American Documentary

POV (a cinema term for "point of view") is American television's longest-running showcase for independent nonfiction films. POV premieres 14–16 of the best, boldest, and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.

America ReFramed is a year-round documentary series that illuminates the changing contours of our ever-evolving nation. A co-production with the WORLD Channel, the series launched in 2012 to respond to the growing need for intimate and diverse stories that are domestically based. Viewers are immersed in personal stories that span the spectrum of American life, and are invited to reflect on topics as varied as healthcare, politics, gun violence, religion, and more. America ReFramed has won GRACIE, Christopher, Telly, and Cine Golden Eagle Awards, and received nominations for an EMMY, Independent Documentary Association, and Imagen Awards.

The series' interactive arm, POV Spark, creates and advances experiential forms of storytelling and programming, redefining U.S. public media to be more inclusive of emerging technologies and interactive makers.

For over 20 years, POV has pioneered models for civic engagement using independent documentary films by some of the most acclaimed storytellers of our time. The POV Engage team partners with community-based organizations, educators, librarians and other engaged community members to spark conversation about the issues presented in our films and digital productions. Free screenings, panel discussions and public events are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback, to educational opportunities and community participation.

The POV Community Network makes more than 200 POV feature films, shorts and digital initiatives available for free to over 10,000 local and national partners. Join the Network to discover films by title or topic, plus accompanying materials such as discussion guides, promotional tools and other resources to help shape the conversation and inspire action.

POV collaborates with media educators to produce lesson plans for teachers interested in using our films as a teaching tool. We offer free resources for educators, including 200+ online film clips connected to 100+ standards-aligned lesson plans, discussion guides and reading lists.