Congratulations to the filmmakers on this incredible achievement! This brings the total of Peabody awards for ITVS films to 22.

Bhutto by Duane Baughman, which aired on Independent Lens, takes an intimate look at one of the most fascinating and important world leaders of our time, Benazir Bhutto.

My Perestroika — a film directed by Robin Hessman and co-produced by Robin Hessman and Rachel Wexler. The documentary aired on P.O.V. and follows five ordinary Russians living in extraordinary times — from their sheltered Soviet childhood, to the collapse of the Soviet Union during their teenage years, to the constantly shifting political landscape of post-Soviet Russia.

Who Killed Chea Vichea by Bradley Cox, an ITVS production, is a feature length documentary focusing on the mystery behind the assassination of a Cambodian labor leader set against the backdrop of the international garment trade.

The Peabody Awards will be presented May 21, 2012 at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City with Sir Patrick Stewart as the Master of Ceremonies.

A limited number of INPUT 2012 Producer Fellowships will be awarded to U.S. public media producers to attend INPUT in Sydney, Australia on May 7 – 12, 2012. For more information about the U.S. INPUT Producer Fellowship application process, visit U.S INPUT managed by SCETV at or contact the U.S. INPUT National Coordinator Amy Shumaker.  

INPUT is the International Public Television Screening Conference, an annual international forum for television professionals to discuss and challenge the boundaries of television in the public interest. Learn more about the INPUT 2012 conference here.

This project is made possible by funding from the Corporation for Public for Broadcasting.

For more information about the U.S. INPUT Producer Fellowship application process, visit U.S INPUT managed by SCETV at or contact the U.S. INPUT National Coordinator Amy Shumaker.  

INPUT is the International Public Television Screening Conference, an annual international forum for television professionals to discuss and challenge the boundaries of television in the public interest. Learn more about the INPUT 2012 conference, here.

Recognized for personifying “Television with a Conscience,” the five-part PBS mini-series, is a global media initiative on the roles of women in peace and conflict.

The film premiered last year as part of public media’s Women and Girls Lead initiative. Watch the trailer for the doc after the jump.

Learn more about Women and Girls Lead

Watch many inspiring documentaries — free online — as part of the Women and Girls Lead Online Film Festival

Four filmmakers previously funded by ITVS received a $5,000 award at this year’s San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) for a work-in-progress about international LGBT politicians.

From L to R: Johnny Symons, Brittney Shepherd, Eva Moss, and S. Leo Chiang

Filmmakers S. Leo Chiang (A Village Called Versailles) and Johnny Symons (Daddy & Papa, Ask Not), along with co-producers Eva Moss and Brittney Shepherd, were awarded a $5,000 research and development award at the Ready, Set, Pitch! panel held on Sunday, March 11 at the 30th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival for their project Out Run (working title) – a feature length documentary project that follows openly-LGBT political candidates in parts of the world that are most hostile to their cause.

Chiang, who will co-direct and co-produce with Symons, delivered a dynamic pitch to the judges that included a clip featuring one of the film’s subjects, David Kuria, a gay activist running for the Kenyan Senate, who faces ongoing persecution during his campaign in the hope that one day those in the LGBT community will find acceptance, or at least tolerance, in his country.

What made Chiang’s pitch even more compelling was his description of the transmedia component of the project: an online, interactive hub for LGBT activists seeking office, which he described as a global political convention, where candidates could share stories and media about themselves and their campaigns.

Four other filmmakers also pitched varied and unique projects: Ellie Lee, Kimberlee Bassford, Lisa Katayama, and Suha Araj (learn more about them at the CAAM festival blog). The judges for this panel included ITVS Vice President of Programming Claire Aguilar, independent film producer Gina Kwon (The Future, Me You and Everyone We Know), and blogger Phil Yu (angryasianman.com) and was moderated by Senior Strategist of Tomorrow Partners Wendy Levy. Before the award announcement was made, Levy announced that the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) would also award $1,000 to each of the remaining panelists.

“It is wonderful and refreshing to see prizes given to all of the pitches,” commented Aguilar. “After the incredible hard work from the producers these prizes will leverage their crowd funding.” She also noted that ITVS is associated with Out Run, which is supported through the Diversity Development Fund.

Also announced during the panel was a new funding opportunity from CAAM: the Innovation Fund, a new initiative recently approved by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to fund and license short, online content to be streamed on the CAAMedia.org website and PBS affiliate sites. This year the CAAM Innovation Fund will offer funding to license short web series (3-5 pieces each) by independent producers that address arts, music, culture, and politics in unique and creative ways. For more information, visit the CAAM website.

The festival is also screening director S. Leo Chiang’s new documentary Mr. Cao Goes to Washington as well as another ITVS-funded documentary, Give Up Tomorrow. SFIAAFF30 runs through March 18 in San Francisco, Berkeley, and San Jose.

The Independent Spirit Awards celebrate the spirited pioneers who bring a unique vision to the world of independent filmmaking. This past weekend Where Soldiers Come From picked up the Truer Than Fiction award, while The Interrupters won Best Documentary.

The Independent Spirit Awards took place on Saturday, February 25th in Los Angeles, CA. Click here for a complete list of winners.

Please join us in congratulating the filmmakers!

Hi there! Well it was a great night. The debate is on whether or not Billy Crystal was funny and whether or not the show was well paced.

As we were leaving, I ran into Wim Wenders who made Pina and I went over and spoke with him and he said “I’m very, very sorry that Hell and Back Again lost because it was a magnificent film and I would have been honored to have lost to Hell and Back Again, honored!” So I introduced him to Fiona Otway who edited the film.

Overall, I thought the show was fun. Maybe not the best Oscars of all time but certainly best for me, maybe because I was there! The show played quickly and seemed to fly by. Tony Bennett played at the Governors ball afterwards and he sounded great.

Lois Vossen, Series Producer of Independent Lens

Right now, people are scattering off to after parties at Vanity Fair and Elton John’s thing. We’re getting together back at the hotel with a friend of ours who’s a member of the Academy. Interesting to hear how it played on Television versus inside the theatre. Apparently Circque du Soleil played better in the theatre.

Also, I was right in front of Sasha Baron Cohen when he dumped the ashes on Ryan Seacrest! I thought it was really funny but apparently that pissed off a lot of people? Maybe you had to be there because watching it live was just silly and unexpected.

Of course, the women all looked fabulous!

Lois' view from inside the theatre

Finally, we want to send our congratulations to Daniel Junge who won for his short film Saving Face. Two of Daniel’s previous films were on Independent Lens: Iron Ladies of Liberia and Chiefs. So, we were thrilled to see him win as a member of the IL family!

That’s all for now. Good night!

A still from Hell and Back Again by filmmaker Danfung Dennis

With the Academy Awards right around the corner, it is important to remember that the Independent Spirit Awards are also this weekend. ITVS has four films nominated, The Interrupters and We Were Here are up for Best Doc, with Hell and Back Again and Where Soldiers Come From in the Truer Than Fiction category.

The Independent Spirit Awards take place on Saturday, February 25th. Click here for more information.

Join ITVS in congratulating all the filmmakers and check out the trailers after the jump.

Hell and Back Again
By Danfung Dennis (Director/Producer), Mike Lerner (Producer), Martin Herring (Producer)

The Interupters
By Steve James (Producer/Director), Alex Kotlowitz (Producer), and Zak Piper (Co-Producer)

Where Soldiers Come From
By Heather Courtney (Producer/Director)

We Were Here
By David Weissman (Producer/Director)

It’s Academy Awards time again and this year ITVS has not one, but two horses in the Oscar race! Among the films selected for best documentary were two ITVS programs: Hell and Back Again by Danfung Dennis and If a Tree Falls by filmmakers Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman (broadcast last September on POV). Hell and Back Again airs on May 24, 2012 at 10 PM and on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, both nights at 10 PM on Independent Lens.

We wanted to do something fun in anticipation of Sunday’s festivities, so we whipped up a quick little ballot for you to fill out and submit, to see how many of you can guess the outcome in several major categories. We’ll accept ballot entries (one per user, please!) up until 5 PM PST on Sunday, February 26, 2012. We’ll randomly select five entries from among the highest scores for personal glory and some special surprises.

Hell and Back Again filmmaker reacts to Oscar nomination:

If a Tree Falls filmmaker reacts to Oscar nomination: