Independent Lens

Episode 1

Wham! Bam! Islam!

Thu, Oct 13, 2011 66 mins

WHAM! BAM! ISLAM! tells the story of Naif Al-Mutawa and his venture to create the first team of superheroes from the Muslim world called THE 99. Following the tumultuous journey of THE 99 from concept to reality, from acclaim to censure by Islam's cultural gatekeepers, from the edge of bankruptcy to plans for theme parks and an animation series, Al-Mutawa dodges cultural minefields and tries to tackle the harsh realities of the global marketplace while doggedly pursuing his vision to bring new heroes to Muslim children while re-introducing Islam to the West.

Episode 2

Donor Unknown

Thu, Oct 20, 2011 81 mins

An in-depth look at a far-flung group of siblings in search of each other and their father, known only as Donor 150.

Episode 3

Lives Worth Living

Thu, Oct 27, 2011

Episode 4

Deaf Jam

Thu, Nov 3, 2011

Episode 5

We Still Live Here

Thu, Nov 17, 2011

Episode 6

The Woodmans

Thu, Dec 22, 2011

Episode 7

These Amazing Shadows

Thu, Dec 29, 2011

Episode 8

Have You Heard from Johannesburg: The Road to Resistance

Thu, Jan 12, 2012

Episode 9

Have You Heard from Johannesburg: The New Generation

Wed, Aug 12, 2026

Episode 10

Have You Heard from Johannesburg: From Selma to Soweto

Wed, Aug 12, 2026

Episode 11

Have You Heard from Johannesburg: The Bottom Line

Wed, Aug 12, 2026

Episode 12

Have You Heard from Johannesburg: Free at Last

Wed, Aug 12, 2026

Episode 13

Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock

Thu, Feb 2, 2012 55 mins

A look at the life of African American political activist and newspaper publisher Daisy Bates.

Episode 14

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

Thu, Feb 9, 2012

Episode 15

More Than a Month

Thu, Feb 16, 2012 54 mins

Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African American filmmaker, goes on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month.

Episode 16

You're Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don't

Wed, Aug 18, 2004 54 mins

Lee Gorewitz lives in a care facility for Alzheimer's patients, but she is not simply waiting to die. She is full of curiosity and frustration, struggling to remember herself and make sense of a world that is falling away from her.

Episode 17

Being Elmo

Thu, Apr 5, 2012

Episode 18

When the Drum is Beating

Thu, Apr 12, 2012

Episode 19

Revenge of the Electric Car

Thu, Apr 19, 2012

Episode 20

Facing the Storm: Story of the American Bison

Thu, Apr 26, 2012 78 mins

Facing the Storm: Story of the American Bison tells the rich history of the bison, an American icon of the wild with deep ties to native peoples, which is struggling today to reestablish itself in the Great Plains.

Episode 21

Circo

Thu, May 3, 2012

Episode 22

Summer Pasture

Thu, May 10, 2012 84 mins

Summer Pasture is the unique love story of Locho and Yama, nomadic herders in Tibet faced with a difficult choice as their way of life begins to give way to the modern world.

Episode 23

Precious Knowledge

Thu, May 17, 2012

Episode 24

Left by the Ship

Thu, May 24, 2012 83 mins

Three young adults born to Filipino mothers by U.S. servicemen battle against social stigma, family problems, and identity-related issues 18 years after the last U.S. base closed.

Episode 25

Hell and Back Again

Mon, May 28, 2012

Episode 26

We Were Here

Thu, Jun 14, 2012

Episode 27

Strong!

Tue, Jun 26, 2012