ITVS Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives

Posted on June 4, 2020

ITVS stands in solidarity with people expressing their First Amendment right to assemble in protest of the inhumane acts of police and the murders of Black people. 

Independent documentary filmmakers who bear witness to racial injustice in our communities, who ensure that silenced voices are heard, must have safety and economic security. Their work unfolds beyond the headlines and tweets, taking years to evolve into a story that reflects our fullest humanity. They reveal truths unseen.

BIPOC filmmakers face greater physical and emotional risks to pursue their art and livelihood in the months and years ahead. Few filmmakers have succeeded in getting relief funds through the CARES Act despite our attempts to light the path through webinars that reached thousands. This is unacceptable. They need financial support now to continue documenting the experiences of the communities which have been disproportionately devastated by the pandemics of police violence and coronavirus.

We are calling on Congress to provide additional funding for public broadcasting—and asking it in turn to support emergency funding for independent filmmakers of color. Without their voices and their stories, we will stand in the past, forever. With them, we will step together toward a more just future for all communities across America.

—Garry Denny
Chair, ITVS Board of Directors
Director of Programming, PBS Wisconsin

—Sally Jo Fifer
President & CEO, ITVS


Update: July 6, 2020 — ITVS is committing to publish key staff and funded-filmmaker data that we provide each fiscal year to our Board and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

From our blog

  1. ITVS Responds to Rescission Vote

    July 18, 2025

    [July 18, 2025] Carrie Lozano, President and CEO of the Independent Television Service (ITVS), issued the following statement in response to Congress' vote clawing back congressional approved funding for public media.Congress’ decision to pass the rescission package that removes the $1.1B of previously approved federal funds for the Corporation of…

  2. Protecting Our Future and Charting the Course Ahead

    June 4, 2025

    We are sharing the sad and difficult news that ITVS is reducing its staff by 13 individuals across the organization. For a staff so committed to our mission and to each other, this 20% staff reduction is a painful moment. Our dedicated staff have made important contributions that are part of ITVS' legacy and success story. In the past few months, ITVS has…

  3. ITVS Documentary "Greener Pastures" Honored by the Television Academy

    May 1, 2025

    The Television Academy announced that the ITVS-supported, Independent Lens documentary Greener Pastures will be celebrated at the 18th Television Academy Honors. Established in 2008, the Television Academy Honors Award recognizes “Television with a Conscience” and seeks to celebrate programs that inspire, motivate, and harness the power of…