American Documentary

American Documentary at @cannes.docs ! 🇫🇷 The AmDoc team joins filmmakers, industry leaders, and documentary champions from around the world at the Cannes Docs program during the Marché du Film in Cannes, France. Across four days of panels, showcases, presentations, networking events, and the signature Doc Day, the team is connecting with global storytellers and collaborators dedicated to the future of documentary film. #Cannes2026 #CannesDocs #AmericanDocumentary

Last week, the American Documentary External Affairs team came together for a retreat focused on collaboration, strategy, storytelling, and the future of our work. From thoughtful conversations and big-picture planning to shared meals and creative brainstorming, the retreat was an opportunity to reflect on how we continue building deeper connections with audiences, filmmakers, partners, and communities through documentary storytelling. Grateful for the time to reconnect, recharge, and align around the work ahead. #AmericanDocumentary #Documentary #Storytelling #TeamBuilding

Last week, AmDoc’s Robert Y. Chang and Gina Basso (@ginabasso ) attended the 44th annual @caamedia Fest in San Francisco’s historic Japantown, a powerful celebration of Asian American storytelling, community, and independent film. This year’s festival embraced a spirit that brought together filmmakers, creatives, and industry leaders from across the country. As part of the Filmmaker Summit, @robertchang represented American Documentary on the panel From the Margins to the Blueprint: Building the Future of Public Media Around Filmmakers of Color alongside leaders from NMCA, ITVS, and Firelight. The conversation explored the evolving landscape of public media while centering the voices and communities that continue to shape its future. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s CAAMFest such an inspiring gathering. We’re honored to be part of these important conversations and to continue supporting bold, community-driven storytelling.

We’re back in the office and it feels like the best kind of “full circle” moment! Last week marked the return of our in-house Behind the Lens filmmaker interview shoot, our first time bringing filmmakers back into the space after a few years of virtual production. There’s always been a special kind of buzz when filmmakers walk through the door, conversations unfolding in real time, and the entire office shifting into creative gear. Seeing that come alive again reminded us why this series has always felt so central to what we do. Huge thanks to the filmmakers who joined us and to the team who helped bring the space back to life. This is just the beginning, keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes moments in the coming weeks!

This May, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month with a POV collection centered on healing, resilience, and the power of creative expression. In partnership with @film.in.mind , The D-Word, and @documentalityproject , this collection reflects the 2026 theme “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” highlighting stories of compassion, reflection, and the many ways we cope with life’s challenges. From intimate portraits of mother-daughter relationships to meditations on grief, absence, and connection, these films reveal pathways toward understanding, healing, and reconciliation. Across the collection, art emerges as a powerful lifeline offering expression, identity, and hope in the face of adversity. Stream the collection now on POV! @amdocdocumentary #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #POVonPBS #AmericanDocumentary #Documentary #MentalHealth

American Documentary is at @PBS Annual Meeting, where PBS station partners, filmmakers, and public media colleagues came together to talk about what’s next, and how we get there together! Our Executive Director, Erika Dilday (@dildaydoc ), and Station Manager, Gina Basso (@ginabasso ), are on the ground spending time connecting with station partners, sharing ideas, and digging into the future of storytelling in public media. A highlight: Erika shared an early look at the POV Season 39 trailer giving stations a first glimpse of the powerful lineup of films coming soon to PBS. Big energy, big ideas, and a lot of momentum heading into the year ahead.

We’re excited to announce that our #DocInsights are back at #MDF26!✨ Get a behind-the-scenes look of the documentary ecosystem and expect precious advice and candid stories from those shaping the future of non-fiction storytelling. 📣 Calling rising filmmakers or doc super fans! This is your backstage pass to the world of documentary filmmaking! Explore the #CannesDocs schedule and mark your agendas ➡️ Link in bio at @cannes.docs — #MDF26 #CannesDocs #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026

This May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a curated POV collection honoring stories of identity, migration, memory, and belonging. Co-presented with @caamedia and @picpacific , this collection spotlights AAPI filmmakers whose work reflects the richness and complexity of lives shaped by immigration and cultural connection. Across these films, personal journeys unfold into powerful reflections bridging generations, revealing unexpected intersections, and showing how differences become strengths. Watch the full collection, streaming this May on POV and the @PBS App. #AAPIHeritageMonth #POVonPBS #AmericanDocumentary #AAPIStories #Documentary

📣 We are overjoyed to be announcing the first-ever Doc Day Party at this year’s #CannesDocs edition! 🎉 The festive gathering will take place on the Croisette and close out #DocDay 2026 in style, with a DJ set by @palomacolombe . This event is made possible thanks to the extremely precious support of: 🔹 American Documentary 2026 (@amdocdocumentary ) 🔹 IEFTF - The International Emerging Film Talent Fund (@ieftf_org ) 🔹 Millennium Docs Against Gravity (@millenniumdocsagainstgravity ) & FIPRESCI (@fipresci ), in celebration of the brand-new DOCUMENTARY GRAND PRIX for the best documentary film of the year, to be announced during the Opening Ceremony of the 23 Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival in Warsaw, Poland on 7 May A huge heartfelt THANK YOU to all of these extraordinary supporters for turning this long-awaited Doc Day Party fantasy into reality! 📌 Please note that the Doc Day Party is an exclusive event, strictly accessible by invitation only. — #MDF26 #MarcheDuFilm #Cannes2026 #DocDayParty #DocumentaryGrandPrix

A few days ago, our POV Engage team gathered for a meaningful (and energizing) department retreat 💫 Huge shoutout to Robert Salyer for securing our free meeting space at the beautiful Brooklyn Library, which truly set the tone for the day. And a special sendoff to our incredible Reelworks apprentice Shmyah. We’re so grateful for all the thoughtfulness and creativity you brought to the team. ❤️ Group photo magic courtesy of our very own David Nanasi! 📸 #AmericanDocumentary #TeamMoment #Documentary #Community #PublicMedia

🌸✈️ Spring is in full swing and so is festival season for American Documentary! Our team is hitting the road this April, connecting with filmmakers, discovering new stories, and championing nonfiction cinema across the U.S. and Europe. Here’s where you can find AmDoc staff in the field: ReelAbilities Film Festival Kerry LeVielle and Cayla Clements are attending this milestone festival spotlighting disability representation and advocacy through film. Visions du Réel Robert Y. Chang heads to this globally renowned doc festival showcasing bold, boundary-pushing storytelling. Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival Opal H. Bennett and Chris White will be on the ground at North America’s leading documentary festival, market, and conference. San Francisco International Film Festival Gina Basso joins the longest-running film festival in the Americas, celebrating global cinema and innovation. PitchBLACK Forum 2026 Robert Y. Chang returns to NYC for this dynamic pitch forum uplifting Black storytellers and creative technologists. If you’re attending any of these events, come say hi 👋 and follow along as we share moments from the field all month long. #AmDocInTheField #FilmFestival #Documentary

American Documentary is honored to receive eight nominations from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the 47th News & Documentary Emmy® Awards. 🎉 Spanning the 38th season of POV and Season 8 of POV Shorts, this recognition highlights the power and impact of nonfiction storytelling across program and craft categories. Nominated films include: Best Documentary UNION Black Snow Outstanding Social Issue Documentary The Ride Ahead Outstanding Business & Economic Documentary Made in Ethiopia DRIVER Outstanding Short Documentary Chasing Time Additional craft honors: The Ride Ahead — Outstanding Graphic Design Chasing Time — Outstanding Music Composition We’re deeply grateful to the visionary filmmakers and teams behind these works. See the full list of nominees here: https://loom.ly/UIt9GLk. #AmericanDocumentary #POVonPBS #POVShortsonPBS #PBS #Emmys Documentary