The Oath Airs Tuesday Night on POV

The ITVS-funded documentary by Laura Poitras is a story about family, taxis, al Qaeda, Guantanamo Bay, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Oath is the story of Abu Jandal, Osama bin Laden’s former bodyguard, and Salim Hamdan, a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay Prison and the first man to face the controversial military tribunals.

Filmed in Yemen, The Oath is the second installment in a trilogy about America post 9/11.  The first film, My Country, My Country, documented the U.S. occupation of Iraq from the perspective of an Iraqi family. The third film will focus on domestic surveillance.
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Tags: 9/11 september 11, Al Qaeda, ITVS, Laura Poitras, osama bin laden, P.O.V., terrorist attacks, The Oath, yemen

Indie Lens, ITVS & PBS NewsHour Host Chat on Bhutto Doc & Women’s Leadership

On Wednesday, at 2PM ET / 11AM PT, ITVS, Independent Lens, and PBS NewsHour will co-present a live chat on the Independent Lens documentary Bhutto and women’s leadership.

On Monday, ITVS President Sally Jo Fifer announced the launch of Women and Girls Lead — a new public media initiative designed to educate audiences in support of women and girl’s leadership and development around the world. The documentary Bhutto is the first film connected to the multiyear initiative.
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Tags: Al Qaeda, Bhutto, documentary, live chat, obama, osama bin laden, Pakistan, PBS

The Oath Honored at the Sundance Film Festival

Director Laura Poitras and crew at the Sundance screening of The Oath.

The Sundance Film Festival, held annually in Park City, Utah, is one of the largest and most prominent festivals for independent filmmakers.

Thirty-four films were awarded prizes in 29 categories, honoring both veteran and first-time filmmakers from around the world. Taking home the Excellence in Cinematography Award for U.S. Documentary was The Oath, by Laura Poitras. The film will have its television premiere later this year on P.O.V. on PBS (check local listings).

Filmed in Yemen, The Oath is a family drama about Al Qaeda and Guantanamo Bay Prison. This documentary is the second in a trilogy about America post 9/11. The first film, My Country, My Country, documented the U.S. occupation of Iraq from the perspective of an Iraqi family. The third film will focus on domestic surveillance.

Get the full list of winners at Sundance >>

In the video below, Laura Poitras sits down and gives an in depth look at her film, which she hopes will help people gain a better understanding of Al Qaeda and Guantanamo.

Tags: Al Qaeda, Guantanamo, P.O.V., Sundance