America’s longest-running documentary series, “POV,” will return for its 33rd season on PBS July 20. Featuring nearly 80 percent women-directed titles and more than two thirds by filmmakers of color, this season will kick off with Linda Goldstein Knowlton’s “We Are the Radical Monarchs.” The film is set in Oakland, California, and follows young girls of color fighting for social justice who earn badges for learning about the environment, disability justice, and how to be an LGBTQ ally, among other subjects.
Other features set to screen include Maya Newell’s “In My Blood It Runs” and Loira Limbal’s “Through the Night.” The former tells the story of a 10-year-old Aboriginal child-healer and hunter who speaks three languages but is failing school and drawing attention from welfare services and the police, and the latter is a portrait of a 24-hour daycare in New Rochelle, New York.
“And She Could Be Next” will precede the season as a special presentation. Directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia, the multi-part documentary follows women of color on a mission to transform American politics by making government more representative.
“As America’s home for documentaries, PBS is committed to telling stories that deepen understanding and encourage conversation,” said Paula Kerger, PBS president and CEO. “Year after year, ‘POV’ delivers powerful films featuring diverse voices, and we’re thrilled to share another extraordinary season with our audiences.”
Justine Nagan, executive director of American Documentary and one of “POV’s” executive producers, added, “Authentic independent storytelling is always important. But right now it feels essential. We don’t know whether this pandemic will persist into the summer or beyond, but we know that viewers will need stories like these as we move through collective trauma. Artists have a way of taking us to new places and helping us see with fresh eyes. We are proud to showcase their work and serve national audiences with media that will move them.”
Educational resources will be available for every episode on “POV’s” website.
Check out the complete schedule for the 33rd season of “POV” below, courtesy of PBS.
POV Season 33 Schedule
June 29 & 30, 2020 at 9 p.m.
Directed by Grace Lee and Marjan Safinia
And She Could Be Next follows a defiant movement of women of color as they transform politics from the ground up. Filmed during the historic 2018 midterm elections, the series features organizers and candidates (including Rashida Tlaib and Stacey Abrams) as they fight for a truly reflective government, asking whether democracy can be preserved—and made stronger—by those most marginalized. A co-production of POV and ITVS in association with the Center for Asian American Media and Latino Public Broadcasting. A co-presentation of Black Public Media and the Center for Asian American Media.
July 20, 2020 at 9 p.m.
Directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton
Meet the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color on the frontlines of social justice. Set in Oakland, California, the film documents the journey of the group as they earn badges for completing units on such subjects as being an LGBTQ ally, preserving the environment and disability justice. We follow the two founders as they face the challenge to grow the organization, before and after the 2016 election. A co-presentation of Latino Public Broadcasting.
July 27, 2020
Directed by Rachel Leah Jones and Philippe Bellaïche
A political firebrand in her home country, Israeli lawyer Lea Tsemel is known by her opponents as “the devil’s advocate” for her decades-long defense of Palestinians who have been accused of resisting the occupation, both violently and nonviolently. Tsemel, who pushes the praxis of a human rights defender to its limits, takes on two contentious court cases in her tireless quest for justice. Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival. Shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature for the 92nd Academy Awards.
August 3, 2020
Directed by Rosine Mbakam
In this captivating documentary filmed in a single tiny room, viewers step inside an underground hair salon with its charismatic proprietor, a Cameroonian immigrant named Sabine. She and her employees style extensions and glue on lashes while watching soaps, dishing romantic advice, sharing rumors about government programs to legalize migrants and talking about life back home in Cameroon.
August 10, 2020
Directed by Archana Atul Phadke
Three generations of the Phadke family live together in their home in Mumbai. When the youngest daughter turns the camera toward her family, the personal becomes political as power structures within the family become visible—and eventually unravel. Cruel and comic in equal measure, the film examines the vagaries of affection across generations, tied together by something stranger than love.
September 7, 2020
Directed by Wendy Ewald and Elizabeth Barret
Portraits And Dreams revisits photographs created by Kentucky schoolchildren in the 1970s and the place where their photos were made. Photographer and artist Wendy Ewald, who guided the students in making their visionary photographs, returns to Kentucky and learns how the lives and visions of her former students have changed. The film combines the new narratives and insights of the now adult students. A POV co-production with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
September 14, 2020
Directed by Eva Mulvad
With adultery punishable by death in Iran, a young couple make the fateful decision to flee the country with their son. Love Child follows the trio on their life-threatening journey to plead asylum and witnesses a mother’s heartbreaking fight to keep her family together and secure a future for her son. Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival.
September 21, 2020
Directed by Maya Newell
Ten-year-old Aboriginal Dujuan is a child-healer and a good hunter and speaks three languages.Yet Dujuan is failing in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare authorities and the police. As he veers perilously close to incarceration, his family fights to give him a strong Arrernte education alongside his western education. We walk with him as he grapples with these pressures and shares his truths. A Co-Presentation of Pacific Islanders in Communications.
September 28, 2020
Directed by Yang Sun and S. Leo Chiang
When artist Maleonn realizes that his father is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, he creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a magical, autobiographical stage performance featuring life-size mechanical puppets. Through the production of this play, the two men confront their mortality before time runs out and memories are lost forever. Best Documentary Cinematography, Tribeca Film Festival.
October 5, 2020
Directed by Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra
The Infiltrators is a docu-thriller that tells the true story of two young immigrants who get detained by the U.S. Border Patrol—on purpose—and put in a shadowy for-profit detention center. Marco and Viri are members of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance, a group of radical Dreamers who are on a mission to stop deportations. And the best place to stop deportations, they believe, is in detention. Official Selection, Sundance Film Festival. A co-presentation of Latino Public Broadcasting.
October 12, 2020
Directed by Sam Soko
Softie follows political activist Boniface “Softie” Mwangi, a daring and audacious political activist who decides to run for political office in Kenya after several years of fighting injustice in his country. But running a clean campaign against corrupt opponents with idealism as his only weapon proves challenging. Special Jury Award, Sundance Film Festival. A POV co-production.
January 25, 2021
Directed by Maite Alberdi
When 83-year-old Sergio is sent as an undercover spy to a Chilean retirement home to track suspected elder abuse, he learns a deeper lesson about human connection. Through the lens of the hidden camera in his decoy glasses, viewers watch as Sergio struggles to balance his assignment with his increasing involvement in the lives of several residents. Special Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival. A co-production of POV and ITVS.
May 10, 2021
Directed by Loira Limbal
In New Rochelle, New York, a 24-hour daycare is a lifesaver for parents who work multiple jobs and odd hours to make ends meet. Through the stories of two working mothers and a childcare provider, Through the Night reveals the personal cost of rising wealth inequality in America and the close bonds forged between parents, children and caregivers. Official Selection, Tribeca Film Festival. A co-production of POV and ITVS in association with Latino Public Broadcasting and Black Public Media.
The third season of POV Shorts will be announced in Summer 2020.
