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We’re back in the office and it feels like the best kind of “full circle” moment!

Last week marked the return of our in-house Behind the Lens filmmaker interview shoot, our first time bringing filmmakers back into the space after a few years of virtual production.

There’s always been a special kind of buzz when filmmakers walk through the door, conversations unfolding in real time, and the entire office shifting into creative gear. Seeing that come alive again reminded us why this series has always felt so central to what we do.

Huge thanks to the filmmakers who joined us and to the team who helped bring the space back to life.

This is just the beginning, keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes moments in the coming weeks!

We’re back in the office and it feels like the best kind of “full circle” moment!

Last week marked the return of our in-house Behind the Lens filmmaker interview shoot, our first time bringing filmmakers back into the space after a few years of virtual production.

There’s always been a special kind of buzz when filmmakers walk through the door, conversations unfolding in real time, and the entire office shifting into creative gear. Seeing that come alive again reminded us why this series has always felt so central to what we do.

Huge thanks to the filmmakers who joined us and to the team who helped bring the space back to life.

This is just the beginning, keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes moments in the coming weeks!

We’re back in the office and it feels like the best kind of “full circle” moment!

Last week marked the return of our in-house Behind the Lens filmmaker interview shoot, our first time bringing filmmakers back into the space after a few years of virtual production.

There’s always been a special kind of buzz when filmmakers walk through the door, conversations unfolding in real time, and the entire office shifting into creative gear. Seeing that come alive again reminded us why this series has always felt so central to what we do.

Huge thanks to the filmmakers who joined us and to the team who helped bring the space back to life.

This is just the beginning, keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes moments in the coming weeks!

This May, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month with a POV collection centered on healing, resilience, and the power of creative expression.

In partnership with @film.in.mind, The D-Word, and @documentalityproject, this collection reflects the 2026 theme “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” highlighting stories of compassion, reflection, and the many ways we cope with life’s challenges.

From intimate portraits of mother-daughter relationships to meditations on grief, absence, and connection, these films reveal pathways toward understanding, healing, and reconciliation. Across the collection, art emerges as a powerful lifeline offering expression, identity, and hope in the face of adversity.

Stream the collection now on POV! @amdocdocumentary

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #POVonPBS #AmericanDocumentary #Documentary #MentalHealth

American Documentary is at @PBS Annual Meeting, where PBS station partners, filmmakers, and public media colleagues came together to talk about what’s next, and how we get there together!

Our Executive Director, Erika Dilday (@dildaydoc), and Station Manager, Gina Basso (@ginabasso), are on the ground spending time connecting with station partners, sharing ideas, and digging into the future of storytelling in public media.

A highlight: Erika shared an early look at the POV Season 39 trailer giving stations a first glimpse of the powerful lineup of films coming soon to PBS.

Big energy, big ideas, and a lot of momentum heading into the year ahead.

American Documentary is at @PBS Annual Meeting, where PBS station partners, filmmakers, and public media colleagues came together to talk about what’s next, and how we get there together!

Our Executive Director, Erika Dilday (@dildaydoc), and Station Manager, Gina Basso (@ginabasso), are on the ground spending time connecting with station partners, sharing ideas, and digging into the future of storytelling in public media.

A highlight: Erika shared an early look at the POV Season 39 trailer giving stations a first glimpse of the powerful lineup of films coming soon to PBS.

Big energy, big ideas, and a lot of momentum heading into the year ahead.

American Documentary is at @PBS Annual Meeting, where PBS station partners, filmmakers, and public media colleagues came together to talk about what’s next, and how we get there together!

Our Executive Director, Erika Dilday (@dildaydoc), and Station Manager, Gina Basso (@ginabasso), are on the ground spending time connecting with station partners, sharing ideas, and digging into the future of storytelling in public media.

A highlight: Erika shared an early look at the POV Season 39 trailer giving stations a first glimpse of the powerful lineup of films coming soon to PBS.

Big energy, big ideas, and a lot of momentum heading into the year ahead.

American Documentary is at @PBS Annual Meeting, where PBS station partners, filmmakers, and public media colleagues came together to talk about what’s next, and how we get there together!

Our Executive Director, Erika Dilday (@dildaydoc), and Station Manager, Gina Basso (@ginabasso), are on the ground spending time connecting with station partners, sharing ideas, and digging into the future of storytelling in public media.

A highlight: Erika shared an early look at the POV Season 39 trailer giving stations a first glimpse of the powerful lineup of films coming soon to PBS.

Big energy, big ideas, and a lot of momentum heading into the year ahead.

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨

Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling.

📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking!

Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs
—
#MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

This May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a curated POV collection honoring stories of identity, migration, memory, and belonging.

Co-presented with @caamedia and @picpacific, this collection spotlights AAPI filmmakers whose work reflects the richness and complexity of lives shaped by immigration and cultural connection.

Across these films, personal journeys unfold into powerful reflections bridging generations, revealing unexpected intersections, and showing how differences become strengths.

Watch the full collection, streaming this May on POV and the @PBS App.

#AAPIHeritageMonth #POVonPBS #AmericanDocumentary #AAPIStories #Documentary

📣 We are overjoyed to be announcing the first-ever Doc Day Party at this year’s #CannesDocs edition! 🎉

The festive gathering will take place on the Croisette and close out #DocDay 2026 in style, with a DJ set by @palomacolombe.

This event is made possible thanks to the extremely precious support of:

🔹 American Documentary 2026 (@amdocdocumentary)

🔹 IEFTF - The International Emerging Film Talent Fund (@ieftf_org)

🔹 Millennium Docs Against Gravity (@millenniumdocsagainstgravity) & FIPRESCI (@fipresci), in celebration of the brand-new DOCUMENTARY GRAND PRIX for the best documentary film of the year, to be announced during the Opening Ceremony of the 23 Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival in Warsaw, Poland on 7 May

A huge heartfelt THANK YOU to all of these extraordinary supporters for turning this long-awaited Doc Day Party fantasy into reality!

📌 Please note that the Doc Day Party is an exclusive event, strictly accessible by invitation only.
—
#MDF26 #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026 #DocDayParty #DocumentaryGrandPrix

A few days ago, our POV Engage team gathered for a meaningful (and energizing) department retreat 💫

Huge shoutout to Robert Salyer for securing our free meeting space at the beautiful Brooklyn Library, which truly set the tone for the day. And a special sendoff to our incredible Reelworks apprentice Shmyah. We’re so grateful for all the thoughtfulness and creativity you brought to the team. ❤️

Group photo magic courtesy of our very own David Nanasi! 📸

#AmericanDocumentary #TeamMoment #Documentary #Community #PublicMedia

🌸✈️ Spring is in full swing and so is festival season for American Documentary!

Our team is hitting the road this April, connecting with filmmakers, discovering new stories, and championing nonfiction cinema across the U.S. and Europe. Here’s where you can find AmDoc staff in the field:

ReelAbilities Film Festival
Kerry LeVielle and Cayla Clements are attending this milestone festival spotlighting disability representation and advocacy through film.

Visions du Réel
Robert Y. Chang heads to this globally renowned doc festival showcasing bold, boundary-pushing storytelling.

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Opal H. Bennett and Chris White will be on the ground at North America’s leading documentary festival, market, and conference.

San Francisco International Film Festival
Gina Basso joins the longest-running film festival in the Americas, celebrating global cinema and innovation.

PitchBLACK Forum 2026
Robert Y. Chang returns to NYC for this dynamic pitch forum uplifting Black storytellers and creative technologists.

If you’re attending any of these events, come say hi 👋 and follow along as we share moments from the field all month long.

#AmDocInTheField #FilmFestival #Documentary

🌸✈️ Spring is in full swing and so is festival season for American Documentary!

Our team is hitting the road this April, connecting with filmmakers, discovering new stories, and championing nonfiction cinema across the U.S. and Europe. Here’s where you can find AmDoc staff in the field:

ReelAbilities Film Festival
Kerry LeVielle and Cayla Clements are attending this milestone festival spotlighting disability representation and advocacy through film.

Visions du Réel
Robert Y. Chang heads to this globally renowned doc festival showcasing bold, boundary-pushing storytelling.

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
Opal H. Bennett and Chris White will be on the ground at North America’s leading documentary festival, market, and conference.

San Francisco International Film Festival
Gina Basso joins the longest-running film festival in the Americas, celebrating global cinema and innovation.

PitchBLACK Forum 2026
Robert Y. Chang returns to NYC for this dynamic pitch forum uplifting Black storytellers and creative technologists.

If you’re attending any of these events, come say hi 👋 and follow along as we share moments from the field all month long.

#AmDocInTheField #FilmFestival #Documentary

American Documentary is honored to receive eight nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the 47th News & Documentary Emmy® Awards. 🎉

Spanning the 38th season of POV and Season 8 of POV Shorts, this recognition highlights the power and impact of nonfiction storytelling across program and craft categories. Nominated films include:

Best Documentary
UNION
Black Snow

Outstanding Social Issue Documentary
The Ride Ahead

Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary
Made in Ethiopia
DRIVER

Outstanding Short Documentary
Chasing Time

Additional craft honors:
The Ride Ahead — Outstanding Graphic Design
Chasing Time — Outstanding Music Composition

We’re deeply grateful to the visionary filmmakers and teams behind these works.

See the full list of nominees here: https://loom.ly/UIt9GLk.

#AmericanDocumentary #POVonPBS #POVShortsonPBS #PBS #Emmys Documentary

April is here, and so are two new POV collections now streaming for a limited time.

Arab American Heritage Month Collection
In celebration of Arab American Heritage Month, discover two intimate films that honor the richness and resilience of Arab American experiences. Coming Home follows young Palestinian American dancers using Dabke to stay connected to culture and community, while An Act of Worship offers a powerful reflection on Muslim American life over the past 30 years.

Earth Month Collection
Since Earth Day first sparked a global movement in 1970, the fight to protect our planet continues. This collection brings together films that place the environment at the heart of the story, from rainforests to city streets, exploring the deep connections between people, land, and legacy. Meet the individuals and communities leading the charge, preserving traditions, and reimagining a more sustainable future.

Stream both collections now on www.pov.org and the PBS App.

#AmericanDocumentary #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #PBS #Documentary

Celebrating the journeys behind the work!

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the incredible women of American Documentary by looking back. From childhood snapshots to the leaders, storytellers, and connectors as they are today, these photos remind us that every path begins somewhere.

Each image is a glimpse into the early moments that shaped the voices, visions, and impact driving our mission forward. We’re proud to celebrate the growth, resilience, and brilliance of the women who make this work possible.

Here’s to where they started and all they’ve become. 💛

#WomensHistoryMonth #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #AmericaReFramed #AmericanDocumentary

Celebrating the journeys behind the work!

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the incredible women of American Documentary by looking back. From childhood snapshots to the leaders, storytellers, and connectors as they are today, these photos remind us that every path begins somewhere.

Each image is a glimpse into the early moments that shaped the voices, visions, and impact driving our mission forward. We’re proud to celebrate the growth, resilience, and brilliance of the women who make this work possible.

Here’s to where they started and all they’ve become. 💛

#WomensHistoryMonth #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #AmericaReFramed #AmericanDocumentary

Celebrating the journeys behind the work!

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the incredible women of American Documentary by looking back. From childhood snapshots to the leaders, storytellers, and connectors as they are today, these photos remind us that every path begins somewhere.

Each image is a glimpse into the early moments that shaped the voices, visions, and impact driving our mission forward. We’re proud to celebrate the growth, resilience, and brilliance of the women who make this work possible.

Here’s to where they started and all they’ve become. 💛

#WomensHistoryMonth #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #AmericaReFramed #AmericanDocumentary

Celebrating the journeys behind the work!

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the incredible women of American Documentary by looking back. From childhood snapshots to the leaders, storytellers, and connectors as they are today, these photos remind us that every path begins somewhere.

Each image is a glimpse into the early moments that shaped the voices, visions, and impact driving our mission forward. We’re proud to celebrate the growth, resilience, and brilliance of the women who make this work possible.

Here’s to where they started and all they’ve become. 💛

#WomensHistoryMonth #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #AmericaReFramed #AmericanDocumentary

Celebrating the journeys behind the work!

This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the incredible women of American Documentary by looking back. From childhood snapshots to the leaders, storytellers, and connectors as they are today, these photos remind us that every path begins somewhere.

Each image is a glimpse into the early moments that shaped the voices, visions, and impact driving our mission forward. We’re proud to celebrate the growth, resilience, and brilliance of the women who make this work possible.

Here’s to where they started and all they’ve become. 💛

#WomensHistoryMonth #POVonPBS #POVShortsOnPBS #AmericaReFramed #AmericanDocumentary

Thank you to everyone who joined us in NYC for an unforgettable evening celebrating The Bitter Pill!

From the powerful screening to the dynamic post-film conversation, the night was filled with energy, reflection, and a shared commitment to storytelling that sparks real change. The film’s look into Paul Farrell Jr.’s fight for justice resonated deeply, reminding us of the impact one community’s voice can have on a national scale.

We were thrilled to hear directly from the film team and Paul during the conversation at @dctvny’s Firehouse Cinema.

Grateful for our community and the chance to come together through film.

#POVonPBS #TheBitterPill #Documentary #OpioidCrisis #PBS