Hull Independent Cinema: The Librarians

THE LIBRARIANS
Dir Kim A. Snyder | USA | 2025 | 88 mins | Rating TBC | English

Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for American democracy and free speech in this powerful documentary. 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 LGBTQ+ stories, triggering sweeping book bans across the US 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 White Christian Nationalism fuelling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalising their work, librarians across the US support one another in the pushback against authoritarianism.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Sarasota Film Festival: Winner, Best Documentary Feature
Dallas International Film Festival: Winner, Documentary Feature
Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival: Winner, Outstanding Documentary
SXSW Film Festival: Nominee, Audience Award