Independent Lens is proud to announce that two of the series’ films —Dolores and The Judge — have won 2018 Peabody Awards in the Documentary category. The oldest and most prestigious award for electronic media, honoring the “most powerful, enlightening and invigorating stories in television, radio and digital media,” the Peabody Awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
“We’re exceptionally proud that Dolores and The Judge will receive Peabody Awards as they honor female pioneers who imagined a world that didn’t exist and helped to manifest change,” said Lois Vossen, Executive Producer of Independent Lens. “In Dolores, Peter Bratt masterfully captures the indefatigable architect of social change Dolores Huerta, who at age 89 is still an important leader of the Latinx equality movement. Often overshadowed by male counterparts in the United Farm Workers Association, Huerta originated the saying ‘Si Se Puede’ (‘Yes We Can’) and brought millions of women to the movement.”
“The appointment of Kholoud al-Faqih, Palestine’s first female Shari’a judge, created a ripple effect throughout the Middle East,” Vossen continued. “Erika Cohn’s documentary The Judge demonstrates female-empowerment of Arab women, counters Islamophobia, and offers an intelligent portrait of a changing society. Like the icons they present, these films will inspire millions of people for generations to come.”
More about the films:
Dolores by Peter Bratt: Dolores Huerta is among the most important, yet least-known, activists in American history. An equal partner in co-founding the first farmworkers union, with Cesar Chavez, her enormous contributions have gone largely unrecognized. Dolores tirelessly led the fight for racial and labor justice alongside Chavez, becoming one of the most defiant feminists of the 20th century — and she continues the fight to this day.
The Judge by Erika Cohn: When Kholoud Al-Faqih walked into the office of Palestine’s Chief Justice and announced she wanted to join the bench, he laughed at her. But just a few years later, Kholoud became the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s Islamic law courts. The Judge offers a unique portrait of Kholoud’s brave journey and her tireless fight for justice for women.
Raoul Peck’s acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Independent Lens film I Am Not Your Negro was also nominated for a Peabody this year.
In addition, Bing Liu’s Oscar-nominated film Minding the Gap, which premiered on the PBS series POV, and was funded by ITVS, presenter of Independent Lens, was bestowed with a Documentary Peabody as well, as was the ITVS-funded Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart: Lorraine Hansberry. Kudos to those film’s teams and all the very worthy winners.
