POV's daily list of essential reading for the documentary and independent filmmaking community.

"He was a vital part of the cultural scene." - Tom DiCillo. The 1983 documentary 'Burroughs: The Movie' returns to the New York Film Festival on Thursday, October 9, 2014.

From the Midwest to Maine, wherever you are this Thursday you can find free community screenings of POV documentaries from current and past seasons! Check out our local screenings map for events near you.

Patti Smith: Dream of Life returns to PBS stations starting March 9, 2012. Renowned fashion photographer Steven Sebring filmed for more than a decade to capture the legendary rocker, poet and artist.

Late last week, TIME magazine published its 2011 TIME 100 list, featuring a group they deem to be “the most influential in the world.” TIME describes those chosen as people whose “ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even revolution.” Cory Booker and Patti Smith TIME Magazine This year’s list includes two POV alumni: Newark, […]

This week, we take a look at more news from past and upcoming film festivals; the Sheffield Doc/Fest opens for submissions; Stranger Than Fiction (NYC) announces its spring season; and the always inspirational Patti Smith is lauded for her unique style. Two POV films took top honors at the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, […]

The Patti Smith celebrations continue! Last week was the POV broadcast of Steven Sebring‘s Patti Smith: Dream of Life, as well as her New Year’s concerts in New York City. Last night saw the opening of “Objects of Life” at the Robert Miller Gallery in Manhattan’s Chelsea Art District, on West 26th Street. The show […]

In addition to last week’s documentary film, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, filmmaker Steven Sebring and musician/poet/photographer Patti Smith have also collaborated on a photography exhibit entitled “Objects of Life” opening tonight at the Robert Miller Gallery in New York City. For those of you in New York who may have missed our broadcast last […]

Patti Smith‘s got a lot going on in the coming weeks and months: sold-out Bowery Ballroom concerts; “Objects of Life” show with Steven Sebring at the Robert Miller Gallery; new book, Just Kids (pictured, right); poetry reading with Sam Shepard at the 92nd Street Y and of course, POV’s Patti Smith: Dream of Life, which […]

In honor of the broadcast of Patti Smith: Dream of Life and Patti’s birthday, we’re giving away 10 copies of the companion book! The book Patti Smith: Dream of Life is filled with more than 400 pages of evocative photographs, and beautifully published by Rizzoli press. Elle magazine says: “Coffee-table books, by definition, aren’t meant […]

Wednesday night’s POV broadcast of Patti Smith: Dream of Life (9 pm most PBS stations, check local listings) has been generating a lot of critical acclaim in the press and online. Sign On San Diego‘s Remote Possibilities blog names it a “TV Pick of the Week” and part of a “Genius Blowout” when coupled with […]

On December 30th, POV is thrilled to present Patti Smith: Dream of Life by Steven Sebring. The film, shot over 11 years, is a unique collaboration between the legendary rocker, poet and artist, and renowned fashion photographer Sebring. Following Smith’s personal reflections over a decade, the film explores her many art forms and the friends […]

POV spent some time in Los Angeles earlier this month at the Television Critics Association Press Tour promoting our December special, Patti Smith: Dream of Life. PBS did some interviews with filmmakers, producers and featured subjects of upcoming PBS shows and films. You can find a full line-up of interviews — including filmmakers Ken Burns, […]

POV Executive Director Simon Kilmurry unveils the exciting line-up for the 22nd season of POV on PBS. It’s always an exciting day when we finally get to announce the upcoming POV season. We’ve spent hundred of hours screening nearly 1,000 films, countless hours debating and arguing, and we’ve had to make some difficult choices along […]

WATCHING MediaStorm presents Rape of a Nation, Marcus Bleasdale’s photos from the D.R.C. Growing Up Online Is the Internet changing the experience of childhood? Frontline looks at the way kids are spending their time online.. READING Pirates of Sundance: Columbia Law prof Tim Wu recommends indie filmmakers look to BitTorrent for distribution. Via Slate.com Rabbi […]

WATCHING Patti Smith talks about the new film Patti Smith: Dream of Life by Stephen Sebring (via Salon.com). Classic moments from the Sundance Film Festival (via The Sundance Channel). READING Salon.com film critic Andrew O’Heir writes about his favorite narrative and documentary films from Sundance. Michael Moore wants multiplexes to air more documentaries and foreign […]

This is the last of our live reports from the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Cynthia Lopez is POV/AmDoc’s Vice President. This festival marked her eighth year attending Sundance. What follows is her personal diary of the high and low points of last week’s Sundance Film Festival. You just never know what’s going to happen when […]

Now that the big dance is over, I thought I'd take a moment to wrap things up. Once again, the biggest buzz at Sundance was generated by the documentary lineup.