P.O.V.
ITVS Programs Nominated for Six Emmy Awards
The nominees for the 31st Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards were announced today and ITVS programs received an impressive six nominations.
Among the nominees are three Independent Lens programs — Tulia, Texas; No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo and Vilmos; and Crips and Bloods: Made in America.
Tulia, Texas — by filmmakers Cassandra Herrman and Kelly Whalen — received a nomination in the Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story, Long Form category. The film tells the story of a small town’s search for justice and the price Americans pay for the nation’s war on drugs.
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo and Vilmos — by director James Chressanthis — received a nomination in the Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming category. The documentary profiles legendary cinematographers Laszlo Kovacs and Vilmos Zsigmond and how they reinvented Hollywood moviemaking for an entire generation.
Behind the Scenes: Kunstler’s Daughters Reflect
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe aired last night on P.O.V. on PBS. But the conversation continued online well into the next day. Filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler both logged on for a live chat with their audience immediately after the broadcast.
With America’s best known civil rights lawyer still fresh in everyone’s thoughts, the daughters fielded a wide range of questions from viewers. One participant asked how their father would have felt about the internet as a platform for activism. Both Emily and Sarah were convinced he would have been obsessed with following his press mentions through “Google alerts.” Read the full transcript from last night’s chat here.
Plus, watch exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the film. Here you will see how Michelangelo’s David, an inspiration to a young William Kunstler, came to life through animation.
Tonight on P.O.V. – William Kunstler, Radical Lawyer
The most hated and loved lawyer in America captured through the lens and mouths of his two daughters. Tonight, P.O.V. airs William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, a documentary directed by sisters Emily and Sarah Kunstler, that chronicles the rise of their father as an activist lawyer (check local listings here).
A self-described radical, Kunstler was one of the best-known civil rights attorneys in American history. He came from a privileged background and settled as a lawyer in Westchester County in the 1950s, setting up a small practice with his family. But Kunstler cut his teeth in the 1960s, representing freedom riders in Mississippi on behalf of the ACLU.
His daughters refer to him as a “silver tongued, pied piper,” who could charm a jury and bring national attention to underserved members of society. Kunstler passionately battled for the demands of the American Indian Movement in Wounded Knee, South Dakota, and later, the inmates of Attica prison.
It was his handling of the Chicago Seven case in 1969, however, that made him famous. Kunstler represented seven individuals charged with inciting race riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He sparred openly with the judge and prosecutor and was cited for contempt, nearly facing an unprecedented four years in prison.
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.
Reflections From the Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival, held annually in Park City, Utah, is one of the largest and most prominent festivals for independent filmmakers. This year, three ITVS films made their world premiere at the festival, which brings the total number of ITVS funded films that have screened at Sundance to 69 since we first attended in 1994. Lois Vossen, ITVS vice president and Independent Lens series producer, shares her reflections on this year’s festival, which wraps up this weekend.
Between screenings, Lois discovers Banksy art behind the Egyptian Theater in Park City, Utah.
Marquee at the Egyptian Theatre
Arriving in Park City, Utah at 8:00 AM on Friday morning, January 22, a couple of things were clear: it was doubtful that I would get caught up on sleep here. The list of documentaries I needed to screen in the next five and a half days was growing faster than the snowdrift that lay between me and our condo front door –– and this was going to be a snowy Sundance.
Three ITVS funded films were featured at 2010 Sundance: Last Train Home by Lixin Fan, The Oath by Laura Poitras, and My Perestroika by Robin Hessman. My colleagues Claire Aguilar and Cynthia Kane attended their screenings and I headed out to find new shows for Independent Lens acquisition consideration.
Seventeen films, countless shuttle rides, bad sandwiches on the run, and many snowstorms later, here’s what I remember now that I’m back in sunny San Francisco.
- Discovering Banksy street art on Main Street at 8:00 AM, Monday morning, en route to an early morning screening. I know there has to be more so I’m in hot pursuit…
- The Impact Partners party on Saturday night. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, is in the house. We end up talking about the now-canceled TV show Life, and the joys of working with Adam Arkin with whom she starred.
- Unique offerings at Sundance 2010: Utopia in Four Movements by Sam Green; Double Take by Johan Grimonprez; and Saint Louis Blues by Dyana Gaye, a 48-minute musical documentary from Senegal. Too long but totally unexpected.
- Finding out when the next special screening of Exit Through the Gift Shop will take place. Banksy pursuit continues…
And the 2010 duPont-Columbia University Awards go to…
Filmmakers Elizabeth Farnsworth (at podium) and Patricio Lanfranco (left) accept the 2010 duPont-Columbia University Award. Also on stage include: Gwen Ifill, host of the ceremony; Rob Weiss, Blair Gershkow, and Andreas Cediel, members of the production team.
Last night, the 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards were presented. Among the winners of this prestigious broadcast journalism award was the ITVS film The Judge and the General, by Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio Lanfranco, which aired on P.O.V. on PBS.
The Judge and the General reveals the transformation of Judge Juan Guzmán in Chile as he is assigned by judicial lottery to investigate the first criminal cases filed against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. An international detective story, the film follows the judge as he uncovers the truth about the regime he had supported.
Other winners honored last night include:
- American Public Media, American RadioWorks, Michael Montgomery & Joshua E. S. Phillips: What Killed Sergeant Gray
- CBS News & Katie Couric: The Sarah Palin Interviews
- CBS News: CBS Reports: Children of the Recession
- HBO & Edet Belzberg: The Recruiter
- KHOU-TV, Houston & Mark Greenblatt: Under Fire: Discrimination and Corruption in the Texas National Guard
- KMGH-TV, Denver & Tony Kovaleski: 33 Minutes to 34 Right
- MediaStorm & Jonathan Torgovnik: Intended Consequences
- NPR, Michele Norris & Steve Inskeep: The York Project: Race and the 2008 Vote
- WCAX-TV, Burlington & Kristin Carlson: Foreigners on the Farm
- WGBH, Boston, Frontline/World, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy & Dan Edge: Pakistan: Children of the Taliban, on PBS
- WSVN-TV, Miami, Carmel Cafiero & Anthony Pineda: Pill Mills
- WTVF-TV, Nashville & Phil Williams: General Sessions Court
- WWL-TV, New Orleans: NOAH Housing Program Investigation
Learn more about the duPont-Columbia University Awards >>
Three ITVS Films Selected to Compete at Sundance
It’s official… The 2010 Sundance Film Festival just announced their official selections and ITVS has three films in competition. This brings the total number of ITVS funded films that have screened at Sundance to 69 since we first attended in 1994.
The three ITVS films in competition include:
MY PERESTROIKA
By Robin Hessman
World Premiere
When the USSR broke apart in 1991, a generation of young people faced a new realm of possibilities. Filmmaker Robin Hessman follows this last generation of Soviet children brought up behind the Iron Curtain. Using a wealth of rare Russian footage, MY PERESTROIKA interweaves an intimate view of the past with the contemporary lives of a married couple and their childhood friends–telling the story of a nation still very much in transition.
A co-production of Red Square Productions/Bungalow Town Productions and ITVS International in association with American Documentary | P.O.V.
THE OATH
By Laura Poitras
World Premiere
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.
This film is a co-production of ITVS.
LAST TRAIN HOME
By Lixin Fan
U.S. Premiere
China experiences the largest internal migration in the world as rural workers travel to cities looking for employment. In LAST TRAIN HOME, filmmaker Lixin Fan follows the Zhang family who save all year to travel home for Chinese New Year, along with over 100 million other migrant workers, hoping to salvage the relationship with their teenage daughter.
An EyeSteelFilm production in association with ITVS International.
The festival will be held in Park City, Utah, Jan. 21-31. Screening dates and times are still pending.
Returning Home: Interactive Website to Honor American Soldiers
“It’s really a personal story not a political one. That goes for the greeters themselves as well. They have different views on the war, but their
main goal is to support the troops.”
— Aron Gaudet, director, THE WAY WE GET BY
On call for the past six years, a group of senior citizens have made history by greeting nearly one million U.S. troops at a tiny airport in Maine. THE WAY WE GET BY, an ITVS-funded documentary that aired last night on P.O.V., tells their uplifting and emotional journey and demonstrates the meaning of community at a time when America needs it most.
Inspired by the film, Returning Home is a new interactive website that seeks to ensure that American soldiers, both newly returned and those whose service ended many years ago, are not forgotten. Returning Home provides a place to share thoughts, photos, video or audio and to find support. Like the Maine troop greeters featured in the film, the site will honor American soldiers as they return from duty, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Visit Returning Home and learn more >>
Missed last night’s broadcast? The program is now available online in its entirety until December 12 on PBS’s video portal. Watch now >>
Learn more about the online project in this video interview with filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly and others involved in the project.
THE WAY WE GET BY Premiering Tonight on P.O.V.
“If you watch/record one thing this evening, I strongly recommend THE WAY WE GET BY, Aron Gaudet’s moving documentary…”
- USA Today
On call 24/7 for the past six years, three senior citizens have made history by greeting nearly one million U.S. troops at a tiny airport in Maine. Filled with unexpected turns, THE WAY WE GET BY tells their uplifting and emotional journey and demonstrates the meaning of community at a time when America needs it most.
THE WAY WE GET BY premieres tonight at 9:00 PM on P.O.V. on PBS (check local listings).
A co-production of ITVS in association with WGBH and Maine Public Broadcasting Network
Get the latest updates about the film and talk with others by using #wegetby on Twitter. Follow the film >>
The program will also stream online in its entirety starting tomorrow to December 12 on PBS’s video portal. Learn more >>
College Success Tips: Rocky Otoo From A BRONX PRINCESS Airing Tonight on P.O.V. on PBS
“Compelling… [A] coming-of-age documentary from filmmakers Yoni Brook and Musa Syeed,”
- Los Angeles Times
A BRONX PRINCESS, airing tonight, Tuesday, September 22 at 10:00 PM on P.O.V. on PBS (check local listings), follows Rocky Otoo’s journey as she leaves behind her mother in New York City to reunite with her royal father in Ghana, West Africa and reconciles her African heritage with her dream of independence.
Now in her junior year of college, Otoo discusses what she has learned and shares tips on how to deal with cultures shock, building relationships with professors, keeping your family informed and other advice. Check out the video below.
Post your own video responses and start a conversion with Rocky Otoo about college and the film.
Upcoming Screenings
|
A free monthly screening series, Community Cinema features films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.
In over 50 cities nationwide, screenings are followed by lively panel discussions that bring together citizens, organizations and public television stations to encourage dialogue and action around important and timely social issues. Last season, over 40,000 people attended 500 events nationwide.
Recent Posts
Archives
Categories
- All Video
- Ask Programming
- Audio Podcasts
- Awards
- Community Cinema
- Community Classroom
- Film Festivals
- Filmmaker Profile
- From the President's Desk
- FUTURESTATES
- Global Voices
- In the News
- Independent Lens
- Inside Indies
- Institutional Updates
- ITVS Broadcasts
- ITVS Deep Dive
- ITVS Funding
- ITVS International
- New Online
- On the Road
- Producer Resources
- Recently Funded
- Special Events
- Talkback
- Uncategorized
Related sites
Film Blogs
Public Media Blogs
-
Get the Beyond the Box e-newsletter, sent monthly with the latest news about ITVS, funding opportunities and more. Enter your email and sign up.
-
Sign up for the Independent Lens newsletter. Get news once a week during the broadcast season (fall-spring). We'll also let you know about new Inside Indies features, Web site highlights and more.