Published June 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT

Ken Burns has been making documentary films for almost fifty years. Since the Academy Award nominated Brooklyn Bridge in 1981, Burns has gone on to direct and produce some of the most acclaimed historical documentaries ever made, including The Civil War; Baseball; Jazz; and, most recently, The American Revolution.

At the Flynn last month, Burns shared his thoughts on the American Revolution — what he has called "the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ" — and his approach to documentary filmmaking.

"We're subtractive," Burns said of his process. "We're making maple syrup, right? We've got 400 hours of stuff to come down to 12."

Burns' future film projects include Emancipation to Exodus, and LBJ & the Great Society, among others.

Vermont Public

Ken Burns discusses the American Revolution and his documentary filmmaking process at the Flynn Center in Burlington on May 20, 2026.

"An Evening with Ken Burns" is available now on YouTube and the PBS app.