“Advocate” is headed to the small screen. A press release confirmed that PBS’ “POV” has acquired U.S. broadcast rights to Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaiche’s portrait of Lea Tsemel, a controversial Jewish-Israeli human rights lawyer. The Oscar hopeful is currently playing in LA and NY.

One of 15 titles vying for a an Oscar nomination for Documentary Feature, “Advocate” sees Tsemel defending Palestinian political prisoners, from non-violent demonstrators to armed militants. Her latest high-profile case involves her youngest client yet — a 13-year-old boy.

“We at ‘POV’ have been tracking ‘Advocate’ since its early stages of production, and it was clear from the outset that it was sure to arouse robust conversation about what it means to be uncompromising and unapologetic as a human rights defender — in Israel and beyond,” said Justine Nagan, executive producer/executive director of ‘POV’/American Documentary. “The film’s protagonist, attorney Lea Tsemel, who has been doing this work for five decades, is undoubtedly controversial. However, she is also undoubtedly inspiring. Self-defined as an ‘angry optimistic woman’ she models an engaged form of citizenship that we are seeking in these tumultuous times.”

“I’ve known Lea for over 25 years,” Jones told us. “Come to think of it, when I first met her, she was the same age that I am now, 48. I had heard about her being a badass, but when I got to know her, I was blown away. Gutsy, sexy, funny, furious — nothing like Mother Teresa. If I’m honest, I kind of wanted to be her.”