Lois Vossen

Independent Lens Executive Producer

Lois Vossen is the founding executive producer of Independent Lens on PBS since 2002. She leads the programming of a diverse slate of 25-30 original documentaries, made by independent filmmakers, with each season covering an array of social, political, and cultural issues, showcasing Independent Lens as an evolving multiplatform series. Under her leadership, Independent Lens has become synonymous with high-quality, award-winning documentaries on timely topics including Philly DA, Belly of the Beast, I Am Not Your Negro, Tower, and The Invisible War. Awarded Best Series by the International Documentary Association (IDA) five times, Independent Lens is recognized with the industry’s most prestigious honors, including 10 Academy Award nominations and more than 70 Peabody, Emmy and duPont-Columbia Award wins.

Vossen was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle in recognition of 30 years of leadership in the documentary field, and honored as Nonprofit Leader of the Year by the Anthem Awards. Her stewardship includes serving on the Television Academy Board of Governors for five years, and she is currently on the Academy’s executive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Task Force. She’s a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and has been a juror for DOC New Zealand, Toronto International Film Festival, Shanghai International Festival, SXSW, Palm Springs International Film Festival, and New Orleans Film Festival, among others. Prior to ITVS, Vossen was Associate Managing Director of the Sundance Film Festival and Sundance Labs.