Oklahoma’s public television network, in partnership with Cherokee Film, will host a special screening and panel discussion on Tuesday, March 24, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa.
The event will feature a curated preview segment from The American Revolution, the sweeping six-part, 12-hour documentary series that premiered in November 2025. Following the screening, panelists will take part in a moderated discussion exploring the film’s national scope, Native perspectives and connections to Oklahoma history.
“OETA exists to serve the people of Oklahoma by connecting them to trusted storytelling at both the national and local level,” said Shawn Black, executive director of OETA. “Through partnerships like this one, we are able to elevate Oklahoma voices, provide historical context that matters to our communities, and create opportunities for thoughtful public dialogue around the stories that shape our nation.”
Featured Panelists
David Schmidt is the producer and co-director of The American Revolution, working alongside Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein. Schmidt began his career with Florentine Films as a researcher and apprentice editor on The Roosevelts, where he supervised the seven-episode script. His research work on The Vietnam War earned him the Jane Mercer Footage Researcher of the Year Award. He later produced the two-part PBS biography Benjamin Franklin.
Jen Loren (Cherokee Nation) is senior director of Cherokee Film and an Emmy Award–winning filmmaker. She oversees Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, the Cherokee Film Commission and the Cherokee Film Institute. Loren also serves as executive producer and host of Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People and served as an advisor on The American Revolution on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, helping ensure Native perspectives were thoughtfully represented in the series. In 2023, she was selected as an inaugural Obama Leader by the Obama Foundation and is widely recognized for advancing Native representation in film and media.
“The truth is, more often than not, people forget that you can’t accurately tell the stories of U.S. history without those of Native American history,” said Jen Loren. “Having the opportunity to advise on this project was a major step in the right direction for accurate representation of Indian Country. At Cherokee Film, we are proud to work alongside Ken Burns’ team and for their dedication to telling this story in its entirety, both accurately and inclusively. This part of our history is difficult, but it is history we share.”
LeeAnn Dreadfulwater (Cherokee Nation) is an Emmy-winning producer and cultural, historical and archival consultant for Cherokee Film. She joined the OsiyoTV team in 2019 after 25 years working within the Cherokee Nation government under multiple administrations. Dreadfulwater served as a researcher supporting Cherokee Film’s consultation on The American Revolution, helping ensure historical accuracy and cultural context in the film’s portrayal of Cherokee history and perspectives.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Rich Lenz, news director of OETA’s Oklahoma News Report, bringing a journalist’s perspective to the conversation.
The March 24 program is part of OETA’s ongoing collaboration with cultural and tribal partners across Oklahoma to deepen community engagement through public media.
A light reception will follow the discussion. Space is limited, and advance registration is required.
