To celebrate the Sept. 30th PBS Independent Lens premiere of Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, we want to give you your 15 minutes of fame. Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey follows the real life rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale of Filipino Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to become the front man for iconic …
For Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Revisiting You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here…
In honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, filmmaker Scott Kirschenbaum revisits his poignant documentary You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t, which was filmed in a care facility and focused on an unforgettable lady afflicted with the disease.
Independent Lens Short Documentary Nominated for Emmy
The Independent Lens short film As I Am, which was broadcast with the documentary The House I Live In, was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category “New Approaches: Documentaries.” The short is part of the series “Memphis Poverty: What Obama Didn’t See,” by filmmaker Alan Spearman [read a Q&A with the filmmaker here.] It was chosen …
Independent Lens Announces New Season Lineup
The Independent Lens documentary series launches its 12th season on PBS on September 30th with a lineup of 23 films from both new and established filmmakers. Actor/director Stanley Tucci will be returning as the series host. The season will kick off with Ramona Diaz’s Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey, about Filipino singer Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to …
Frederick Wiseman’s At Berkeley Featured in New York Times
“What I’m interested in is making movies about as many different subjects as I can, and as many different forms of human experience.” — Frederick Wiseman Independent Lens, which featured Frederick Wiseman’s The Last Letter several years ago, is proud to have the master of cinéma vérité back for this coming season with his magnum …
Remembering the March on Washington and Whitney Young
Incredibly, tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, and PBS and Independent Lens are pleased to honor the occasion with a rebroadcast of the illuminating documentary The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights. The program will air 10 PM* on Tuesday night, August 27th or Wednesday night, August 28th (*check …
The Kill Team Picked Up for Distribution
We’re excited that the Independent Lens documentary The Kill Team has been picked up for distribution by widely respected Oscilloscope Labs, which means you’ll have the opportunity to check the film out both in theaters and on television; its Independent Lens PBS debut will be for the 2014-2015 season, while the theatrical release will be …
Throwback Thursday: “Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes” Free Online
As part of Independent Lens‘s Throwback Thursdays series, and in honor of the 40th anniversary of hip-hop music, we’re offering the documentary Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes to watch online for free on PBS.org. The film will be available for one week, until August 14th, so take advantage while you can. Byron Hunt’s film drew acclaim for …
Independent Lens Submissions
Independent Lens is currently seeking submissions of films in advanced rough cut or fine cut stage or completed films to broadcast during the October 2014 – June 2015 season. To learn more about eligibility, what we’re looking for, and to complete our online submission form go to www.ilsubmissions.org. Any questions? Feel free to drop a line to ILsubmissions@itvs.org.
The Trials of Muhammad Ali, in Theaters
The ITVS-funded The Trials of Muhammad Ali will have its television premiere on Independent Lens in the coming Spring, but we’re very pleased to see it receiving a much-deserved theatrical rollout across these United States. Bill Siegel’s film covers the famed boxer’s toughest bout of all: his battle to overturn the five-year prison sentence he …
Five Fun Interactive Features
With Independent Lens off the air for summer (and there are still plenty of ways to watch our films online and via Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, DVD and more), this is a perfect time to check out some of the fun interactive features connected to our expansive catalog. Also, on the home page you’ll find a host of other engaging …
2013 Emmy Nominations for Independent Lens
We were excited to learn that several Independent Lens films have been nominated for 2013 News and Documentary Emmy Awards by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Danfung Dennis’s Hell and Back Again — which had previously been nominated for an Oscar — was nominated for a Best Documentary Emmy. The film intimately traces a …