About Us
A national nonprofit media arts organization, American Documentary (AmDoc) strives to make essential documentaries accessible as a catalyst for public discourse. We collaborate with passionate filmmakers to amplify their voices, and to nurture the nonfiction community.
Our Mission
Since 1988, AmDoc has been at the forefront of public media, working to ensure that the most essential, underrepresented voices have a place on the national stage. Through our flagship programs and nationwide community engagement, we connect powerful stories to audiences everywhere.
We create, identify, and present contemporary stories that authentically express diverse opinions and perspectives, reflecting the full depth and breadth of the human experience.
We harness the power of documentaries to spark public dialogue, connect communities, and teach future generations.
We nurture the non-fiction community by supporting independent filmmakers through fellowships, impact programming, networking, and other essential resources.
Our Programs
POV ("point of view"), AmDoc's premier PBS series, is American television's longest-running showcase for independent nonfiction film. Since its launch in 1988, POV has presented over 400 films that have shaped the documentary canon and introduced generations of viewers to deeply personal stories that illuminate contemporary life.
From Tongues Untied (1989) and Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story (2001), to American Promise (2013), And She Could Be Next (2020), While We Watched (2022), Hummingbirds (2023), and The Body Politic (2023), POV has maintained a long-standing commitment to centering storytellers who have historically been excluded from the national media landscape.
In 2024, IndieWire named seven POV films among "The 50 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century," including Faya Dayi, The Mole Agent, Minding the Gap, Cameraperson, The Look of Silence, The Act of Killing, and After Tiller.
POV Shorts, launched in 2018, is one of the first public television series dedicated to bold, short-form documentaries. The series is known for its curation and has showcased award-winning works such as Earthrise, The Love Bugs, The Changing Same, and Aguilas, with multiple Emmy and Oscar nominations and wins. POV Shorts was awarded Best Short Form Series at the IDA Documentary Awards in 2023, 2022, and 2020.
America ReFramed, a co-production with WORLD, presents independent documentaries that explore the changing contours of our country. Through powerful stories from across the U.S., the series illuminates diverse American experiences. Notable honors include a Peabody Award for Deej and a duPont-Columbia Award for Class of '27.
Our Reach
AmDoc extends its impact beyond the screen through community-centered programs like the POV Community Network and Our America. Each year, AmDoc facilitates more than 150 free community screenings, discussions, and educational events in schools, universities, libraries, prisons, and public spaces—empowering viewers to connect, reflect, and take action.
Our Funders
As of April 2025, major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Acton Family Giving, Chris and Nancy Plaut, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston, and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.
Our History
AmDoc’s founding mission was bold: to create a consistent, trusted home for independent documentaries on national public television. When POV launched in 1988, network television had all but abandoned documentary filmmaking. There was no clear path for independents to have their work broadcast nationally.
Marc Weiss, a filmmaker and the visionary founder of AmDoc, understood the hurdles facing independent filmmakers—from funding to navigating public television's bureaucracies. He imagined AmDoc as a bridge between independents and the public media system: an advocate, an honest broker, and a cultural force.
With early support from leaders like David Fanning (Frontline), Barry Chase (PBS), Henry Becton (WGBH), and Melinda Ward (Alive from Off Center), Weiss built the foundation for what would become American Documentary, Inc. With David M. Davis of American Playhouse onboard, the organization was formally established to serve both the independent community and the public interest.
Since that first season, AmDoc has remained committed to pushing boundaries, championing diverse voices, and preserving the role of independent media in a democratic society. Today, we carry that legacy forward—dedicated to ensuring documentaries remain a vital part of the American media landscape.
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Who We Are
Board of Directors
Leadership
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