The Better Angels Society

06/09/2026

Ready to bring your documentary across the finish line?

Apply to the Better Angels Lavine Fellowship, a post-production program of The Better Angels Society for feature-length documentaries about U.S. history. Fellows receive personalized mentorship, cohort-based workshops, strategic networking and industry guidance, and are awarded $5,000 to support their project's completion and distribution.

📢 Applications Open June 17 📢

04/29/2026

🚨 Last call! 🚨 Submit your historical documentary film to the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film by Sunday!

04/23/2026

Announcing the 2026 National Jury for the Prize for Film! These esteemed filmmakers, scholars and industry leaders will determine our 2026 finalists for the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film. Click the link in our bio to learn more about our jurors.

04/06/2026

There's less than one month to apply to the Prize for Film! Submit by May 3.

03/20/2026

Are you working on a documentary about American history? Apply to the Prize for Film now through May 3 for a chance to be awarded a $200,000 prize.

Bestowed annually by the Librarian of Congress in partnership with The Better Angels Society, a prize of $200,000 is awarded to one winner, a secondary prize...

03/02/2026

Are you making a documentary about U.S. History? The Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Fil​m is now ​o​pen for submissions! The Prize​ for Film honors ​exemplary documentary films a​nd awards $350,000 annually. Tell America’s story​ and submit by May 3.

​Click the link in the bio to apply. 🎥

02/24/2026

Join The Better Angels Society at the Hindsight Film Festival, the United States’ first major film festival dedicated exclusively to historical documentaries, taking place March 4-8 in Savannah, GA.

Across multiple venues, enjoy 15 feature films, 30 short films, engaging panel discussions, history tours, and more. Watch Ken Burns announce the festival below and get your tickets today!

America’s first major film festival exclusively for historical documentaries launches March 4th - 8th, in Savannah, GA. Multiple venues will feature 15 featu...

01/29/2026

What an incredible reception for the Sundance premiere of AMERICAN PACHUCO, the 2025 LOC Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film winner! We were thrilled to be a part of an incredible screening and celebration of the life and work of Luis Valdez. 🎉

Congratulations to director and the entire team on an important and expertly crafted film!!

12/10/2025

This year’s Prize for Film Winner, AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ, and Prize for Film Finalist/Better Angels Lavine Fellow, SOUL PATROL, are making their World Premieres at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival! 🎬✨In partnership with The Better Angels Society, the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film awards the best in documentary filmmaking about American History, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience these powerful stories on screen. Huge congratulations to both film teams from The Better Angels Society!

11/09/2025

🚨 FREE MENTORSHIP ALERT! 🚨

Calling all creatives ages 14–22 — don’t miss TWO amazing virtual filmmaking sessions designed to help you learn, connect, and create in a fun, low-stakes environment!

🎬 1) Script to Storyboard to Screen with Patrick Wimp — Nov. 10
Join award-winning filmmaker Patrick Wimp for a hands-on session on transforming your documentary idea into a compelling story. Learn how to:
✨ Turn your concept into a script
✨ Conduct research and build your storyboard
✨ Adapt as your story evolves
✨ Know when your film is done
🔗 Spots are limited — Register for Nov. 10: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SBIpSzxDQea94PLL8GsrUg #/registration

🤖 2) The Ethics of AI in Documentary Filmmaking — Nov. 17
How can filmmakers balance creativity, accuracy, and accountability in the age of AI? Join media leaders Chris Hastings (WGBH, BET, WXXI Public Media) and Louise Rosen (Oscar & Emmy-winning Managing Director, Louise Rosen Ltd.), for a candid conversation moderated by Jason Steinhauer, founder of the History Communication Institute. Explore how AI is transforming documentary storytelling — and what it means for the future of truth and trust in film.
🔗 Spots are limited — Register for Nov. 17: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NptfGqxgRgmymSOeKNq6Rg #/registration

Thanks to our partners at the Lincoln Presidential Foundation!