Sesame Workshop Partners with Multitude Films’ Renowned Filmmakers for Award-Winning Docuseries Through Our Eyes

Series, From the Makers of Sesame Street, to Debut on Public Television Stations in May

(New York, NY, April 29, 2024) – Global impact nonprofit and makers of Sesame Street, Sesame Workshop announced a collaboration with Multitude Films’ renowned filmmakers for new episodes of the award-winning docuseries Through Our Eyes, debuting on public television stations nationwide beginning May 1 (check local listings). In the New York metro area, Through Our Eyes premieres Sunday, May 12 at 6:30pm on THIRTEEN; Wednesday, May 1 at 5pm on WLIW21; and Monday, May 13 at 5:30pm on NJ PBS.

Through Our Eyes is an intimate and inspiring journey into the lives and challenges of American families from the perspective of children. New episodes spotlight kids learning about their own race, ethnicity, and culture; facing and fighting racism; and taking positive steps towards building the future they wish to inhabit. Emmy® and Peabody Award winner Geeta Gandbhir teamed up with Emmy® award winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker Justyn Ah Chong for Reclaim, a story about perpetuating Hawaiian culture through hula. Leading, the other short film, was directed by Peabody Award winner Grace Lee, and is about young activists. Gandbhir, Ah Chong, and Lee are featured directors of Multitude Films, a queer and women-led independent production company dedicated to telling nonfiction stories by and about historically excluded and underrepresented communities.

“We subscribe to the belief of “no stories about us without us” so were thrilled to collaborate with Geeta, Grace, and Justyn, a diverse and talented group of filmmakers, to explore some of today’s most challenging issues through the perspectives of the children and families who experience them,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, EVP, Chief Creative Development and Production Officer, Sesame Workshop. “As always, our long-time partners The WNET Group and American Public Television are ensuring maximum reach and engagement of these important, thought-provoking stories.”

Presented by The WNET Group and distributed by American Public Television, the series’ two new episodes will be shown along with the original four that have already received accolades including an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short Documentary for the Apart episode. Through Our Eyes reveals the strength and perseverance of kids experiencing parental incarceration, climate displacement, the wounds of war, and homelessness.

Production funding for the two new episodes of Through Our Eyes has been provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

About Sesame Workshop 
Sesame Workshop is the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok. 

About Multitude Films
Multitude Films is a queer- and women-led independent production company dedicated to telling nonfiction stories by and about historically excluded and underrepresented communities. Multitude’s critically-acclaimed films have been programmed at dozens of festivals internationally including Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, Telluride, and IDFA and distributed by Netflix, Topic, POV, Independent Lens, and HBO Max among others. Oriented by a representational storytelling approach, the company prioritizes equity on screen and behind the camera. Their team has been recognized with the inaugural Doc10 Vanguard Award, Doc NYC 40 Under 40 Award, Cinereach Producers Award, and SIMA Vital Voices Award. Recent releases include Peacock Original LOWNDES COUNTY AND THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER, presented by Participant; Emmy-nominated Netflix Original PRAY AWAY, executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Blumhouse; APART, an Emmy-winning and NAACP Image Award-nominated episode of THROUGH OUR EYES on HBO Max; Sundance Award-winning and IDA-nominated ALWAYS IN SEASON; and Livingston Award-winning THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED. multitudefilms.com

About The WNET Group
The WNET Group creates inspiring media content and meaningful experiences for diverse audiences nationwide. It is the community-supported home of New York’s THIRTEEN – America’s flagship PBS station – WLIW21, THIRTEEN PBS KIDS, WLIW World and Create; NJ PBS, New Jersey’s statewide public television network; Long Island’s only NPR station WLIW-FM; ALL ARTS, the arts and culture media provider; newsroom NJ Spotlight News; and FAST channel PBS Nature. Through these channels and streaming platforms, The WNET Group brings arts, culture, education, news, documentary, entertainment, and DIY programming to more than five million viewers each month. The WNET Group’s award-winning productions include signature PBS series Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, and Amanpour and Company and trusted local news programs like NJ Spotlight Newswith Briana Vannozzi. Inspiring curiosity and nurturing dreams, The WNET Group’s award-winning Kids’ Media and Education team produces the PBS KIDS series Cyberchase, interactive Mission US history games, and resources for families, teachers and caregivers. A leading nonprofit public media producer for more than 60 years, The WNET Group presents and distributes content that fosters lifelong learning, including initiatives addressing poverty, jobs, economic opportunity, social justice, understanding, and the environment. Through Passport, station members can stream new and archival programming anytime, anywhere. The WNET Group represents the best in public media. Join us.

About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, America’s Test Kitchen, Rick Steves’ Europe, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, My Life is Murder, Pati’s Mexican Table, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, Table for All with Buki Elegbede, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Lucky Chow, NHK Newsline, BBC News and Biz Kid$ are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. More information at APTonline.org.