Blog

Students at the entrance to Lowell High School
Beyond the Films

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…...

Woman (LaTonya Myers) in a San Antonio Spurs hat, celebrates a job offer
Where Are They Now?

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…...

4 members of Philly D.A's office in designed group shot
Behind the Films

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…...

Riding a motorbike on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
Where Are They Now?

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…...

Joe Bifelt holding his lead dog, Happy, before the start of the 2015 Open North American sled dog race, from ATTLA
Where Are They Now?

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…...

Elizabeth Perez and kids and Marcos
Where Are They Now?

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…...

The women of Served Like a Girl dressed in pageant dresses with combat boots, on Vegas strip at night
Interviews

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…...

Joe and Bennett in front of Eronel music venue
Where Are They Now?

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…...

Goalkeeper Harush celebrates after joining a rival team.
Where Are They Now?

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,…...

L-R: Gabe Cowan (teacher/producer), Jarad, Antonio, Juan all look at footage from their film
Where Are They Now?

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…...

portrait of Philbert McCleod, from What Was Ours
Beyond the Films

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…...

Alex and Mia laugh while a film cameraman shoots them on a boat in Norway
Where Are They Now?

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…...