Banned Together

Banned Together was the first film I watched when I joined the Defense of Democracy Film Festival, and I couldn't have asked for a more meaningful entry point.

With so much public debate around banned books and the erosion of public libraries, I was eager to understand the deeper, more personal layers of the issue. What this film delivers is nothing short of extraordinary.

The young people at the center of Banned Together, particularly the groups of teenage girls who lead with passion, clarity, and a love of literacy, were inspiring. Watching them advocate for access to books and ideas reminded me of what true civic engagement looks like. Even more powerful was seeing adults standing beside them, helping to amplify their voices and guide them to public forums where dialogue could flourish.

The film's diversity is another vital element. It reflects the truth that this battle for knowledge, inclusion, and representation affects all of us. We are in this together - and Banned Together doesn't just say that, it shows it.

As someone on the inside of a film festival, I know I have the privilege of early access. But this is a story the public must see. The issue of book banning is not symbolic, it's actively reshaping communities. And this documentary answers with clarity, urgency, and heart.

Highly recommended.

As a high school librarian I'm aware of what's happening in our country regarding books being banned and challenged. But the vast majority of Americans have no idea about the storm that is brewing between the 1st Amendment and far-right groups like Moms for Liberty.

It's so depressing to read the news each day and see that yet another state has banned books such as Fahrenheit 451 or George Orwell's 1984. They are passing laws that not only can't the books be taught in the schools, but that students can't even be in possession of the books while on school property.

Watching the teens in Banned Together will give you hope for the future.

Please watch this powerful and engaging documentary!

Banned Together is an incredibly timely, important film filled with powerful characters- beloved authors, passionate students, and voices from all walks of life resisting acts of censorship that are happening all around the US in this very moment.

It is wonderful to experience advocacy in action, and I felt that I really learned on a very personal level, who is affected by the attack on public education, and more importantly - what can be done to stop these attacks. Extra kudos to the volunteers from Defense of Democracy who were featured in the film!

This is a wonderful and necessary work, and I highly recommend it!

In this moment of political upheaval by a radical minority, we witness 3 young women who will not accept the destruction of books and the core of their education.

Books inform, books can change lives, and books liberate our minds. These young women inspire and create a movement for all of us to join.

Where are young people supposed to turn when counselors are in short supply, libraries are being censored and adults are commanding the floor with nonsensical, inaccurate information? If we don't all speak up now to stop this, there will be no cause for us to defend. THIS is something we can all do now.

To say this film triumphs in highlighting local issues representative of a national crisis is an understatement. Witnessing three teenage women from different school districts in Beaufort County, SC come together to confront their local school boards, the state, and national forums with such intelligence, grace, and aplomb is breathtaking. Their high school efforts would seem nothing short of miraculous were it not for their keen and astonishingly mature awareness of the social, educational, and legal implications of book banning. "Banned Together" beautifully guides us through their journey, illustrating how these young women galvanized other students and the community through their unwavering commitment and hard work to protect intellectual freedom, to advocate for teachers, librarians and education as a whole, as 97 books were removed from their school shelves. The fact that this film was produced and filmed well before the current dismantling of public education and outright ignoring of truth is telling, serving as an unfortunate prediction that highlights a dangerous pattern emerging and calls for immediate attention to a much broader societal issue. Don't miss this - it's spellbinding.