Independent Lens presents the premiere online of In the Shadow of Ebola [watch now], a gripping short film set around the height of the Ebola crisis, but told from a highly personal point of view. The documentary by Gregg Mitman and Sarita Siegel is the story of Emmanuel Urey, a Liberian going to school in Wisconsin but who was …
Art on the Edge: Extreme Dance, Performance, and More
Elizabeth Streb’s POPACTION pushes her performers to their athletic limits, and it got us wondering: what other forms of extreme performance art are out there? Not surprisingly, the human mind is capable of journeying to some quite intense places. Here are but a few.
Hawaiian Music: More Than Just Hula (But Also Hula)
In tandem with the PBS film Kumu Hina, we created this Spotify playlist compiling some of the greatest Hawaiian music, from Hula to slack guitar, ukulele, and beyond. And yes, we also couldn’t resist tossing in a standard at the end, while finding inspiration for some of the other choices via Hawaii Magazine, Honolulu Magazine, King’s Hawaiian, and our …
After the Storm: Interactive Documentary Launches on Anniversary of Alabama Tornado Disaster
Filmmaker and educator Andrew Beck Grave speaks about his deeply personal interactive documentary on the anniversary of the disastrous tornado that swept through his Alabama hometown, in a unique project that proved ultimaely therapeutic.
From Playwright: Rest in peace, Robin Williams, you tiger.
We are as saddened as everyone about the sudden death of actor and comedian extraordinaire Robin Williams. He was one of a kind, and will truly be missed. We were reminded of his participation in last season’s Playwright: From Page to Stage, as a performer in the New York production of Bengal Tiger at the …
Around the World in Many Ways with Global Voices
Three documentaries in this summer’s Global Voices series approach the subject of growth and aging, despite different cultural contexts. Learn more about these films set in Korea, Russia, and a very timely doc about a friendship caught in the middle of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Archival Treasures
From the lives of cats (and the weddings of dogs) to walking on the moon and surveying the Allied effort in WWII, there’s an amazing treasure trove of archival documentaries online. We’ve found a few of the very best resources for historical films, which could keep you preoccuped for ages.
Summertime Throwback Thursdays
For Throwback Thursdays, watch a different Independent Lens film for free online each week during the summer, starting, appropriately enough, with Summer Pasture, which runs until July 30. Then catch a different film every Thursday until the end of August.
PBS Online Film Festival (Including Independent Lens Shorts)
For the third year running, the PBS Online Film Festival is happening through the end of July, and the line-up includes two excellent short films representing Independent Lens. This year’s fest is bigger than ever, with 14 partners presenting 25 films. Watch, vote for your favorites, and share.
A Musical Journey Through Muscle Shoals
Get in the Muscle Shoals mood with this curated list of videos and more tunes by some of the finest artists to record there. Put on your headphones to groove along, while also reading more about the music that came out of this Alabama town.
Trials of Muhammad Ali Simulcast: Online Screening and Live Chat
The Trials of Muhammad Ali Exclusive Screening & Live Chat with Director Bill Siegel Monday April 14, 10pm ET/7 PT Independent Lens, Kartemquin Films, and Eight Arizona are trying something new. For the first time ever, we’re hosting an online screening and filmmaker live chat with simulcast during the film’s national broadcast. Don’t have a …
PBS Indies Shorts Launches With Independent Lens & POV Films
PBS Indies Shorts, a new collection of short films, working in partnership with its independent strand producers POV and us here at Independent Lens/Independent Television Service (ITVS), launched today. Over the coming months, the new site will showcase 26 original films commissioned for digital platforms, ranging in length from three to 20 minutes, and which were …