It was announced today that POV filmmakers Laura Poitras and Natalia Almada are among the 2012 MacArthur Fellows! Check out interviews with the two documentarians about their most recent films, The Oath and El Velador.

Natalia Almada on El Velador (The Night Watchman)

Laura Poitras on The Oath

Every year, the MacArthur Fellows Program selects about 20-30 people to receive the award for their originality and dedication to their area of expertise, showing an ability to further their field. The awards are not given based on application, but rather through nominations which are then narrowed by a Selection Committee. The award also does not require the completion of products and the program does not evaluate the Fellows during their term. For more information visit the MacArthur Fellows website.

El Velador is now available for streaming on the POV site. Watch El Velador online »

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POV Staff

POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 300 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.