$1 Million Award Recognizes American Documentary and Its Groundbreaking Public Television Series, POV, for Extraordinary Creativity and Effectiveness
New York, NY, Feb. 28, 2013 – American Documentary | POV is one of only 13 nonprofit organizations around the world to win this year’s MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. The award, which was announced today, recognizes exceptional grantees that have demonstrated creativity and impact, and invests in their long-term sustainability with sizable one-time grants.
American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) produces the award-winning series POV (Point of View), which is celebrating its 25th year on PBS. American television’s longest-running showcase for independent documentaries, POV has presented more than 365 films since its first season in 1988. POV films have won every major film and broadcasting award, including 32 Emmy Awards® and three Academy Awards®. POV airs from June through October, with primetime specials throughout the year. POV’s 26th season begins in June 2013 with an auspicious move to Mondays at 10 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).
“The POV series was founded on a simple but powerful premise—that the vision of independent documentary filmmakers had the power to engage audiences and explore the great issues of our time,” said American Documentary | POV’s Executive Director/Executive Producer Simon Kilmurry. “Over the past 25 years the impact and the importance of these films in our culture have grown exponentially and continue to do so. This landmark award from the MacArthur Foundation affirms this vision and sets American Documentary on a path to secure POV’s future and attract new audiences with smart, engaging and enlightening films.”
“It is quite a victory for our organization to receive this coveted MacArthur Award and to be among the stellar organizations recognized for their dedication to fostering creativity in the public interest,” said American Documentary | POV’s Executive Vice President/Co-Executive Producer Cynthia Lopez. “Documentary filmmakers are instrumental in providing a window into the lives, beliefs and policies that impact our lives. We appreciate MacArthur’s investment in the documentary form and its potential to spark public dialogue and make our communities better places to live.”
Since its inception, AmDoc has continually gone “beyond the broadcast” to spark critical conversations in communities across the country. Working with public television stations, educational institutions and national and local organizations, the POV team builds public-awareness campaigns by coordinating more than 600 screenings a year, along with discussions, panels, roundtables and conference sessions. This kind of cross-community dialogue is critical in tackling some of the most pressing challenges we face as a society, including food safety (Food, Inc.), health care (Critical Condition), veterans’ affairs (Where Soldiers Come From), immigration (Sin País) and education (American Promise).
AmDoc has proven nimble in adapting new-media formats, and proactive in finding new opportunities for collaboration. POV has produced original programs in partnership with ABC News’ Nightline, PBS NEWSHOUR and The New York Times, as well as animated documentaries with the acclaimed oral-history project StoryCorps and initiatives to foster the next generation of young filmmakers. Pushing the boundaries of digital storytelling, POV hosts weekend Hackathons at its Brooklyn headquarters to find the “next big thing” in interactive media, and it has increased the public’s access to POV programs with an ever-expanding library of new and archival films available free online and on mobile devices.
In honor of POV’s 25 years on PBS, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is currently presenting a special retrospective, MoMA Selects: POV, during its Documentary Fortnight 2013 showcase. The six-day event, which concludes on March 4, features 21 POV films that have tackled some of society’s most vital social and political issues, plus the world premiere of Homegoings, about African-American funeral traditions, which will have its national broadcast premiere later this year on POV.
American Documentary | POV will use its $1 million MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions to build its cash reserves and complete an infrastructure upgrade.
According to MacArthur, the Award is not only recognition for past leadership and success but also an investment in the future. Organizations will use this support to build cash reserves and endowments, develop strategic plans, and upgrade technology and physical infrastructure.
For these Awards, the Foundation does not seek or accept nominations. To qualify, organizations must demonstrate exceptional creativity and effectiveness; have reached a critical or strategic point in their development; show strong leadership and stable financial management; have previously received MacArthur support; and engage in work central to one of MacArthur’s core programs.
Additional information about why MacArthur selected American Documentary | POV for the Award and an overview video are at www.macfound.org/maceirecipients/61/.
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About POV Produced by American Documentary, Inc. and beginning its 26th season on PBS in 2013, the award-winning POV is the longest-running showcase on American television to feature the work of today’s best independent documentary filmmakers. POV has brought more than 365 acclaimed documentaries to millions nationwide. POV films have won every major film and broadcasting award, including 32 Emmys, 15 George Foster Peabody Awards, 10 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards® and the Prix Italia. In 2012, POV achieved a new milestone, winning five News & Documentary Emmy Awards®. Since 1988, POV has pioneered the art of presentation and outreach using independent nonfiction media to build new communities in conversation about today’s most pressing social issues. Visit www.pbs.org/pov.
Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the desJardins/Blachman Fund and public television viewers. Funding for POV’s Diverse Voices Project is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Special support provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.
POV Digital (www.pbs.org/pov) POV’s award-winning website extends the life of our films online with interactive features, interviews, updates, video and educational content, plus listings for television broadcasts, community screenings and films available online. The POV Blog is a gathering place for documentary fans and filmmakers to discuss their favorite films and get the latest news.
POV Community Engagement and Education (www.pbs.org/pov/outreach) POV’s Community Engagement and Education team works with educators, community organizations and PBS stations to present more than 600 free screenings every year. In addition, we distribute free discussion guides and standards-aligned lesson plans for each of our films. With our community partners, we inspire dialogue around the most important social issues of our time.
American Documentary, Inc. (www.amdoc.org) American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia company dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic-engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.
CONTACTS: POV Communications, 212-989-7425. Emergency contact: 206-790-8697
Cathy Fisher, cfisher@pov.org Amanda Nguyen, anguyen@pov.org
POV online pressroom: www.pbs.org/pov/pressroom
