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American Documentary is a leading nonprofit media organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary nonfiction stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media.

Since 1988, American Documentary has produced the award-winning series POV (a cinematic term for "point-of-view") for PBS, presenting over 300 of the most important documentary films of our time. Our films — coupled with our unsurpassed national reach and local collaborations — have brought powerful documentary storytelling into people's lives, and brought public dialogue on issues of national importance to a new level.

The series has provided a showcase for the early efforts of documentary superstars like Errol Morris, Jonathan Demme, Michael Moore and Freida Lee Mock, and introduced new generations of viewers to legendary films like Albert and David Maysles’ Salesman, Fred Wiseman's High School and Mel Stuart's Wattstax. POV has won every coveted industry award, including 32 Emmys, 15 George Foster Peabody Awards, 11 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Broadcast Journalism Awards, three Academy Awards, 36 Cine Golden Eagles, the Prix Italia and the Webby Award. POV proudly celebrates its 25th season on PBS in 2012.

As a catalyst for public culture, American Documentary goes "beyond the broadcast," partnering with television and radio stations, community groups and local and national organizations to spark conversation about the issues we present on television and online. Screenings, panel discussions and public events are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

American Documentary is a leader in extending the reach of documentaries online. Through POV's award-winning Web department it produces special features for every POV presentation, extending the life of POV films through filmmaker interviews and story updates, podcasts, streaming video and community-based and educational applications, focusing on involving viewers in activities, information and feedback on the issues. In addition, www.pbs.org/pov houses Talking Back, where viewers can engage in dialogue, and links to further resources and information. The POV Web site, along with the POV archives, form a unique and extensive online resource for documentary storytelling.

American Documentary continues to pioneer new ways to use independent media as a springboard to engage the public. Our groundbreaking partnerships, diversity initiatives, artist support, youth education and new strands of nonfiction programming are designed to address the increasing demand for content across multiple platforms.

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Consider supporting our continuing efforts to give underseved audiences a greater voice on television, on the Web, and in the public arena.

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