The Librarians
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.
About the Film
Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy 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 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.
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.
Title
The Librarians
Release
2025
Runtime
92 minutes (1 hour 32 minutes)
Rating
Not Rated
Genre
Documentary, Female Filmmaker, Political, Social Rights
Directors
Kim A Snyder
Origin
United States
Language
English
United States
English
Reviews
Kim A. Snyder's award-winning documentary The Librarians is
The Librarians shows what it looks like to refuse to be complicit. To use your power for good. To fight for every member of your community, even when it’s unpopular or dangerous.
A different kind of superhero movie.
A stellar exploration of what’s driving this most recent wave of censorship and the human toll of advocacy. It amplifies the bravery of regular folks speaking out by showing what they’ve sacrificed.
Enraging, uplifting, and timely, The Librarians is one of the most important films of the year.
Awards
United States
Seattle Int'l Film Festival — Lena Sharpe For Persistence Of Vision Award, 2025
United States
Bentonville Film Festival — Best Documentary, 2025
United States
Dallas Int'l Film Festival — Best Documentary Feature Jury Award, 2025
United States
Sarasota Film Festival — Best Documentary Jury Award, 2025
United States
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival — Audience Choice Award, 2025
United States
United Nations Association Film Festival — Grand Jury Award, 2025
United States
Emmy Nomination — Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, 2026
United States
2025 Houston Critics Society: Texas Independent Film Award, 2025
United States
Frameline Int'l Film Festival — Honorable Mention Outstanding Doc Feature, 2025
United States
Out Here Dayton Film Fest — Audience Award: Best Feature, 2025
United States
Fargo Film Festival — Best Feature Documentary, 2026
Poland
Millennium Docs Against Gravity — All About Freedom Festival Award, 2026
United States
Woods Hole Film Festival — Best of Fest & Audience Award, 2025
Creative Team
Creative Team
Director
Kim A Snyder
Producer
Janique L Robillard
Producer
Maria Cuomo Cole
Producer
Jana Edelbaum
Subject Matter Expert
Martha Hickson
Subject Matter Expert
Maria Masferrer
Subject Matter Expert
Carolyn Foote
Subject Matter Expert
Becky Calzada
Subject Matter Expert
Audrey Wilson Youngblood
Subject Matter Expert
Weston Brown
Subject Matter Expert
Reverend Dove
Subject Matter Expert
Laney Hawes
Subject Matter Expert
Courtney Gore
Subject Matter Expert
Adrienne Quinn Martin
Subject Matter Expert
Chris Tackett
Subject Matter Expert
Amanda Jones
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