As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond.
Librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy.

Join the Friends of the Library & BCT for a documentary film dedicated to librarians as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment rights.

Introducing the film is Emily Bedwell - a member of the Indiana Library Federation and part of the Indiana Freadom to Read Taskforce. She has been living and working in Bloomington since 1997, and first became interested in libraries and library science when we was a middle schooler in northern Indiana. A writer, actor, blogger, and activist, Emily spends her off work hours working with local theater organizations and advocating for fair and equitable access of information for all people at all teams. In 2022 she coordinated Banned Books Alive as part of Banned Books Week - a series of dramatic readings of banned books presented by members of the community to the community.

There will be a Post Film Panel Discussion shortly after the viewing - Including Amelia Newcomer Aldred, a passionate library advocate serving as the Deputy Director of State & Local Advocacy for the American Library Association (ALA). In her role at ALA, Amelia assists state and local library advocates across the country in building library-friendly public policy and combating adverse policy. She also staffs ALA's Unite Against Book Bands campaign, which mobilizes and equips people to protect the freedom to read in their own communities. Amelia is a Bloomington native and got her start working for libraries at the Monroe County Public Library.

Friends of the Library will have a table for information and a chance to donate to their cause.

Bloomington Book Festival will have a table to learn about the line-up of events and author talks during the 2nd annual festival later this October.

Also learn about the launch of BloomREADS, a new community-engaged youth and family literacy initiative that enhances and expands the festival's celebration of multiliteracies alongside the Bloomington community through creative yearlong programming and events.

Film Synopsis:

In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQIA+ stories – triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of a large-scale coordinated extremist movement fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work – the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.

Website: www.thelibrariansfilm.com
Instagram: @thelibrariansfilm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLibrariansFilm

Format: DCP
Total Runtime: 1hour 32 minutes

WORLD PREMIERE: 2025 Sundance Film Festival
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE: Sheffield DocFest

FESTIVAL AWARDS
1. Sarasota Film Festival | Best Documentary Jury Award
2. Dallas International Film Festival | Best Documentary Feature Jury Award
3. Milwaukee Film Festival | Audience Award for Best Feature Film
4. Seattle International Film Festival | Lena Sharpe Award (Audience Selected)
5. Denver Women + Film Festival | Audience Award

6. Bentonville Film Festival | Best Documentary
7. Frameline Film Festival | Honorable Mention for Outstanding Documentary Feature Award
8. Woods Hole Film Festival | Best of The Fest Award
9. Woods Hole Film Festival | Audience Award - Best Feature Documentary

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. Typically (but not always) held during the last week of September, the annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.

The next Banned Books Week will be held October 5–11, 2025. The theme of this year’s event is Censorship Is So 1984 — Read for Your Rights.

The Friends of Monroe County Public Library sponsors award-winning MCPL programs, services, and collections for all ages at three permanent locations plus mobile community outreach points. The Friends supports the Library initiatives you know and love, from early childhood and adult literacy programs to Story Walks, Summer Reading Games, teen craft sessions, and more. Friends are members of the community just like you - people who value the library and its many services. Your support provides free, equitable, and impartial access to information, and promotes reading and lifelong learning for all!

E-tickets and Will-call: All tickets purchased online will be sent as e-tickets to the email address associated with your order. E-tickets will be listed within your confirmation email. If you would like your tickets to be in will-call please call or visit the box office during regular business hours. We can sell you a printed ticket over the phone and in person. You can reach us at (812) 323-3020 ext 1.