The Emmy Award-winning PBS series “Independent Lens” will have actress Maggie Gyllenhaal host the upcoming 2009-10 season, making her debut when the series premieres at 10 p.m. today. Past seasons of the show have been presented by award-winning actors Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle and Susan Sarandon.

“We are very pleased to be working with Maggie Gyllenhaal in this capacity. She is one of the finest actresses working in independent film today.

The characters she has created on screen are indelibly crafted in honesty and truth; we are delighted that she will be hosting our upcoming season,” said series producer Lois Vossen.

“I'm a passionate believer in the power of independent film. ‘Independent Lens' filmmakers ignore the rules of commercial programming and spend years pursuing diverse stories about people not normally seen on TV. I am truly honored to present their work as the new host of ‘Independent Lens,'” said Gyllenhaal.

Gyllenhaal made her feature film debut in 1992, alongside Jeremy Irons and Ethan Hawke in “Waterland.” She received her first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her role in “Secretary” (2002).

In 2007, she received her second Golden Globe nomination, for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, for “Sherrybaby,” in which she played a female convict struggling to overcome her drug addiction and regain custody of her daughter.

Most recently, Gyllenhaal played Rachel Dawes in the Warner Bros. box office hit “Dark Knight” (2008), directed by Chris Nolan, and appeared in Sam Mendes' “Away We Go” in 2009.

Next up, Gyllenhaal will star in the dramatic film “Crazy Heart” alongside Jeff Bridges and in “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang” with Emma Thompson.

This season “Independent Lens” will showcase a powerhouse selection of 27 independent films that bring a unique collection of stories unlike anything else on television.

From a vast array of settings — including a cramped New York City apartment filled with a mind-blowing collection of modern art; the world's largest garbage village in the outskirts of Cairo; the hills of Mongolia, where a Texas family seeks an unconventional treatment for their son's autism; and Butte, Mont., where five generations intersect with key historical events — “Independent Lens” spans the country and circles the globe, showcasing diverse documentaries about unforgettable people and places.

The series begins with Megumi Sasaki's acclaimed and endearing documentary “Herb & Dorothy,” about a postal worker and his librarian wife whose passion led them to create one of the most priceless collections of contemporary art in the world.