Series & Collections

A film festival in your living room, Independent Lens is public television’s largest showcase of independent film. The Emmy Award-winning series runs from October through June and covers the full spectrum of independent film — innovative documentaries, dramas, shorts, and animated works united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unwavering vision of their independent producers. Independent Lens airs Tuesdays at 10 PM on PBS. (Check local listings.)

Global Voices presents U.S. premieres of critically acclaimed international documentaries, offering the unique perspectives of international independent filmmakers. The series also features internationally themed programs by American filmmakers. Global Voices presents compelling stories often overlooked by American media, from tales of corruption in Chad to the hip hop movement in South America. Global Voices can be seen on PBS WORLD, Sundays at 10 PM (Check local listings).

The Global Perspectives Collection encompasses more than 100 ITVS-funded films from over 75 countries around the world. These independent documentaries capture ordinary and compelling voices from the filmmakers' own communities, offering diverse perspectives on social issues, politics, and much more. Films from the Global Perspectives Collection have aired on acclaimed PBS series, as well as many commercial outlets.

Imagining tomorrow’s America today, FUTURESTATES is a series of independent mini-features — short narrative films created by experienced filmmakers and emerging talents transforming today’s complex social issues into visions about what life in America will be like in decades to come. The first season of FUTURESTATES debuted in March 2010, and is available exclusively online.

True Stories: Life in the USA shows international audiences an America rarely seen in headline news or commercial media, providing a more authentic perspective of the United States and its people. ITVS works closely with public media broadcasters around the world to present this 16-part independent documentary series that challenges preconceived notions, and to show the world the true stories of America.