A TV SERIES FOR FAMILIES TO WATCH TOGETHER
The media often glosses over the lives and experiences of teens with glib or superficial coverage. Since 2014, the Youth Documentary Academy has been changing the conversation with a unique program that invites teen filmmakers into the role of storyteller with courage and audacity. Discover a television series that is more than sensationalized drama, and provides unvarnished and deeply compelling first-person accounts of growing up in America.
The Youth Documentary Academy proudly presents OUR TIME, a television series produced in association with public television that dives deeply into tough topics faced by teens across the nation. So far, OUR TIME has broadcast on over 80 percent of PBS stations nationwide (including 25 of the top 25 markets!) Find the OUR TIME series airing on most PBS stations and tune in with your own family.
Films in the series feature stories about the critical issues of our time through the eyes of young people. These character-driven stories address social issues around race and colorism, disability, teen suicide, gender and sexuality, PTSD, domestic violence, family life and immigration, and more.
Season 3 of OUR TIME is coming in 2026!
Despite deep polarization in the U.S., young Americans and their families are making their voices and values heard. Transformed by issues as diverse as mental health, adoption, gun violence and immigration, Season 3 of OUR TIME presents bold and unvarnished point-of-view stories that open the door to courageous conversations between young people and the adults in their lives.
PRESENTED IN 6
HALF-HOUR EPISODES
“YDA has made a big impact on my life by helping me to connect with my peers as well as older generations, bringing awareness about uncomfortable topics such as suicide, depression, immigration, LGBTQ issues, and domestic violence in relationships.”
–Dee Contreras
Who gets to tell their story in America?
Founded in 2013, the Youth Documentary Academy (YDA) has pioneered youth-driven storytelling that seeks to discover and honor underrepresented stories while raising voices that have traditionally been overlooked. YDA offers intensive mentorship to aspiring teen filmmakers 14-18 years old. Through rigorous hands-on training in both the technical and artistic aspects of filmmaking and storytelling, YDA students receive the tools and support to hone their stories and produce professional quality documentaries. When complete, YDA works closely with filmmakers to distribute their work to local and national audiences. YDA’s 100 films have become a go-to for educators, advocates and PBS programmers alike.
Major Funding
Mary Anne & Steve Walldorf
Betsy & Warren Dean
H. Chase Stone Charitable Trust
Additional Funding
SUPPORT YDA and “OUR TIME”
The Youth Documentary Academy relies on direct funding and donations from our sponsors. If you appreciate the OUR TIME series, please consider supporting the Youth Documentary Academy. Your donation makes a difference, and makes future seasons of the PBS series OUR TIME possible.
