The Better Angels Society is Proud to Support the Following Films
These documentary films in production are associated with Ken Burns’s Florentine Films and Lynn Novick’s Skiff Mountain Films. They tell the story of people and animals who have found ways to overcome adversity and have impacted our history. All previously supported films are in the Past Films section of this page. To see a full list of Ken’s work, click here. For additional information on supporting these films, please email Katherine Malone-France, President & CEO, at [email protected].
Better Angels Stories
The Better Angels Stories initiative is a partnership with PBS to support historical documentary films about the most important untold stories of American history. We aim to ensure these vital, complex narratives can be brought to millions of PBS viewers nationwide. These films have future air dates, and The Better Angels Society is currently supporting or actively fundraising for them. To see all the aired films we’ve supported, visit the Past Films section of this page. For additional information on supporting upcoming Better Angels Stories, please email Katherine Malone-France, President & CEO, at [email protected].
Special thanks to John and Jessica Fullerton for underwriting this initiative. Additional support has been generously provided by:
- Mercedes T. Bass
- Gilchrist & Amy Berg
- Philip I. Kent
- Fullerton Family Charitable Trust
- Rocco & Debby Landesman
- Mauree Jane & Mark Perry
- Lynda & Stewart Resnick
- The Robert F. Smith Family
- Bobby & Polly Stein
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film
The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film is an annual national prize designed to provide finishing funds, including outreach and marketing, for feature-length U.S. historical documentaries in the tradition of Ken Burns. The 2022 winners are below. Visit the page directly, or search the Past Films section of this page to see all winners and finalists. The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film is made possible through a generous donation by Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine.
Better Angels Lavine Fellowship
The Better Angels Lavine Fellowship Program is a component of the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. The Fellowship is for promising filmmakers whose films are not selected as finalists for the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. With a special emphasis on projects telling the stories of America’s diversity, the filmmakers receive mentorship, guidance, and advice on their work from a panel of expert filmmakers. To see the full list of fellows’ projects, visit the Past Films section of this page. The Lavine Fellowship is made possible by The Better Angels Society and Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine through the Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation.
THE APOLOGY, 2024 Fellow
DORY PREVIN: ON MY WAY TO WHERE, 2024 Fellow
SECOND GROWTH, 2024 Fellow
WEDNESDAYS IN MISSISSIPPI, 2024 Fellow
WELCOME TO JAY, 2024 Fellow
PAST FILMS
BAD LIKE BROOKLYN DANCEHALL
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2023
THE DAY THAT SHOOK GEORGIA
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2023
NEW WAVE
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2023
PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2023
SECOND GROWTH: A MODERN LACROSSE STORY
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2023
9to5: THE STORY OF A MOVEMENT
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2019 Finalist
THE ADVENTURES OF SAUL BELLOW
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2019 Finalist. Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
AFTER ANTARCTICA
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Finalist
THE AMERICAN BUFFALO
Florentine Films
BECOMING HELEN KELLER
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
BEETHOVEN IN BEIJING
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Finalist
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Florentine Films
BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON’S LIFE IN THE BLUES
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Finalist
BUFFALO SOLDIERS: FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
THE BUSING BATTLEGROUND
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
THE CANCER DETECTIVES
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE
Florentine Films
COLLEGE BEHIND BARS
Skiff Mountain Films
COUNTRY MUSIC
Florentine Films
CURED
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Runner-Up. Better Angels Stories, ITVS
DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS’ WAR
Florentine Films
THE DUST BOWL
Florentine Films
EXPOSING MUYBRIDGE
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Finalist
FANNIE LOU HAMER’S AMERICA
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2021
THE FIRST ANGRY MAN
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2019 Finalist
THE FIVE DEMANDS
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Finalist
FLANNERY
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2019 Winner
FLOOD IN THE DESERT
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
FLY WITH ME
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
FREE CHOL SOO LEE
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Runner-Up
GARDEN CITY KANSAS
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
GRADUALLY, THEN SUDDENLY
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Winner. Better Angels Stories
THE HARVEST: INTEGRATING MISSISSIPPI’S SCHOOLS
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
HEMINGWAY
Florentine Films
HOLD YOUR FIRE
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Winner
HOME FROM SCHOOL: THE CHILDREN OF CARLISLE
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2021
HOPPER: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
THE INCOMPARABLE MR. BUCKLEY
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
INVISIBLE WARRIORS: AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN WORLD WAR II
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2021
JACKIE ROBINSON
Florentine Films
JOE PAPP IN FIVE ACTS
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
KANSAS CITY DREAMIN’
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2021
THE LAST PHILADELPHIA
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
THE LIE DETECTORS
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
MAE WEST: DIRTY BLONDE
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film; 2019 Runner-Up
MARIAN ANDERSON: THE WHOLE WORLD IN HER HANDS
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2023 Finalist. Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
MOYNIHAN
Better Angels Stories, WNET American Masters
THE MAYO CLINIC
Florentine Films & Ewers Brothers Productions
MR. SOUL!
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2019 Finalist
NAZI TOWN USA
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
THE PHILADELPHIA ELEVEN
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
PLAGUE AT THE GOLDEN GATE
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
POISONED GROUND: THE TRAGEDY AT LOVE CANAL
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
PROHIBITION
Florentine Films
PUNCH 9 FOR HAROLD WASHINGTON
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Finalist
THE RIOT REPORT
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
RUTHLESS: MONOPOLY’S SECRET HISTORY
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
SOUL SISTERS
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2021
STORMING CAESARS PALACE
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2020 Finalist. Better Angels Stories, ITVS
THE SUN QUEEN
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
TAKEN HOSTAGE
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
A TASTE OF HEAVEN: THE ECSTATIC SONG & GOSPEL OF MAESTRO RAYMOND ANTHONY MYLES
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
THE LIE DETECTORS
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
A LONG MARCH
Better Angels Lavine Fellow, 2022
THE PICTURE TAKER
Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, 2021 Finalist
THE ROOSEVELTS: AN INTIMATE HISTORY
Florentine Films
THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST
Florentine Films
THE VIETNAM WAR
Florentine Films
THE WAR ON DISCO
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
ZORA NEALE HURSTON: CLAIMING A SPACE
Better Angels Stories, GBH American Experience
“Country music, like opera, is true poetry with a brilliant tempo! No song is more beautiful than ‘Stand by Your Man’ sung by Tammy Wynette.”
“College Behind Bars is a timely and important film that speaks to one of the most pressing probelms facing our country – mass incarceration. Through nuanced and intimate storytelling we witness the impact that educational opportunities can have on incarcerated students, and we see firsthand the possiblities for learning and growth behind bars.”
