The ITVS Indies Roundup
A curated list of indie news and recommendations from ITVS’s Rebecca Huval.
Hey, internet dunces: You, too, could create a multimedia package for your film! Knight News Challenge winner the Tiziano Project pulls from existing technology on the web to help storytellers with amateur web skills polish their online videos. "Get comfortable with the idea that you won’t know what’s good until it’s already happened,” said Radiolab founder Jad Abumrad. The storytelling genius (no, really, he just won a MacArthur Genius Grant) shared the origins of Radiolab with the Transom. (via @brainpicker) Follow one of the oldest film festivals in Europe, the Locarno Film Festival, Aug. 1-11, through the eyes of some of its critics-in-training. A new Critic Academy sharpens the chops of aspiring film reviewers.
Director of the beautiful new Beasts of the Southern Wild shared how he assembled his ragtag team of filmmakers in New Orleans. For one thing, he picks the worker who buys doughnuts and laughs loudly over the one who smoothly maneuvers a dolly. “In the end, no matter what, the movies come out wild, brave and good-hearted; and that’s more important to me than smooth dolly moves.” Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (full disclosure: an ITVS-funded film) shows the intimate side of the famous Chinese dissident and artist at home with his mother, son, and cats. POV interviewed director Alison Klayman to find out how she got such up-close-and-personal access. “What is the most wonderful thing I could be doing?” asked illustrator and self-proclaimed “loopy optimist” Maira Kalman. Watch this short video interview for more insight into the creative life, as well as Kalman’s strange and wonderful mind.
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From our blog
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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…
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Protecting Our Future and Charting the Course Ahead
June 4, 2025We 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…
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ITVS Documentary "Greener Pastures" Honored by the Television Academy
May 1, 2025The 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…