Cara Mertes is currently the Executive Director of American Documentary, Inc., the producer of P.O.V., PBSý critically acclaimed showcase for independent non-fiction film, and a leading non-profit specializing in leveraging the power of independent documentary in public life on-line and for broadcast. Cara is a long time advocate for independent media artists reaching mainstream audiences, and an award-winning filmmaker, programmer, teacher and writer whose work has been featured widely in museums, festivals, on PBS and internationally.

Since joining P.O.V. in 2000 as Executive Producer, she has been responsible for all aspects of programming, production, fundraising and staffing. In that time, P.O.V. films have been nominated for fourteen national News and Documentary Emmys, winning five. Cara has been recognized with two duPont-Columbia Awards, two George Foster Peabody Awards, two Academy Award nominations and 26 Cine Golden Eagle Awards as P.O.V.ýs Executive Producer.