600 Films and Counting: Celebrating 15 Years of ITVS by Geneva Collins Fifteen years ago, a dedicated staff of visionaries set up offices in St. Paul, Minnesota—and perhaps more significantly for independent filmmakers, announced they were giving out money. ITVS's Open Calls have been deluged with applicants ever since. Read More

Community Engagement in a Box: ITVS and the Evolution of Outreach

Since the birth of the social issue documentary, filmmakers have aspired to create change. Independent filmmakers have a long tradition of collaborating with nonprofits, film festivals, unions and media arts centers to move film audiences to action. But it was not until the mid-‘80s that the public television system began to take interest in the social impact of films beyond broadcast. Read More

Beyond Broadcast: Riding the Next Wave

Since opening shop in 1991, ITVS has produced programming with a core mission—to expand cultural and global awareness, advance civic participation and creatively engage audiences, bringing new and diverse voices into the public discourse.

By 1994, with the digital revolution in full swing, ITVS Interactive became an increasingly active force in supporting that mission. Read More

Technology Shifts: ITVS and the Digital Revolution

In the same year that ITVS was incorporated, Sony introduced the first Hi-8 camcorder—a videotape format that is all but obsolete today, a virtual relic, a dinosaur. In the relatively short span of ITVS's existence, the world of independent media-making has undergone a sea change, with the transition from analog to digital, the birth of the Internet, the introduction of digital satellite, HD and the first forays into interactive television. Read More

Moving Beyond Borders

ITVS International opens up a new two-way exchange of compelling documentaries between the United States and other nations, bringing insight into other people, cultures and points of view. Read More

Dedications

Over the years, we at ITVS have lost some dear friends and colleagues whose ideas and dedication enriched our lives and helped to elevate the status of independent filmmakers and public television. As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we would like to honor those people. Read More

Accolades

Afghan women filmmaker journalists at the Emmys; George and Barbara Bush and A LION IN THE HOUSE filmmakers support efforts to overcome cancer; Native American activist, musician and poet John Trudell helps launch new season of Independent Lens; 15th anniversary quotes and more… Read More

From the President

ITVS was founded by storytellers who knew the history of their craft and the importance of support organizations to stand behind them. When we first opened our door in Minneapolis in 1991, independents were just trying to break into the market. Now they clean up at the Emmy Awards and Hollywood swarms Sundance…. Read More