Filmmakers of “The House I Live In” Respond to Sundance Premiere

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

The House I Live In premiered last weekend at the Sundance Film Festival. The film weaves together director Eugene Jarecki’s personal narrative with America’s war on drugs. Here, producers including Sam Cullman, Melinda Shopsin, Danny Glover, and director Eugene Jarecki — reflect on the film and its Sundance premiere.

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Filmmakers of “The Invisible War” Reflect on Sundance Premiere

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

This past weekend, filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering premiered their documentary The Invisible War at the Sundance Film Festival. The film examines the epidemic of rape of soldiers within the U.S. military, the institutions that cover up its existence, and the profound personal and social consequences that arise from it. Watch the video below as both filmmakers recount the Sundance experience.

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“If a Tree Falls” Filmmaker Reacts to Oscar Nomination

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Sam Cullman, co-director and cinematographer of If a Tree Falls reacts to his Oscar Nomination, which he learned about on Tuesday at Sundance.

The movie takes a behind-the-scenes look at Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls the “number one domestic terrorism threat” in America. If a Tree Falls aired on POV this past fall.

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“Hell and Back Again” Filmmaker Danfung Dennis Reacts to Oscar Nomination

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Danfung Dennis woke up this morning in Park City as an Academy Award nominated filmmaker for his documentary Hell and Back Again. The film weaves together two overlapping narratives of a Marine at war on the front and in recovery at home. BTB caught up with the filmmaker earlier today on Main St at the Sundance Film Festival.

Hell and Back Again will air on May 24 on Independent Lens.

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Oscar Nominees for Best Doc Include: Hell and Back Again & If a Tree Falls

Early Tuesday morning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced this year’s Oscar nominees. Among the films selected for best documentary were two ITVS programs: Hell and Back Again by Danfung Dennis (coming to Independent Lens on May 24) and If a Tree Falls by filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman (broadcast last September on POV). BTB will be speaking with filmmakers Dennis and Cullman later today in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival to get their reaction on the nomination. Until then, join us in congratulating the filmmakers and watch the trailers below:

Find the complete list of nominated film here.

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Macky Alston’s “Love Free or Die” Takes Off at Sundance

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Premiering Monday night at Sundance is Macky Alston’s new film Love Free or Die, which  follows the historic and controversial rise of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Bishop. BTB caught up with Alston at a mass held at St. Luke’s Church on Sunday in Park City, where LGBT leaders showed up to support and discuss the film.

Love Free or Die is an ITVS-funded film slated for broadcast on an upcoming season of  Independent Lens.

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Motor City Struggles Resonate at Sundance Premiere

By Steve Goldbloom, Reporting for PBS and BTB at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival

The ITVS-funded documentary Detropia held its worldwide premiere on Saturday at the Temple Theatre in Park City. Watch below, as Co-Directors Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing discuss the film and recount their Sundance experience. BTB will be rolling several video reports from the festival throughout the week.

Detropia artfully displays the rapid decline of a once thriving American city. On the brink of bankruptcy, the filmmakers and loyal citizens profiled in the feature, suggest the feeling that as goes Detroit, so goes the nation.

Congratulations to the filmmakers and keep an eye on BTB this week for more video updates from the festival.

ITVS on the Ground at Sundance

Greetings from Park City! ITVS has a huge presence at this year’s Sundance Film Festival with six documentaries screening in competition. This year, BTB is on the ground at the festival and will have frequent video updates from the filmmakers sledding around town. Keep an eye on the blog and follow us on twitter under #ITVSsundance for immediate updates. For now, you can find a rundown of ITVS film screenings below. More to come!


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Friday, January 20th, 2012 Uncategorized No Comments

A Conversation with Dr. Angela Davis

Earlier this month, Independent Lens launched a slate of films celebrating Black History at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles. While at the event, the series teamed up with PBS NEWSHOUR’S Hari Sreenivasan to interview many of the filmmakers and subjects. Watch an excerpt below of Sreenivasan’s conversation with Dr. Angela Davis, profiled in Göran Hugo Olsson’s The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 which premieres on PBS on February 9.

Subscribe to Beyond the Box and stay on the lookout for more excerpts from Sreenivasan’s conversation with Davis and many others.

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Watch Have You Heard from Johannesburg, On-Air and Online

On Thursday, part three and four of Connie Field’s landmark documentary Have You Heard from Johanessburg will broadcast on Independent Lens. An encore social screening will take place next Thursday, January 26  at 12PM PT / 3PM ET. Click here to participate in the interactive screening.

Episodes three and four: From Selma to Soweto and The Bottom Line chronicles the grassroots campaign that targeted Western corporations doing business with the South African regime.

Join us on Friday for the social screening and feel free to ask questions, take polls, and engage.

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