PBS’ Independent Lens Launches 20th Season of Pop-Up Screenings in Teaneck & Nationwide

January 6, 2026

The award-winning PBS documentary series, Independent Lens, announced today the launch of the upcoming season of Indie Lens Pop-Up in partnership with the Teaneck International Film Festival
and the Puffin Cultural Forum both projects of The Puffin Foundation, Ltd.

The season kicks-off on February 4th with The Librarians and continues through May. The series is free for all but sign up is required. The long-running community screening series celebrates its twentieth season, which has brought together nearly half a million people for conversations inspired by thought-provoking documentaries. This season, the screening series will feature both in-person (taking place locally at the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck and the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee) and virtual events in more than 200 communities across nearly all 50 states.

Indie Lens Pop-Up will engage communities on a range of topics, from the debate over book collections in libraries and the legacy of a groundbreaking Congresswoman, to representation within the Little People community and exploring world cultures through the local grocery store. These community events empower audiences to deepen their understanding of themselves and each other.

These documentaries also premiere on INDEPENDENT LENS, PBS’ award-winning documentary anthology series, and stream on the PBS app and YouTube.

The 2026 Indie Lens Pop-Up lineup includes the following documentaries:

• Librarians across the U.S. examine how book review policies are shaping their communities in The Librarians.
• The Inquisitor highlights the legacy of Barbara Jordan, unraveling how her public influence shaped U.S. politics, while exploring the complexities of her personal identity.
• Filmmaker Julie Forrest Wyman searches to find her place within the Little People community, exploring dwarfism within her own family and the diverse experiences of other Little People in her film The Tallest Dwarf.
• The Grocery List Show takes viewers to five bustling internationalgrocery stores in America with Top Chef contender Chrissy Camba.

“What makes INDEPENDENT LENS truly special is the way Indie Lens Pop-Up brings these powerful documentaries right into local communities all across the country,” said Beatriz Castillo, senior director of engagement and impact operations at ITVS. “These aren’t just film screenings—they’re opportunities for people to come together, have real conversations, and explore different perspectives in a way that’s respectful and inclusive. More and more, communities are craving spaces where they can connect, learn from one another, and talk about the issues that matter. Indie Lens Pop-Up helps make that possible.”

The Teaneck International Film Festival and The Puffin Cultural Forum are proud to continue our sixth consecutive year presenting The Indie Lens pop- up series. This year we are especially excited to be adding a new screening venue thanks to a partnership with the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Previous Indie Lens programs have had a significant impact in our community and helped to shed light on many local and national issues impacting New Jerseyans.

Jeremy Lentz, Executive Director of the Teaneck International Film Festival, states “The films being presented empower our community to come together and talk about topics that might be otherwise difficult to discuss with one another. With this continued partnership, we’re not only able to watch films
from the award-winning INDEPENDENT LENS series, but we also create open, safe forums to talk about important issues affecting our neighborhoods today, hopefully providing useful resources for those who need them.”