Independent Lens Season 27 Episodes

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, 202584 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, May 11, 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

Episode 11

Light of the Setting Sun

Mon, May 11, 2026

Episode 12

Third Act

Mon, May 11, 2026

Episode 13

Assembly

Mon, May 11, 2026

Episode 14

True North: Canadian Myths and Black Power

Mon, May 11, 2026

Episode 15

Flood

Mon, May 11, 2026