“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming,” wrote poet Pablo Neruda. Spring has indeed come, and with it an amazing set of documentaries that will round out the rest of this season of Independent Lens. The critically acclaimed, award-winning films coming your way starting next week, and into June, … READ MORE

Beginning in January 2020, unforgettable and acclaimed new stories are coming to Independent Lens on PBS, America’s home for documentaries. From the story of a Somali family in Minnesota torn apart by a son’s fateful decision, to Chicago for a look at one of political activism’s most unlikely alliances as well as a shocking look at … READ MORE

This season, from fall to spring, Independent Lens presents a new group of award-winning films that will thrust viewers into the heart of conversations across America. We’d like to introduce you to the films airing this Fall and Winter, with Spring films announced in this same space soon. “At Independent Lens we think a lot about neighborhoods. It begins … READ MORE

Independent Lens is proud to announce that two of the series’ films —Dolores and The Judge — have won 2018 Peabody Awards in the Documentary category. The oldest and most prestigious award for electronic media, honoring the “most powerful, enlightening and invigorating stories in television, radio and digital media,” the Peabody Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, … READ MORE

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the nominations for the 91st Oscars and Independent Lens was elated that Hale County This Morning, This Evening received a nomination for Best Feature Documentary. RaMell Ross‘s critically acclaimed film, “made modestly and intimately,” wrote Richard Brody in The New Yorker, the film “embodies a … READ MORE

It’s that time of the year again: Now that Independent Lens has concluded another season, we need you to vote for the recipient of this year’s Audience Award. Yes you, the audience! Vote for your favorite documentary from 2017-2018’s award-winning slate of films, and this year you can pick from up to three choices. Which … READ MORE

Independent Lens, which recently won the 2017 IDA Documentary Award for Best Curated Series from the International Documentary Association, now officially announces our March-May 2018 lineup on PBS. Dolores, Peter Bratt’s highly-acclaimed film about activist Dolores Huerta premieres March 27; other highlights include documentaries that dig deep into recent news stories including No Man’s Land, … READ MORE

Sad news to report, that Rick Hall, the star of the Independent Lens film Muscle Shoals, has died at the age of 85 after a long illness. The Fame Studios founder, who is credited with launching the career of such music icons as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and others, published and recorded numerous R&B, pop and … READ MORE

Independent Lens’ new season is here and so take a peek at the unforgettable, award-winning films that make up the first half of the 2017-2018 slate. We open on Monday, November 6 with Chasing Trane, John Scheinfeld’s portrait of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, featuring Denzel Washington speaking the words of Coltrane. Other highlights of the Fall 2017-Winter 2018 lineup include Raoul … READ MORE

It’s time to vote for your own personal favorite from the just-concluded 2016-2017 season of Independent Lens. The voting period will run through 5 pm PT Friday, July 21. There were 20 films in this season that lasted from October through July, so we know it’s tough to choose, but if you could pick just one … READ MORE

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the nominations for the 89th Oscars and Independent Lens was thrilled to learn that I Am Not Your Negro [official site] received a nomination for Best Feature Documentary. Raoul Peck‘s film, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and which was called “one of the best movies you are likely … READ MORE

Slate Includes Meet the Patels, Newtown, TOWER, The Witness and More The award-winning series Independent Lens’ new season lineup will launch on Monday, December 26, 2016, with the real-life cross-cultural romantic comedy Meet the Patels. Other titles include two films that explore tragic incidents of gun violence that shook the nation: Newtown, about the 2012 shooting … READ MORE