Airing weekly on PBS, the four-time Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens is like an independent film festival in your living room. Each episode introduces new documentaries and dramas made by independent thinkers: filmmakers who are taking creative risks, calling their own shots and finding untold stories in unexpected places.

Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by talented hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard and Susan Sarandon. This season’s host is Maggie Gyllenhaal, the acclaimed indie actress and Golden Globe nominee, known for her starring role opposite James Spader in Secretary and her memorable performances in films such as Adaptation, Dark Knight and Sherrybaby.

This season Independent Lens returns with 27 independent films that bring a unique collection of stories unlike anything else on television. From a vast array of settings—including a cramped New York City apartment filled with a mind-blowing collection of modern art; the world’s largest garbage village in the outskirts of Cairo; the hills of Mongolia, where a Texas family seeks an unconventional treatment for their son’s autism; and Butte, Montana, where five generations intersect with key historical events—Independent Lens spans the country and circles the globe, showcasing wildly diverse documentaries about unforgettable people and locations.

Independent Lens programs come in every shape and size, including feature-length documentaries, hour-long dramas, four-minute comic shorts, half-hour experimental pieces and everything in between. What binds these programs together is the spirit of the filmmakers themselves-—visionaries who ignore the rules of commercial programming and spend years pursuing diverse stories about people not normally seen on TV. Some of these filmmakers have won the most prestigious industry awards. Others are being discovered before viewers' eyes. All of them share the gift of storytelling, a compelling sense of purpose and unrivalled access to often-closed communities and little-known worlds.

Visit the program guide to learn more about the season lineup >>

Read about awards and accolades >>

Find out what drives the independent spirit of Independent Lens filmmakers.
Get inside filmmaking with Inside Indies >>