American Documentary

Overview

Brooklyn, N.Y. — September 12, 2024 — American Documentary (AmDoc) announced today that POV and America ReFramed alum PJ Raval, a potent force within the independent filmmaking community, will be presented with the second annual Creative Visionary Award at the AmDoc GalaFest 2024 taking place Thursday, November 14, 2024. The honoree was selected for his exceptional nonfiction work that gives voice and visibility to traditionally marginalized and LGBTQ+ communities.

Recognized across the industry for his filmmaking, producing, and expertise behind the camera, representatives from different departments within AmDoc coalesced to recognize Raval’s contributions to public media, queer advocacy and nonfiction filmmaking. Raval will be on hand to receive the award during the centerpiece ceremony of the highly anticipated event which convenes industry stalwarts, POV filmmakers past and present, and AmDoc staff and supporters.

PJ Raval, a first-generation Filipino American from California's Central Valley, acknowledges his outsider status as a queer youth in a deeply conservative community has shaped his filmmaking practice, one that is firmly rooted in social justice, decolonializing strategies and community activism. His stories present lived experiences from within his own community and have become important tools to promote allyship, build empathy and compassion for others who simply want to exercise their right to exist authentically and freely. His films have chronicled lives in transformation, centering communities in need of healing and those experiencing injustice. America ReFramed’s third season finale featured the GLAAD media award-nominated film Before You Know It (2013), a portrait of three gay elders navigating the universal challenges of age discrimination within their own community. In POV season 32, Call Her Ganda (2018), explored the imperialist foundations underscoring the tragic murder of a transgender woman in the Philippines and earned the NLGJA Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists Best Documentary Award. The festival favorite Who We Become (2023) presents an intimate story told through the lens of three young Filipino women coming into political consciousness as they seek ‘kapwa’ (Tagalog for togetherness) with their families amidst turbulent times. The film was acquired by ARRAY founded by filmmaker Ava DuVernay and is available on Netflix. Raval’s films radiate the desire to share untold stories that expand perspectives of others' lived experiences while keeping audiences anchored to some of the most important issues of our times.

Named one of Out Magazine’s “Out 100,” PJ Raval has earned a growing collection of nominations, awards and accolades from across the media spectrum including The National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association Excellence in Documentary Award; Inside Out Toronto Film Festival Award for Best Documentary; Austin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Audience Award; Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding North American Documentary Feature from LA Asian Pacific Film Festival; Woodstock Film Festival, Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography and key nominations from Sundance Film Festival and Film Independent Spirit Awards. For close to two decades, Raval’s involvement in social and community-issue driven documentary film includes director, cinematographer and producer credits for work that has been screened or broadcast internationally and on PBS through support by POV, ITVS, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), and WORLD.

PJ is a Guggenheim Fellow, an Open Society Soros Justice Fellow, a USA Artist Fellow, and previously, a Firelight Media Documentary Fellow and a FRONTLINE/Firelight Investigative Journalism Fellow. His work has been supported by the Ford Foundation, Bertha Foundation, Sundance Film Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Center for Asian American Media, Arcus Foundation, and more. His memberships include the Producers Guild of America, Writers Guild of America and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences where he has served on the Academy Documentary Branch Executive Committee and is currently Co-Chair for the Asian Affinity Group. He holds an MFA in Film and Media Production from the University of Texas at Austin where he is currently an associate professor at their Moody College of Communication. His community work in Austin, Texas includes being a co-founding member of Queerbomb, a radically inclusive, non-corporate counter to the city’s Pride celebration and OUTsider, a transmedia nonprofit celebrating creative work of LGBTQ+ communities working across visual, cinema and performing arts. A longstanding member of Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc) he is actively involved on the Steering Committee and serves as the Impact Initiative Project Co-lead.

“On behalf of American Documentary we are proud to recognize PJ Raval with our Creative Visionary Award,” said Erika Dilday, executive director of American Documentary and executive producer of POV. “PJ continues to make an indelible mark on nonfiction filmmaking and is a shining example of how documentary films can be powerful and enlightening vehicles for empathy and community healing. PJ’s contributions to independent filmmaking along with his community organizing on the ground, in classrooms, and board rooms are inspiring to all of us in the field who are both champions as well as fans and his commitment to social justice work. His impact is immeasurable and, lucky for us, he’s got a long road ahead of him."

“I have long admired the contributions and impactful programming of POV and American Documentary,” said Raval. “Throughout my career, AmDoc has served as a model for my filmmaking, as I strive to create work that resonates with public media viewers. I’m deeply honored and thrilled to receive this award, which holds such personal meaning. It inspires and encourages me to continue sharing vital, yet often overlooked, stories from my communities.”

AmDoc GalaFest 2024 will be a joyous gathering of people who value storytelling by diverse filmmakers and the great potential it holds for expanding knowledge, understanding, and empathy. The event happens during an exciting season marked by industry acclaim but also in the face of ongoing challenges within the media landscape. This is not only an occasion to honor awardees, GalaFest will also be a celebratory reunion of its community of public media supporters, filmmakers, industry peers, organizations, and audiences while cultivating and welcoming a newer generation into the fold. Hosted by a guest MC who will lead attendees through an evening program that includes a VIP cocktail reception, awards presentation, and festive activities to experience with the vibrant AmDoc community.

Event and Tickets Information:

Date: Thursday November 14, 2024

Time: 6:00 - 10:00 pm

Venue: 26 Bridge Street, Brooklyn, NY

Purchase Tickets here

Event details here

For more information please contact development@pov.org

About

About American Documentary, Inc.

American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the Chasing the Dream and Peril and Promise public media initiatives of The WNET Group, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.