How do doc makers tell personal stories without being too intrusive? Read about the relationship between a young Native American filmmaker and her film subject; find out what it’s like to interview legendary journalists and discover how a sensitive approach led to compelling stories from the elderly.

Read Inside Filmmaking >>



Art house movie theaters are the lifeblood of cinemaphiles in cities everywhere. With tough economic times, home entertainment centers, digital downloads and the shifting indie film marketplace, can art house theaters survive?

Read Art House Theaters: Where Film Lovers Go Local >>

Talkback
What are your three favorite films? Yes… just three.
Take the challenge and share the wealth in Talkback >>

When it comes to filmmaking, what does independent mean to you?
Tell us what you think >>

Indie Resources
Can’t get enough independent cinema? From film fan and filmmaker to fund-seeker and trivia buff, there’s something for everyone in Indie Resources.
Get informed >>

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