Bike Vessel

Independent Lens

Indie Films Series / 8 Seasons

Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.

Watch Latest: S26 E13

1h 24m

From Sundance to Oscar: Profile of Filmmaker David France

2m 23s / TV-PG

This time last year, journalist David France was receiving lots of credit for his documentary “How To Survive A Plague.” One year later, the first time filmmaker is back at Sundance as an Academy Award nominated director.

Outlawed in Pakistan: Sundance Premiere

2m 35s / TV-PG

Filmmakers Habiba Nosheen and Hilke Schellmann reflect on the premiere of their film "Outlawed in Pakistan" at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The documentary follows the story of a Pakistani teenager, who accuses four men from her village of gang-raping her and then faces a deeply flawed criminal-justice system, when she takes her case to the Pakistani courts.

God Loves Uganda: Sundance Premiere

3m 8s

Filmmaker Roger Ross Williams reflects on the premiere of his film "God Loves Uganda" which played January, 18 at the Sundance Film Festival. The documentary is a powerful exploration of the evangelical campaign to change African culture with values imported from America's Christian Right.

The Boys of “American Promise”

2m 52s

A day in the life with the subjects of the documentary American Promise. Best friends Idris Brewster and Oluwaseun (Seun) Summers reflect on their first trip to Sundance, days before the premiere of their feature documentary.

Bhutto: The History of Pakistan

7m 43s / TV-PG

This educational film module, adapted from the Independent Lens film Bhutto, shows a brief montage of the pivotal moments in Pakistan’s birth as a nation, and the critical economic, political and social issues that the country faces. The module supports curricula developed to understand Benazir Bhutto's legacy as the first female leader of a Muslim nation.

Bhutto: First Woman Leader of a Muslim Nation

6m 59s / TV-PG

This educational film module from Bhutto traces the rise of Benazir Bhutto to power. Review the status of women in Pakistan, the influences of Islam and the military on Pakistani politics, and Bhutto's personal life. The module raises the question: was Bhutto a feminist or pragmatist when reconciling her position on women’s rights with conservative Islamic elements in power in Pakistan?

Beauty is Embarrassing: Wayne White and Mimi Pond "Meet Cute

1m 42s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens film, Beauty is Embarrassing, Wayne White and his wife, Mimi Pond, recount how they first met ... entirely in the style of one of Mimi's comic strips!

On a Mission to Bring Humor into Fine Art

2m 25s / TV-PG

Take a ride through the life and current times of one of America’s most important artists, Wayne White. Raised in the mountains of Tennessee, Wayne White started his career as a cartoonist in New York City. He quickly found success as one of the creators of the TV show, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which led to more work designing some of the most arresting and iconic images in pop culture.

Is Soul Food a Sacrament or a Sin?

2m 13s / TV-PG

To many African Americans, soul food is sacrament, ritual, and a key expression of cultural identity. But does this traditional cuisine do more harm to health than it soothes the soul? Find out in Soul Food Junkies coming next season to Independent Lens.

Soul Food Junkies: Good to You vs. Good for You

4m 5s / TV-PG

In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, Soul Food Junkies, filmmaker Byron Hurt visits Jackson, Mississippi to learn more about soul food cooking and describes some of the health concerns related to traditional Southern cuisine.

Criminal Justice System: Mentorship

4m 22s / TV-PG

This Community Classroom module from Troop 1500 follows Ida as she attends her mother's high school graduation in prison. Viewers examine the ways that individuals, even under difficult circumstances, can inspire us. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Decisions

8m 37s / TV-PG

This Community Classroom module details the relationships between mothers in prison and the daughters left behind. The viewer watches as several girls visit their mothers in jail as part of a Girl Scout troop program and think about the ways that families are impacted by incarceration. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Cyntoia as Mentor

2m 52s / TV-PG

This Community Classroom module features Cyntoia, a teen girl serving a life sentence, as she reflects on her choices and the difficult circumstances that led her to where she is today. Viewers examine the ways that individuals, even under difficult circumstances, can inspire us. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Meet Rosa

4m 50s / TV-PG

This Community Classroom module from Girls on the Wall interviews Rosa, a teen girl currently serving a short sentence in an Illinois juvenile detention center. Viewers get a snapshot of her childhood and the adversity she has faced in her life. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Intervention

6m

This Community Classroom module introduces the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program, which brings together daughters with their incarcerated moms. Viewers see examples of activities that are designed to strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters even when these mothers are locked up. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Seizing Stories

4m 19s / TV-PG

In this Community Classroom module from Me Facing Life, we hear Cyntoia analyze and reflect on her past sexual history and victimization as well as one step she recently took in prison in response to that past. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Expression

7m 43s

This Community Classroom module takes a look at a drama therapy program at a juvenile detention center for girls in Illinois. Viewers watch as the girls struggle to make sense of their own stories and how they can be used collectively to tell a larger, transformative narrative. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: Meet Cyntoia

6m 29s / TV-PG

In this Community Classroom module from Me Facing Life, viewers meet Cyntoia, a teen girl currently serving a life sentence in an adult state prison in Tennessee for murder. Viewers get a snapshot of the factors that led to where she is today. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

Criminal Justice System: What to Do

3m 22s / TV-PG

This Community Classroom module hears from a range of people weighing in on the result of Cyntoia’s case, including a court-appointed forensic psychologist, the prosecuting attorney, and members of Cyntoia’s family. Questions such as whether teens should be tried as adults are addressed. Part of the Women and Girls Lead, Volume 3 curriculum titled Women, Girls and the Criminal Justice System.

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