Independent Lens: Season 12 (2010 - 2011)

Season 12 opens with new host America Ferrera introducing Meghan Eckman's quirky and acclaimed "Parking Lot Movie," which focuses on the world of parking-lot attendants at one Charlottesville, Va., parking lot. The attendants are a mix of University of Virginia undergraduate and grad students, musicians, philosophers and assorted oddballs, and the subjects they broach include anger, capitalism, class struggle, drunkenness, entitlement, the service sector and spiritual awareness.

"Art & Copy" recalls memorable advertising campaigns and commercials via interviews with the men and women responsible for them, including Nike's "Just Do It," the milk industry's "Got Milk?" and Crocker Bank's "We've Only Just Begun" (the jingle of which went on to become a hit song), as well as "Where's the Beef?" (Wendy's), "I Love New York," the "1984" Apple commercial, Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" reelection spot and a colorful campaign for Braniff airlines during the 1960s.

Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond examines Hollywood's depiction of Native Americans in "Reel Injun" via movie clips and comments from actors and filmmakers, including Adam Beach, Clint Eastwood, Graham Greene, Jim Jarmusch, Chris Eyre and Wes Studi, as well as musician Robbie Robertson, Native American activists Russell Means and Sacheen Littlefeather, and CBC film critic Jesse Wente.

After Private Felix Longoria died in WWII while serving with the U.S. Army in the Philippines, the funeral director in his hometown of Three Rivers, TX, denied his family's request that Longoria lie in state because he wasn't white. He was also slated to be buried in a separate part of the cemetery, cordoned off by barbed wire. Written, directed, and produced by John J. Valadez and narrated by Tony Plana, The Longoria Affair follows what happened next, including the involvement of then-Senator Lyndon Johnson and activist Dr. Héctor García.

Journalist Chris Billing turns the focus on his own family in "Lost Sparrow," which investigates why his adopted Crow Indian brothers Bobby and Tyler, 13 and 11, ran away from home in 1978, only to die when they were struck by a freight train. Included: home movies; family photographs; newspaper articles; adoption records; police reports; interviews with family members and other people involved in the boys' lives.

"Deep Down" examines how a coal company's decision to mine in the Appalachian mountain community of Maytown, Ky., divides two lifelong friends and neighbors. While one campaigns to stop the company, the other contemplates making a deal. The documentary also delves into the practice of mountaintop removal mining, in which coal seams are exposed by blowing up mountaintops.

"45365" presents a cinema vérité look at everyday life in Sidney, Ohio. Directed by Sidney residents (and brothers) Bill and Turner Ross, the film was honored at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival and the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards.

Part 1 of 2 of "The Calling," about America's next generation of religious leaders in the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. The documentary chronicles their transformation from students to ordained religious professionals; and explores the factors that are drawing young people to serve their communities and their faiths.

The conclusion of "The Calling," about America's next generation of religious leaders in the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. The documentary chronicles their transformation from students to ordained religious professionals; and explores the factors that are drawing young people to serve their communities and their faiths.