Unleash Creativity: Channeling change through film

In recent years Independent Lens has become a multi- platform effort. Indie Lens Pop Up is the series’ ground- breaking community screening initiative, with monthly events in 75 cities across the United States. Each screening is followed by a live panel discussion that features local experts and community organizations coming together to talk and solve problems.

Indie Lens Storycast is a new web series on YouTube featuring short-form digital-only stories by indie filmmakers. On yet another platform, Independent Lens funds and produces independent journalism videos in partnership with major news media outlets, such as The Washington Post and the New York Times.

Galas and award ceremonies, such as the Oscars and the Primetime Emmy Awards, are part of Vossen’s world.

Character driven stories that help audiences make sense of local, national and international events are at the core of Independent Lens. Peter Bratt’s “Dolores” documents the life and legacy of Dolores Huerta, 88, who created the National Farm- workers Association alongside her more famous partner, the late César Chávez.

“‘Dolores’ is a valuable film because it demonstrates that we cannot write women out of history,” said Vossen. “It’s a compelling example of the power one person can have to create change and impact the lives of millions of people.”

The 2016 struggle between the federal government and armed protestors at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon is the focus of “No Man’s Land.” Filmmaker David Byars offers a fly-on-wall look at the inner-workings of the 41-day occupation, whose leaders included brothers Ammon Bundy and Ryan Bundy.

“Most of our documentaries feature very human stories. We believe audiences relate to issues emotionally and intellec- tually when they can connect with a person – rather than just talking heads,” she said.

On her “best days,” Vossen said, she screens film cuts and meets with filmmakers about their projects. She screened work-in-progress cuts of Oscar-winner Morgan Neville’s new film about children’s television pioneer Fred Rogers. The much-anticipated “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” appeared in theaters in June. Its television premiere on “Independent Lens” is expected in early 2019.

In the case of “The King,” a cross country road trip that looks at the Great American Dream through the life of Elvis Presley, Vossen worked with filmmaker Eugene Jarecki on the film’s re-edit, following a work-in-progress screening at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

“I’m fortunate because there’s a lot of variety in my days and I’m someone who likes change,” said Vossen. “I get up at 5:30 a.m. every day and go to the gym. I began doing that the year after I graduated from SCSU, when I realized how important it was to wake up my body and my brain—and it made dealing with Minnesota winter weather a lot easier.”