Established in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, Veterans Day (which is always November 11, to commemorate the date when WWI armistice was signed) has become a tradition to “honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.” While we all applaud the services of veterans, not many … READ MORE

Stray Dog filmmaker Debra Granik, on our behalf, checked back in with the subjects of her film, Ron “Stray Dog” Hall, and his Mexican-born stepsons, Angel and Jesús, to see how they were faring these days.  Ron wanted to focus specifically on veterans. To follow up on a question I asked Granik about how veterans respond to the film, … READ MORE

Filmmaker Debra Granik helped bring actresses Vera Farmiga and Jennifer Lawrence much-deserved fame with her two acclaimed feature films Down to the Bone and Winter’s Bone, respectively. Winter’s Bone in particular, which was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay, made Granik herself a hot name in the film world — a world in need of … READ MORE

Independent Lens returns this fall with a new season of documentaries that tell unforgettable stories of courage and resilience, explore the most pressing issues of our time, and take viewers on journeys around the world. Having recently received 11 News & Documentary Emmy nominations (with two wins) and one Primetime Emmy nomination, Independent Lens opens … READ MORE