Voces, Independent Lens
Sansón and Me
From Pelican Bay State Prison, Sansón’s life is defined by borders—between Mexico and the U.S., fact and fiction, personal choice and systemic force.
Let the Little Light Shine
A high-achieving elementary school just south of downtown Chicago is a lifeline for Black children—until gentrification threatens its closure.
- Series
- POV
- Premiere Date
- December 12, 2022
- Funding Initiative
- Diversity Development Fund
- Open Call
Director
Kevin Shaw
Kevin Shaw was a segment director and cinematographer on "America to Me," a STARZ mini-series from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Steve James. Shaw’s debut film, “The Street Stops Here,” aired nationally on PBS and ESPN in 2010 to rave reviews. Shaw is a graduate of Kartemquin Films Diverse Voices in Documentary program and a Firelight Media Documentary Lab… Show more
Producer
Rachel Dickson
Rachel Dickson produced "63 Boycott," which won the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at the Nashville Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Pan-African Film Festival. Dickson was the supervising producer of "The School Project," a web series produced by Kartemquin Films and was a field producer for "Hard Earned," which won the Alfred I.… Show more
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The Film
National Teachers Academy (NTA) is a top-ranked, high-achieving elementary school just south of downtown Chicago, with a thriving population of mostly low-income and Black students. But, as the neighborhood grows and gentrifies, a parents’ group eager for a high school in the community seeks to close NTA and replace it with a high school campus. As the Chicago Public Schools administrators, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the city's politicians debate the future of the school, the film brings you inside NTA to meet the students, parents, and educators fighting to save their beloved institution.
