America ReFramed

Indie Films Series / 7 Seasons

America ReFramed brings to life compelling stories, personal voices and experiences that illuminate the contours of our ever-changing country. Since 2012, the series has premiered 170 films - more than half helmed by female makers and a third credited to BIPOC makers - centering stories of the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, the formerly incarcerated, veterans, immigrants and more.

Watch Latest: S12 E6

1h 12m / TV-PG

By Water | Trailer

50s / TV-PG

BY WATER follows an unlikely hero's journey into his memories, which transform into a vehicle for reconciliation and healing. Based on a true story, the film was written and inspired by Iyabo Kwayana’s experience with her brother. Upon receiving an unexpected voicemail from him after his disappearance, Kwayana heeded her brother’s message and created this film as a way to “complete” his story.

By Water | Preview

30s / TV-PG

BY WATER follows an unlikely hero's journey into his memories, which transform into a vehicle for reconciliation and healing. Based on a true story, the film was written and inspired by Iyabo Kwayana’s experience with her brother. Upon receiving an unexpected voicemail from him after his disappearance, Kwayana heeded her brother’s message and created this film as a way to “complete” his story.

Town Destroyer | Cultural Appropriation

48s / TV-PG

Why is America secretly obsessed with Native Americans? Author Paul Chaat Smith (Comanche), who is the curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, walks through an exhibit featuring American icons like Elvis, Cher and Barbie and other recognizable pieces of American culture that appropriates Native American names and clothing or created an image of a "savage" Indian.

Town Destroyer | History's Impact: Trauma vs. Catalyst

2m 32s / TV-PG

Whether it be a name or a monument, what harm can it bring? Jessica Young explains how the repeated experience of seeing something like "dead Indian" in Victor Anautoff's "Life in Washington" murals can traumatize while Pete Galindo shares how, even though he grew up with violence around him, a work of art depicting violence would instead validate and empower him.

Town Destroyer | The Argument For & Against Art's Removal

1m 27s / TV-PG

The San Francisco community in and around George Washington High School express their opinions about the Victor Arnautoff murals "Life of Washington" in front of the school board who are deciding their fate. The students and parents testify to the trauma of witnessing the works day in and day out while community members say why they are for or against removing art and history.

Town Destroyer | Reframing George Washington and History

2m 3s / TV-PG

George Washington's legacy is based on his role as one of the Founding Fathers and the first president of the United States. But for the Iroquois and tribal nations, he is known as the Town Destroyer (Hanodaga:yas). At San Francisco's George Washington High School, the Victor Arnautoff murals expose his harm to Native Americans and slaves, and has laid controversy to students and the community.

Town Destroyer | Trailer

1m 23s / TV-PG

TOWN DESTROYER probes a passionate dispute over historic murals at a public high school depicting the life of George Washington: slaveowner, General, land speculator, President, and a man Seneca leaders called “town destroyer.” The controversy becomes a touchstone for a national debate over public art and historic memory in a time of racial reckoning.

Town Destroyer | Preview

30s / TV-PG

TOWN DESTROYER probes a passionate dispute over historic murals at a public high school depicting the life of George Washington: slaveowner, General, land speculator, President, and a man Seneca leaders called “town destroyer.” The controversy becomes a touchstone for a national debate over public art and historic memory in a time of racial reckoning.

No Time to Fail | Disinformation

1m 24s / TV-PG

As mail-in ballots are dropped off in official drop boxes for 2020 presidential election, Rhode Island's election officials like Terri Bucci, Maria Madonna and Nick Lima must combat disinformation being spread to the media and on social media, making their jobs tougher during the COVID-19 pandemic.

No Time to Fail | Mail-In Ballot Hate

1m 6s / TV-PG

Rob Rock, the Director of Elections under the Secretary of State in Rhode Island, reviews the responses his office has received over mail-in ballots; these voters are upset over the option to vote by mail and believe the process is, for example, a hoax. Rock remains unfazed by the comments and continues to do the work to ensure a fair election for all.

No Time to Fail | Distrust: Voting by Mail vs. In-Person

55s / TV-PG

Kathy Placencia, the Administrator of Elections in Providence, Rhode Island, inspects the line of residents waiting to vote in-person as well as the drop box for those voters who are using the mail-in ballot option. On election day, Placencia's responsibilities include setting up and overseeing the voting process at the polls.

No Time to Fail | Preventing Voter Fraud

42s / TV-PG

Ahead of election day, Rhode Island's election officials work within the system to prevent voter fraud; checking signatures on official forms is only one of many methods of prevention. They are also available to answer any questions to help reassure the public that votes are legitimate and that elections are fair.

No Time to Fail | Day in the Life of an Election Official

1m 19s / TV-PG

Kathy Placencia, the Administrator of Elections of Providence, Rhode Island, opens the door to the unbalanced life and work of an election official. Placencia and her many colleagues are dealing with the 2020 presidential election during the pandemic and must work through challenges they have never faced before including disinformation and the availability of mail-in ballots for all voters.

No Time to Fail | A Passion for Voting

1m 22s / TV-PG

For the 2020 presidential election, voters chose to vote by mail and in-person in the middle of the pandemic. One of the most well known civic duties and responsibilities in America, voting became a source of division due to mistrust and disinformation yet the turnout was the highest in the 21st century (according to the U.S. Census, 66.8% of registered voters cast their ballots).

No Time to Fail | Preview

30s / TV-PG

Rhode Island's local election administrators and poll workers work around the clock to secure the vote for their community during the 2020 election -- midst an onslaught of attacks from a sitting President and the deadly threat of a global pandemic. Once invisible to the general public, NO TIME TO FAIL spotlights election administrators as the ground zero of American democracy.

No Time to Fail | Trailer

1m 7s / TV-PG

Rhode Island's local election administrators and poll workers work around the clock to secure the vote for their community during the 2020 election -- midst an onslaught of attacks from a sitting President and the deadly threat of a global pandemic. Once invisible to the general public, NO TIME TO FAIL spotlights election administrators as the ground zero of American democracy.

Running with My Girls | The Only One

1m 35s / TV-PG

Shontel M. Lewis, the director of Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), talks about her position on how and why she votes for the city's residents. As a representative of the community, Lewis believes in finding solutions that do not harm those who have been marginalized even if unfavorable with her colleagues. She also shares why women of color should run for political office.

Running with My Girls | Why Voting is Your Voice

33s / TV-PG

Shayla Richard, a candidate for Denver's City Council District 11, talks about the important civic duty of voting and why citizens must go to the polls if they want to be heard. Richard says that "savvy" politicians target underserved communities, and make decisions for their own benefit and against the best interests of their constituents.

Running with My Girls | Women Working Together

1m 12s / TV-PG

Election campaigning is a dog eat dog world. But what happens when candidates, albeit in separate races, work together to uplift and support each other? Candi CdeBaca, Lisa Calderón, Shayla Richard, Veronica Barela and Shontel Lewis show the residents of Denver the power of a collective when it comes to local politics.

Running with My Girls | The Gentrification of Denver

21s / TV-PG

Once considered an affordable American city, Denver is losing the housing war - home ownership and renting - to gentrification. Districts of the Colorado capital are seeing a surge of development and rising prices and taxes, pushing out long-time residents and business owners for the more affluent especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods.

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