Screening times:
Saturday, December 6, 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 7, 8:00 PM
Kim A. Snyder | USA | 2025 | 88m
In today’s America, political polarization finds librarians under siege. An unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond. As the crisis escalates, librarians join forces as defenders on the front lines of democracy.
In October 2021, Texas House Representative Matt Krause issued a list of 850 books for schools to review for obscene and race-related content, urging officials to develop standards to ensure “pornography” and anything that may make students feel “discomfort, guilt or anguish” be removed. The majority of content flagged had racial or LGBTQia+ themes.
Parental Rights groups like Moms for Liberty dug in nationwide and book challenges escalated exponentially. Vulnerable librarians were, and continue to be, targeted. Tensions escalate as legislation spreads proposing to criminalize librarians for distributing alleged pornographic materials to minors.
In a dystopian saga akin to a real-life Fahrenheit 451 sequel, Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Kim A. Snyder’s gripping documentary The Librarians traverses small-town America with riveting interviews and troves of archival material. It reveals an ongoing story of unlikely heroes standing up to forces of prejudice and censorship.
“From its superb opening-credits sequence paying tribute to card catalogs of yore to its sharp selection of vintage clips and intimate reportage, “The Librarians” is as well-crafted as it is profoundly alarming.” - Sheri Linden, The New York Times
“In its own way too, The Librarians is part of the polemic: it urges that the time for debate has gone and society should wake up to a threat that is only gaining power.” - Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International
“There’s never been a movie more vital this year than The Librarians. If you prize literature, intelligence, independent thought, safe spaces for children, it’s a necessary watch.” - Kristen Lopez, The Film Maven
Best Documentary Feature - Sarasota International Film Festival 2025
Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary - Dallas International Film Festival 2025
Best Documentary - Out On Film, Atlanta 2025
Outstanding Documentary - Frameline San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival
Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence of Vision - Seattle International Film Festival
Victor Rabinowitz and Joanne Grant Award for Social Justice - Hamptons International Film Festival 2025
Tickets $12 ($11.40 cash at the door if available)
