For Immediate Release
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Contact: Beth Spezia, WSIU Educational Outreach Coordinator, (618) 453-5595, beth.spezia@wsiu.org; Lisa Tawil, ITVS, (415) 356-8383, lisa_tawil@itvs.org
PBS Series Independent Lens to Launch Indie Lens Pop-Up in Carbondale and 75 Cities Across the U.S.
National Screening Series Seeks to Spark Conversations through Sneak Previews of Independent Lens Films, Premieres Locally on November 21
Carbondale, IL – WSIU Public Broadcasting, a public media service of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the Carbondale Public Library, have joined forces with the award-winning PBS series Independent Lens and the Independent Television Service (ITVS) to launch Indie Lens Pop-Up, a neighborhood screening series that brings people together for community-driven conversations around Independent Lens films.
Formerly known as Community Cinema, the long-running screening series has been renamed Indie Lens Pop-Up to strengthen the bond between the Independent Lens television series and local communities, and to bring new energy and new audiences to the in-person events, online, and in broadcasts on WSIU-TV. The Indie Lens Pop-Up lineup will include a diverse selection of new documentaries that explore issues from autism to veterans’ issues, from race to gun violence.
Indie Lens Pop-Up will premiere locally on Saturday, November 21 at 2:30pm at the Carbondale Public Library with a free screening and discussion of Autism in Love by Matt Fuller. In the film, four adults at different places on the autism spectrum open up their personal lives as they navigate dating and romantic relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that despite many challenges faced by those with autism, love can find a way.
“WSIU is thrilled to partner on Indie Lens Pop-Up,” says Beth Spezia, WSIU’s Educational Outreach Coordinator. "The community’s participation in past seasons has been incredible. People who may not know each other are building bonds and creating new partnerships. Our local screenings highlight the importance of civil conversation and social responsibility and motivate people to get involved.”
“The Carbondale Public Library is proud to once again serve as host of this important community engagement series,” says Diana Brawley-Sussman. “Indie Lens Pop-Up creates a warm, welcoming, and enjoyable space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together in a time where these opportunities seem to be dwindling. We learn and grow together as a community through the conversations that follow each film.”
Local facilitators for the screening of Autism in Love on November 21 are Diana Sarko, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy at the SIU School of Medicine, and Kirsten Schaper, Clinical Instructor at the SIU Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Sarko’s research focuses on sensory processing and social aspects of autism, and working with teens. Schaper’s specializations include Autism, Communication Disorders and Therapy, and Alternative & Augmentative Communication. WSIU will provide special resources for families with young children and educators of children, including free copies of the “Thomas and Friends Autism Educator Toolkit,” while supplies last. Online links to family resources are listed below:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/my-grandson-autism-and-thomas-tank-engine
http://autism.sesamestreet.org/ features a new Muppet character, Julia, with autism.
Additional local film screenings are scheduled as follows:
In Football We Trust by Tony Vainuku and Erika Cohn
Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 2:30pm • Carbondale Public Library
In Football We Trust intimately follows four Polynesian high school football players in Utah struggling to overcome gang violence, family pressures, and poverty as they enter the high stakes world of college recruiting and the promise of pro sports. The odds may be stacked against them, but they’ll never stop fighting for a better future. The film will air Monday, February 1 at 9pm on WSIU-TV.
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution by Stanley Nelson
Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 2:30pm • Carbondale Public Library
A new revolutionary culture emerged in the turbulent 1960s, and the Black Panther Party was at the vanguard. Weaving together a treasure trove of rare footage with the voices of a diverse group of people who were there, Stanley Nelson tells the vibrant story of a pivotal movement that feels timely all over again. The film will air Tuesday, February 23 at 8pm on WSIU-TV.
Peace Officer by Scott Christopherson and Brad Barber
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:30pm • Carbondale Public Library
The increasingly tense relationship between law enforcement and the public is seen through the eyes of someone who's been on both sides: a former sheriff who established Utah's first SWAT team, only to see the same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff 30 years later. Now a private investigator, Dub seeks the truth in this case and other officer-involved shootings. This film will air in April 2016 on WSIU-TV. Stay tuned to WSIU-TV for more details when they become available.
Questions about Indie Lens Pop-Up screenings at the Carbondale Public Library may be directed to (618) 457-0345. Learn more about the engagement series on WSIU’s local Indie Lens Pop-Up webpage at http://www.wsiu.org/indielenspopup or call (618) 453-5595.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. Can't attend in person? Find Independent Lens on Facebook for information on our online Pop-Up events.
About Independent Lens
Independent Lens is an Emmy® Award-winning weekly series airing on PBS Monday nights at 9pm CST. The acclaimed series features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by Independent Television Service, the series is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, with additional funding from PBS and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens. Join the conversation: facebook.com/independentlens and on Twitter @IndependentLens.
About WSIU Public Broadcasting
WSIU Public Broadcasting is licensed to the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University and is an integral part of the College of Mass Communication & Media Arts on the Carbondale campus. The WSIU stations reach more than three million people across five states and beyond through three digital public television channels, three public radio stations, a radio information service, a website, and an education and community outreach department.
WSIU's mission is to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. The WSIU stations partner with other community organizations to promote positive change and to support the academic and public service missions of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Learn more and get the latest station news online at wsiu.org and on WSIU's Facebook and Twitter pages.
WSIU's programs and services are partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
About the Carbondale Public Library
The Carbondale Public Library provides resources and services to support the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the Carbondale community. The library provides free services to all residents living within the city boundaries and is part of the Shawnee Library System.
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