EXCLUSIVE: The spring lineup for the Emmy-winning documentary showcase Independent Lens is looking funky, by design.
WE WANT THE FUNK!, “a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music” directed by Stanley Nelson and co-directed and produced Nicole London, is set to debut April 8 on the long-running PBS series. The documentary, featuring James Brown, George Clinton, Questlove, David Bowie, and Elton John, explores “the funk genre’s influence on contemporary music, fashion, freedom of expression, and its role in the rise of hip-hop.” Scroll for the full spring IL lineup.
Leni Robredo (left) campaigns for president of the Philippines in ‘And So It Begins‘
Independent Lens
Also coming to Independent Lens soon is And So It Begins, directed by Ramona S. Diaz, the latest in the filmmaker’s examination of the politics of the Philippines in the post-Ferdinand Marcos era. Diaz directed Imelda, a 2004 documentary about former Philippines First Lady (and mother of the country’s current president) Imelda Marcos. Her 2020 film A Thousand Cuts chronicled the fight for press freedom by Nobel Peace Prize winner and journalist Maria Ressa, who came under attack during the presidency of right-wing populist leader Rodrigo Duterte.
“On April 29, Independent Lens features one of America’s most beloved institutions: the public library,” notes a release. “Free for All: The Public Library explores the U.S. public library system, a simple idea that shaped a nation. On May 5, the third and final installment of the informative Matter of Mind series, which examines neurodegenerative diseases, spotlights Alzheimer’s in Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s. Who is Michael Jang? will premiere on May 12 and chronicles the work of the elusive street photographer at a flashpoint in his career.”
Commenting on the upcoming IL lineup, Executive Producer Lois Vossen said, “This spring, Independent Lens looks to inspire you. The story of funk music will make you get up and dance. The history and legacy of public libraries remind us why our country endorsed free education. We celebrate the work of caregivers who provide for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and the groundbreaking art of an Asian American photographer celebrates a community and a culture. Prepare to be encouraged.”
(Vossen appears on the newly released episode of Industry Insights – The EFM Podcast. You can listen to that here). She also appeared on Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast recorded at the IDA Awards in December, where Independent Lens won Best Curated Series).
Below are more details on the spring lineup for Independent Lens:
Marcus Miller in ‘We Want the Funk!‘
Independent Lens
● WE WANT THE FUNK! – April 8 – We Want the Funk! is a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music, spanning from African, soul, and early jazz roots, to its rise into the public consciousness. Featuring James Brown’s dynamism, the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, transformed girl group Labelle, and Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat, the story also traces funk’s influences on both new wave and hip-hop.
● FREE FOR ALL: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY – April 29 – Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.
● MATTER OF MIND: MY ALZHEIMER’S – May 5 – Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s is an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how this progressive neurodegenerative disease transforms roles and relationships. Whether it’s a partner becoming a caregiver or an adult child shifting into being their parent’s caretaker, these stories show how families evolve when a loved one is diagnosed.
● AND SO IT BEGINS – May 12 – And So It Begins follows the Philippines’ turbulent 2022 presidential race, with the son of ousted former dictator Ferdinand Marcos waging a combative social media campaign against his more progressive opponent, incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo. Following it all is independent journalist and Nobel Prize-winner Maria Ressa, with an eye toward the specter of increasing autocracy.
● WHO IS MICHAEL JANG? – May 19 – After a long career as a commercial and portrait photographer, mischievous San Francisco artist Michael Jang sat for decades on a hidden treasure of pictures taken in his 20s—both candid celebrity shots and a down-to-earth cross-section of Chinese American family life rarely captured so playfully. Then, during the pandemic, Jang set out to share his work with the world, street guerilla-style.
All films will also be available to stream on the PBS app following premiere day.