May 16, 2016 | POV’s daily list of essential reading for the documentary and independent filmmaking community.


10 Documentaries That Actually Changed Things
Documentaries spark conversations and controversies, engaging audiences with issues of social justice, climate change or even food. More often than not, these conversations die down after a few months of passionate debate. 10 particular films, however, did more than spark conversation; they spurred court appeals, policy revisions, and even fast-food menu changes — making real, tangible impact. Included in the list are Thin Blue Line, Bowling for Columbine, and Blackfish.
Read more | Mental Floss »

10 Must See Photography Documentaries and Their Trailers
Whether you are an avid fan of the camera or in a creative rut as a filmmaker, check out these 10 photography documentaries for some inspiration. POV’s Finding Vivian Maier, and 5 Broken Cameras are two that make this list. Take a look behind the camera to see how these films take the art of photography and filmmaking to unique directions.
Read more | Fstoppers »

The 10th Taiwan International Documentary Festival Award Winners Announced
The Taiwan International Documentary Film Festival concluded yesterday and the list of winners is out! The film Brothers won the Grand Prize of “International Competition”; the Iranian documentary Hero and the Cloak was awarded “Asian Vision Competition” Grand Prize; and Le Moulin won the Grand Prize of “Taiwan Competition”. Check out these films and more from the festival.
Read more | Taiwan International Documentary Festival »

Cannes 2016: Meet Dan Schoenbrun, Documentary Film Outreach Lead At Kickstarter
Starting today, IndieWire is profiling some of the youngest talent behind-the-scenes at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Senior Film Outreach Lead of Kickstarter and New York City native, Dan Schoenbrun starts off the week with some advice on meeting people in the industry outside of film festivals.
Read more | IndieWire »

50th Anniversary of Kartemquin Films: ‘Grassroots Chicago’
For the 50th anniversary of Kartemquin Films, the award-winning production company is bringing back a film for free streaming each week of 2016 to honor the legacy and work in Chicago. Grassroots Chicago, a documentary about neighborhood people creating change, is the film for this week. Produced for the MacArthur Foundation by Kartemquin Films, this piece features six vignettes on community organizing in different Chicago neighborhoods: LeClaire Courts, Marquette Park, Roseland, Pilsen, Uptown, Rogers Park, and Garfield Park. Watch here.
Read more | Kartemquin Films »

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POV Staff
POV Staff
POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is television's longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. POV premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.