BEYOND THE BOX MONTHLY from ITVS
October 2008

Welcome to BEYOND THE BOX MONTHLY: the latest news about upcoming films, festivals, funding, the independent film community, interactive projects and public television from your friends at ITVS.

1. FEATURES

ITVS Wins Four Emmy Awards
New Season of Independent Lens
Free Resources from Community Classroom
Join “The Conversation” in Berkeley, CA

2. DEPARTMENTS

Ask Programming
Community Cinema
ITVS in the News
ITVS on the Road
Applause!

3. NEW ONLINE

Subscribe to the ITVS YouTube Channel

4. THIS MONTH ON TV

October Programs

1. FEATURES
ITVS Wins Four Emmy Awards

The 29th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards were recently announced and this year ITVS filmmakers won four of the prestigious awards.

The News & Documentary Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in television journalism by individuals and programs, distributed via broadcast, cable and broadband. Since 1997, ITVS-funded projects have garnered 13 wins at the News and Documentary Emmys.

This year’s winners:

BILLY STRAYHORN: Lush Life, which aired last season of Independent Lens, took home the award for Best Documentary. Directed by Robert Levi, the film examines the life of the composer of "Take the 'A' Train" and other Duke Ellington hits, who struggled with obscurity and prejudice as a successful gay man in the tumultuous years of the mid-20th century.

OPERATION HOMECOMING: Writing the Wartime Experience, a co-production of ITVS and a presentation of WETA, aired as part of America at a Crossroads, a series developed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which explores the challenges confronting the post-9/11 world. Directed by Richard Robbins, OPERATION HOMECOMING presents firsthand accounts of American soldiers through their own words. The film received two Emmys; Outstanding Informational Programming-Long Form and Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound. A Documentary Group production, the film was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2008.

MADE IN L.A., an ITVS co-production presented on P.O.V., was awarded an Emmy in the Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story-Long Form category. Directed by Almudena Carracedo, the film documents the lives, struggles and personal transformations of three Latina immigrants working in garment factories and explores the complex impact of globalization on the U.S. apparel industry and its largely immigrant workforce.

"We are extremely proud of the amazing recognition these films have achieved. It is wonderful to see the hard work, determination and artistic vision of these outstanding independent filmmakers recognized with such esteemed awards," said Sally Jo Fifer, ITVS president and CEO.

Congratulations to the Emmy winners and nominees!

View the complete list of Emmy Award winners >>

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New Season of Independent Lens

Ready for another exciting and eclectic season of Independent Lens? Hosted by Academy Award-nominee Terrence Howard, Independent Lens returns this month to take viewers across the country and around the world. The season explores subjects as diverse as Pakistani politics, atom smashing, the U.S. deficit, revolutionary typefaces, Texas justice, the Alabama Mardi Gras color line and women and gays in the military.

Films on the 2008-2009 schedule include: CHICAGO 10, the season premiere on October 22, which explores the buildup to and unraveling of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial following the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention with original animation combined with rare archival footage; DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: A Nation's Journey, which combines a surprisingly frank interview with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, before he resigned, with a primer on Pakistan's past and the thoughts of a wide variety of Pakistanis; LIONESS, which looks at how five women in Iraq became involved in front-line combat despite the official policy against their participation; WONDERS ARE MANY: The Making of Doctor Atomic, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a grand opera and the atomic bomb; I.O.U.S.A., which tackles one of the biggest problems facing the United States: our mounting national debt.

View the fall schedule >>

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Free Resources from Community Classroom

Lesson plans and video modules for CHICAGO 10 will be available October 20 on the Independent Lens website on PBS.org. These free resources, designed using key national standards, round out the election edition of Community Classroom, which includes video modules for IRON LADIES OF LIBERIA and PLEASE VOTE FOR ME and additional lesson plans on elections, women in political leadership and democracy around the world.

This edition of Community Classroom supports ITVS's national community engagement campaign, VOTE DEMOCRACY!, and will feature Community Cinemas screenings of CHICAGO 10, voter registration activities and video talkback from citizens across the nation.

Get lesson plans and other Community Classroom materials >>

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Join “The Conversation” in Berkeley, CA

Pioneers at the forefront of change in cinema, video, games, media and technology are coming together to share ideas, insights and innovations on October 17-18 at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley, CA. The event, called “The Conversation,” will focus on the future of the entertainment industry––looking at the intersection of technology and media.

From 2:00-2:45 PM on Friday, October 17, ITVS will present the session, “The New Rules of Finance & Funding,” which will feature a panel discussion with Woody Benson, managing partner of Prism VentureWorks; Diana Barrett, founder of The Fledgling Fund; Michaelene Cristini Risley, independent filmmaker, Tapestries of Hope; and Graham Leggat, executive director of the San Francisco Film Society, who will serve as moderator.

Learn more about the event and how to register >>

top 2. DEPARTMENTS
Ask Programming

ITVS programming staff answer questions from filmmakers about the funding process:

Q. I have a script in development. The story involves social issue themes that align with the ITVS mission, but it’s not a documentary. Is there any funding available through ITVS for drama scripts?

A. Currently, our three main production-funding initiatives—Open Call, International Call and LINCS—do not accept drama proposals. We review drama proposals on an ongoing basis for commission funds. Review the process for submitting a proposal >>

If you are a filmmaker of color, we encourage you to submit an application for script development to the Diversity Development Fund.

Q. ITVS used to accept applications for dramas through Open Call and LINCS. Why have you changed your policy?

A. Supporting original dramas continues to be part of ITVS’s programming goals. A number of challenges, however, have made it necessary for us to reexamine our process and develop a new strategy. We receive few competitive scripts that fit our mission and are appropriate for a public television broadcast. Moreover, there is only one public television series, Independent Lens, that accepts dramas. While the curatorial team for Independent Lens reviews dramas, lately, documentaries tend to be more of a natural fit for television programming than the dramas we typically receive.

Nonetheless, we believe in the power of dramas to communicate powerful ideas that will provoke civic discourse. We are committed to serving independent filmmakers who prefer to work in drama. We are currently working to provide a more successful funding and broadcast opportunities to bring dramas to our audiences.

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Community Cinema

This month, ITVS Community Cinema presents LIONESS, directed by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers.

They went to Iraq as cooks, clerks and mechanics and returned a year later as part of America's first generation of female combat veterans. In LIONESS, Directors Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers give an intimate look at war through the eyes of women and the U.S. military policy that bans them from combat.

Community Cinema screenings of LIONESS will include special presentations and discussions with leading community organizations in over 50 locations around the country.

Highlights from September screenings of CHICAGO 10:

Community Cinema's launch in September brought CHICAGO 10 to over 50 communities across the country. At the San Francisco Public Library, Claude Marks, director of The Freedom Archives, and Judy Gumbo Alpert, an original member of the Yippes, spoke about race relations in the anti-war movement and shared personal stories. The Grand Rapids, MI, screening event at the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art brought attendees together to engage in discussion around voter protection and voter rights. At the Oakland Museum of California, community members discussed the changes in activism from the 1968 Democratic National Convention to current methods used by activist groups around the country.

Find program descriptions, event locations and more information on ITVS Community Cinema >>

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ITVS in the News

Media coverage of current, past and upcoming broadcasts:

The Huffington Post: PBS Dominates News & Documentary Emmys
PBS' Independent Lens won best documentary for its piece on composer Billy Strayhorn.

Variety: News, Documentary Emmys Winners
Pubcasting was the big winner at the 29th annual news and documentary Emmy Awards, taking a total of 10 wins... PBS' Independent Lens took best docu.

Chicago Tribune: Film Trails Fermilab Scientists' Quest for Elusive Particle
Filmmakers Clayton Brown and Monica Ross spent four years following Fermilab scientists as they search for a crucial scrap of nature. THE ATOM SMASHERS is scheduled to air Nov. 25 on PBS.

Los Angeles Times: Barney's Beanery Back in the Day
Part of the fun is seeing the grizzled stars of the L.A. art scene as macho young turks of THE COOL SCHOOL... The documentary includes some great old footage.

Screen Africa: SA Feature-Length Docu to Premiere at Toronto Festival
[SEA POINT DAYS] paints a deeply reflective picture of old white South Africa in transition and the frictions of a society in flux.

The Kansas City Star: Hot off TVBarn.com
Clayton Brown, is one of three directors of THE ATOM SMASHERS, which PBS announced it will air Nov. 25 as part of its Independent Lens series.

The Center for Social Media: Innovation in Focus, ITVS’ Digital Survey Report
Independent Television Service (ITVS), public broadcasting’s production entity for “innovative programming for underserved audiences,” has for years reliably offered filmmakers market information that helps them adapt to a changing marketplace.

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ITVS on the Road

Join ITVS staff here, there and everywhere.

RioMarket (part of Festival do Rio)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
September 26-October 5
Vice President of Programming Claire Aguilar will be at RioMarket from September 30-October 2 and participating in the RioSeminar "International Co-production," two workshops for Brazilian and Latin American producers and one-on-one meetings.

Producers Guild [URL not available]
New York, NY
October 6
Programming Manager, ITVS International, Cynthia Kane will give a 90-minute presentation about ITVS International and co-producing internationally for the documentary sector of Producers Guild East.

Paley Center for Media
Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA
October 6 and 7
Vice President and Independent Lens Series Producer Lois Vossen will be attending a conversation on new opportunities in the digital marketplace from 12-5:30 PM on October 6 in Los Angeles and October 7 in San Francisco.

9th Annual Euro-Mediterranean Documentary Market MediMED
Sitges, Spain
October 9-12
Programming Manager, ITVS International, Cynthia Kane will participate in the pitching forum for buyers and commissioning editors, one-on-one meetings and give a presentation on ITVS International.

MIPCOM
Cannes, France
October 13-17
Vice President of Programming Claire Aguilar will be representing ITVS International for producers, broadcasters and distributors at the world's audiovisual content market.

DocLisboa – EDN Pitching Forum
Lisbon, Portugal
October 21-24
Programming Manager, ITVS International, Cynthia Kane will participate as a mentor and commissioning editor for the Financing and Co-Production Forum for Documentary Film as well as attend screenings and one-on-one meetings. She will also give a presentation on ITVS International.

East Silver Film Festival
Prague, Czech Republic
October 24-29
Vice President and Independent Lens Series Producer Lois Vossen will be at the East Silver Film Festival October 23-28 and participating in the East European Pitching Forum panel.

East Silver Pitching Forum and Film Festival
Jilhava, Czech Republic
October 25-29
Programming Manager, ITVS International, Cynthia Kane will participate as commissioning editor in the East European Pitching Forum as well as attend one-on-one meetings, screenings and give a presentation on ITVS International.

Discovery Campus
Leipzig, Germany
October 29-November 2
Vice President of Programming Claire Aguilar will be participating in a commissioning editor panel as part of the Discovery Campus pitching session.

top Applause!

In addition to the four News & Documentary Emmy Awards wins, several other ITVS-funded programs were recently recognized for excellence:

DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: A Nation’s Journey, which combines a surprisingly frank interview with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, before he resigned, with a primer on Pakistan's past and the thoughts of a wide variety of Pakistanis, was awarded the Grand Award for Best Documentary at the United Arab Emirates Documentary Awards.

LAKSHMI AND ME, which explores the relationship between an employer and servant in Mumbai, was awarded the Best Long Film “Silver Nanook” from the Flahertiana International Documentary Festival, Russia and the Silver Prize from the Jeevika South Asia Festival in New Delhi, India.

Congratulations to all the filmmakers!

top 3. NEW ONLINE
Subscribe to the ITVS YouTube Channel

Find yourself trolling YouTube for hours in search of video with actual content? Well, look no further. Check out the new ITVS YouTube channel, which showcases a variety of ITVS projects and films.

Currently featured on YouTube:

Global Mobile International Shorts, an initiative between ITVS and iThentic. This collection of video shorts bring together the talent of eight international award-winning filmmakers who were selected for their innovative visual talents and interest in creating films for this new format.

The short films have and will be presented as an anthology series on a variety of platforms including globalmobileproject.com, itvs.org and ithentic.com as well as international film festivals.

To find out about the latest posts, subscribe to the ITVS Youtube Channel >>

top 4. THIS MONTH ON TV
October Programs

TIP: Visit itvs.org/shows to get a listing of all ITVS programming airing in the next few weeks. Don't miss these ITVS presentations in September.

IN THE FAMILY
By Joanna Rudnick
October 1, 2008 at 10 PM on P.O.V. on PBS

IN THE FAMILY follows filmmaker Joanna Rudnick as she navigates the uncertain world of genetic information. With the knowledge that she has an 85-percent lifetime risk of breast cancer and a 60-percent lifetime risk of ovarian cancer, she is confronted with what measures to take to prevent the disease suffered by generations of women in her family.

CHICAGO 10
By Brett Morgen
October 22, 2008 at 9 PM on Independent Lens on PBS

Mixing animation with archival footage, Director Brett Morgen's CHICAGO 10 explores the buildup to and unraveling of the protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the ensuing 1969 Conspiracy Trial. CHICAGO 10 portrays the struggle of young Americans speaking out and taking a stand in the face of an oppressive and armed government.

DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: A Nation's Journey
By Sabiha Sumar and Sachithanandam Sathananthan
October 28, 2008 at 10 PM on Independent Lens on PBS

Directors Sabiha Sumar and Sachithanandam Sathananthan sit down with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, before he resigned from office, to address his ideas of a democratized society in their country. The directors engage Musharraf in conversation about his political past and vision for the future and ask the bold question--how does an army general plan to establish democracy in Pakistan?

AIMEE'S CROSSING
By Tod Lending
October 2008 on Public Television

Using unprecedented access, this provocative and intimate portrait follows juvenile offender Aimee Myers through her one-year incarceration in a detention center and the year following her release revealing how the system deals with Myers' troubled past and prepares her for a future as a productive citizen.