LENOX, Mass. — In response to the growing trend of book bans sweeping across the nation, Lenox Library will host a private, pre-release screening of the documentary film Banned Together, the first completed feature film to cover book banning, censorship, and students' fight for intellectual freedom, particularly in relation to the rights of marginalized students in the United States.

The screening is free and open to the public, and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in the Lenox Town Hall Auditorium, located at 6 Walker Street, Lenox.  A Q&A with director Kate Way will follow the screening.

According to a press release:

Featuring a dynamic cast of young activists, intense public protests, personal threats, criminal accusations, and highly charged school board meetings, Banned Together sheds light on the escalating issue of book bans and the censorship of curricula in public schools.

The documentary follows the courageous efforts of three students from Beaufort, South Carolina, who take a stand when 97 books are abruptly removed from their school libraries. As these students rise to become national voices in the fight against censorship, the film captures the broader narrative of book banning and curriculum censorship across the United States. Banned Together offers viewers a comprehensive look at both sides of the debate and provides an inside perspective on the heated battles occurring in schools and legislatures. This community's story is interwoven with the larger national landscape of book banning, including interviews with best-selling authors, policymakers, and experts.

The film features interviews with best-selling authors whose works have been banned, including Jodi Picoult, Juno Dawson, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Ellen Hopkins, and Erica L. Sánchez. It also includes insights from Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, constitutional scholars, educators, librarians, parents, and student activists from across the country. The film also features discussions with representatives from the ACLU, PEN America, the American Library Association, and Moms for Liberty.

Producers Jennifer Wiggin and Allyson Rice of Atomic Focus, along with directors Kate Way and Tom Wiggin, were inspired by the activism of these young students and the vast scope of this rapidly evolving national issue. The post-production was led by award-winning editor Cha Quallis.

Visit https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page for more information