Independent Lens
Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.
- 1999-2026
- 28 seasons
- ITVS International
- Documentary
- TV-14
Authentic stories. Extraordinary people.
Season 27 Episode Guide
15 Episodes 2025 - 2026
Episode 1
Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution
Mon, Oct 6, 2025
A brilliant scientist's journey from humble Kentucky roots to groundbreaking RNA discoveries leads to a Nobel Prize, shaping modern genetics and inspiring generations of researchers.
Episode 2
Ratified
Mon, Oct 20, 2025 84 mins
Led by Black women and with the support of a multi-racial, multi-generational coalition, Ratified traces the legal, political, and deeply personal fight to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution.
Episode 3
Life After
Mon, Nov 3, 2025
Disabled filmmaker Reid Davenport investigates assisted dying and uncovers how ableism, policy, and systemic failures can make death seem like the only option.
Episode 4
Vivien's Wild Ride
Mon, Jan 26, 2026
From her ground-breaking career in cinema to her life on a small farm with her partner, Karen, Vivien's story reveals how creativity, care, and connection can reshape what it means to see and belong.
Episode 5
The Librarians
Mon, Feb 9, 2026
When lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the front-lines of a national battle. Drawing on historical context, The Librarians explores the broader implications for education and public life.
Episode 6
The Inquisitor
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
Barbara Jordan was a Texas congresswoman whose intellect and moral clarity transformed US politics. From Nixon's impeachment to civil rights battles, her voice demanded accountability, while she privately faced struggles few ever knew of.
Episode 7
Keep Quiet and Forgive
Mon, Mar 23, 2026
Three decades after her sexual assault, Lizzie confronts her Amish community's silence around sexual abuse. She leads a movement to support fellow Amish and Mennonite survivors as they navigate trauma, faith, and family ties.
Episode 8
The Tallest Dwarf
Mon, Apr 6, 2026
The Tallest Dwarf follows filmmaker Julie Forrest Wyman as she searches for her place in the little people community and unpacks rumors of dwarfism in her own family.
Episode 9
BACKSIDE: The Unseen Hands of Horse Racing
Mon, Apr 13, 2026
A glimpse into the lives of the immigrant grooms who care for Kentucky Derby racehorses year-round at Churchill Downs.
Episode 10
Natchez
Mon, May 11, 2026
Antebellum homes draw visitors to Natchez, Mississippi, but not everyone agrees on the stories being told. Tour guides, homeowners, and activists navigate competing histories, the town confronts the tension between preservation and truth.
Episode 11
Light of the Setting Sun
Mon, May 18, 2026 72 mins
Filmmaker Vicky Du traces her family's mental illness back to the Chinese Communist Revolution of 1949.
Episode 12
Third Act
Wed, May 27, 2026
Generations call Robert A. Nakamura the godfather of Asian American film. Tadashi Nakamura calls him Dad. Tadashi turns the camera on his father as they confront art, activism, and aging.
Episode 13
Assembly
Mon, Jun 22, 2026
Vogue, AI, and identity collide as an artist creates an exhibition honoring Black and queer culture.
Episode 14
True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power
Mon, Jul 6, 2026
Through rare archival footage and firsthand accounts, True North revisits 1968 Montreal, where Black liberation movements converged at the Congress of Black Writers. As student protests ignited the Sir George Williams Affair, Black youth faced violent repression, unfolding a powerful chapter of the global Black Power era.
Episode 15
Flood
Mon, Jul 13, 2026
Returning home to California's Inland Empire, filmmaker Katy Scoggin seeks to reconnect with her estranged father, who works as an elementary science teacher. He is the only evangelical left in the family, and as they face their differences on faith, family, and belonging, their journey becomes a portrait of empathy and resilience. Together, they find new ways to listen and bridge divides.