As an unprecedented wave of book banning largely addressing race and LGBT issues 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.

Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder (Newtown, Us Kids, 2025 Oscar®-Nominated Death By Numbers) takes us to an unexpected front line where librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy, free access to information, and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities.

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 the groups 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.

A panel discussion with the filmmakers and authors Barbara Dee and Phil Bildner directly follows the screening.

Kim A. Snyder (Director/Producer) is an Academy Award® nominee and Peabody Award-winning Director / Producer whose latest feature, The Librarians premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and is now released globally in 120+ cities. Her Oscar-nominated short Death By Numbers, co-created with gun-violence survivor Sam Fuentes, has won multiple awards. Snyder’s acclaimed films include Us Kids (Sundance 2020), Lessons From A School Shooting (Netflix Original), and Newtown (Sundance 2016, Peabody Award, PBS). Her earlier work includes Welcomg to Shelbyville (PBS) and I Remember Me (Zeitgeist Films). She also associate produced the Oscar-winning short Trevor, which spawned The Trevor Project. Snyder holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins SAIS and lives in New York City.

Peabody and Emmy Award-winning producer Maria Cuomo Cole’s credits include the Oscar-Nominated Death By Numbers (2024, Montclair – Best Short Doc), Us Kids (Sundance 2020), Lessons From A School Shooting (Netflix), Newtown (Sundance 2016) and Oscar-shortlisted Living for 32 (2010). EP: The Hunting Ground (2015) and Oscar-nominated The Invisible War (2014).

Phil Bildner is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young people including the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor-winning middle grade novel, A High Five for Glenn Burke (2021 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book), the Margaret Wise Brown Prize-winning Marvelous Cornelius, and the critically acclaimed Rip and Red series. His latest release is the picture book biography, Glenn Burke, Game Changer (2025 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Children’s Books).

Barbara Dee is the award-winning author of fifteen middle grade novels published by Simon & Schuster. Her books have earned several starred reviews and have been named to many best-of lists, including The Washington Post’s Best Children’s Books, ALA Notable Children’s Books, ALA Rise: A Feminist Book Project List, School Library Journal’s Best Middle Grade Books, and the ALA Rainbow List Top Ten. Her books appear on numerous state awards lists as well.

The post-screening panel discussion is co-sponsored by Bedford Hills Free Library in partnership with School Library Media Specialists, Southeastern New York and the Antioch Baptist Church, Free to Read group.

Official Selection – 2025 Sundance Film Festival

Official Selection – 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival

Official Selection – 2025 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival