May 02, 2022
A Wild Two Years Since ‘Try Harder’: What You Need to Know About Lowell High School
Independent Lens in Beyond the Films
By Holly McDede Bay Area filmmaker Debbie Lum’s documentary Try Harder! captures the unnerving pressure facing seniors at San Francisco’s elite Lowell High School, where students need high grades and…...
May 24, 2021
UPDATE: LaTonya Myers Inspires Others to Reform the Justice System
Independent Lens in Beyond the Films
By Renée Gasch LaTonya Myers spent nine months in jail because she couldn’t afford bail. Assessed as a “high-risk” to society by a computer algorithm, she faced the toughest of…...
April 27, 2021
Who’s Who in Philly D.A.
Independent Lens in Beyond the Films
As you watch the epic eight-part docuseries Philly D.A. unfold, you may want help keeping track of key figures in this sprawling story of the battle over criminal justice reform in America’s…...
May 21, 2020
The Island, the Tourist, and the Pandemic
Independent Lens in Beyond the Films
By Sergio Rapu Don’t you wish you were living out the pandemic on a beautiful secluded island right about now? What I have learned is that, though enjoyable in the…...
December 11, 2019
Still Mushing: An Update from Joe, George Attla’s Grandnephew
Craig Phillips in Behind the Films
We are pleased that we could get Joe Bifelt, the grandnephew of legendary dogsled racer George Attla, to send us an update on his life since the film about George's…...
April 11, 2019
An Update from Elizabeth Perez
Independent Lens in Where Are They Now?
Note: Elizabeth Perez, star of David Sutherland's film Marcos Doesn't Live Here Anymore (a co-presentation of Independent Lens, FRONTLINE, and Voces), wrote us a heartfelt update about how she, her…...
May 23, 2018
Overturning Expectations Alongside the Women Warriors of Ms. Veteran America
Craig Phillips in Interviews
Long a successful film producer, Lysa Heslov, along with her husband, Oscar-winning producer/writer/director Grant Heslov, founded Children Mending Hearts ten years ago, a non-profit dedicated to empowering disadvantaged youth in…...
June 15, 2017
Real Boy Updates from Bennett, His Mom Suzy, Joe Stevens and Dylan
826chi in Where Are They Now?
After you see the film Real Boy [premiering on PBS June 19 at 10pm; check local listings], you may be interested to hear from the main players involved. We recently…...
May 17, 2017
Forever Pure: Updates on the Main Players
Independent Lens in Where Are They Now?
Check out this gallery of updates from the past year on all the main players featured in Forever Pure, from former owner Arcadi Gaydamak to players Zaur Sadayev, Dzhabrail Kadiyev,…...
May 17, 2017
Juan and Jarad Write From Prison
Independent Lens in Where Are They Now?
We thought viewers of Ben Lear's They Call Us Monsters may be interested in hearing from the young men featured in the film. Yes, they have a lot of free…...
January 18, 2017
Philbert McLeod: Never Conquered (and Rest in Peace)
Craig Phillips in Beyond the Films
In this piece created for Independent Lens by filmmaker Mat Hames, we get to know more about Eastern Shoshone tribal elder Philbert McLeod, one of the stars of Hames' Independent…...
July 18, 2016
Twin Sisters Are Growing Up (and Getting a Sequel)
Craig Phillips in Where Are They Now?
The many global fans of our film Twin Sisters are constantly asking us for any kind of update on the twin girls featured in Mona Friis Bertheussen's popular documentary. After…...