Independent Lens

Indie Films Series / 8 Seasons

Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.

Watch Latest: S26 E1

1h 16m / TV-PG

Waste Land: Art and Transformation

8m 7s / TV-PG

This educational film module introduces Jardim Gramacho - the world's largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - and some of the people who work there. The module raises questions around the power of art to change lives, and the social responsibility of the artist.

Waste Land: Pictures of Garbage

3m 52s / TV-PG

This brief film module introduces Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, and his project "Pictures of Garbage," which inspired the documentary Wasteland. The module explores how Muniz initially conceived of the project of creating large scale portraits of garbage pickers made from garbage they collected from the world's largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Waste Land: Human Dignity

9m 32s / TV-PG

This educational film module portrays the lives of two women working as garbage pickers in the world's largest landfill, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Magna and Suleima. Both participate in Vik Muniz's art project "Pictures of Garbage," which helps the women deepen their sense of self worth, and find greater respect from their community.

New Frontier: Sparking Innovation at Sundance

1m 41s

New Frontier is a social and creative space at the Sundance Film Festival that showcases media installations, multimedia performances, transmedia experiences, panel discussions, and more. Shari Frilot, senior programmer of the festival and the New Frontier, explains why the exhibits are a natural fit for Sundance and filmmakers.

Pushing the Elephant: Reunion

6m 56s / TV-PG

This film module shows Congolese refugee Rose Mapendo's reunion with her daughter Nangabire, who was separated from the rest of the family 10 years prior to their arrival to the U.S. Rose and her 10 children recount their imprisonment and the murder of Rose's husband in the DRC. Meanwhile, Nangabire prepares for an emotional reunion with her family.

Pushing the Elephant: Rose Tells Her Story

9m 47s / TV-PG

This film module portrays Congolese refugee Rose Mapendo's activism on the behalf of women and refugees. We see her gradually find her voice and share her story publicly to raise awareness about rape as a weapon of war, and the need to support refugees as they rebuild their lives. It also shows her return to the DRC to meet with women there and discuss strategies for their empowerment.

Lois Vossen on Curation at Sundance

3m 29s

Independent Lens founding series producer, Lois Vossen, offers advice on how to survive the landmark festival in Park City, and talks about some of the recent PBS hits that got their start at Sundance. A longtime Sundance Veteran, Vossen winds up seeing up to five films a day as she scours the town for new talent in documentary film.

Pushing the Elephant: First Day of School

5m 45s / TV-PG

This film module follows Congolese refugee Nangabire on her first day of school in the U.S. We see her sense of isolation in a new environment, where she can't speak the language and doesn't know the culture. In a conversation with her mother, she also reveals her side of the story of being separated from her mother and siblings for the past 10 years after they left the DRC as refugees.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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?

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.

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: 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.

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