A Fight for Freedom: Banned Together Documentary Exposes the Growing Threat of Book Bans in America

Charleston, SC – In a time when our nation faces unprecedented threats to intellectual freedom and democracy, a powerful new documentary, Banned Together, is stepping into the spotlight to expose one of the most alarming trends in America: the rise of book bans in public schools. Produced by the Charleston-based, female-owned Atomic Focus Entertainment, this documentary shines a searing light on the increasing efforts to censor literature and control what students are allowed to learn.

Premiering ahead of the all-important 2024 elections, Banned Together couldn’t be more timely - or more urgent. Co-produced with Kanopy, a streaming service provided through public libraries and universities, the film is a clarion call for action in the face of growing authoritarianism in the United States.

At the heart of this film are three courageous students from Beaufort, South Carolina, who refuse to sit idly by as 97 books, many written by marginalized voices, are pulled from their school’s library. In an age when public discourse is increasingly weaponized to promote fear, Banned Together follows these young activists as they rise to challenge censorship head-on, joining a national movement to protect the right to read.

The book bans, orchestrated primarily by right-wing groups, are not merely about restricting access to certain literature; they are profoundly consequential in defining whose narratives are valued, whose voices are amplified, and whose experiences are marginalized within our society. These bans disproportionately target books by Black, LGBTQ+, and progressive authors, effectively erasing the significant progress made toward inclusivity and diversity in education.

Banned Together doesn’t mince words. It lays bare the terrifying reality of a movement that is steadily encroaching on free speech, and it brings viewers face-to-face with the ugly, often racist, roots of this censorship wave. In school board meetings, in legislative halls, and in communities across the country, the fight over book bans has become a flashpoint for a much larger battle over the soul of American democracy.

What started in small towns like Beaufort is now a full-blown national crisis. The documentary takes us beyond South Carolina, showing how the struggle to protect the freedom to read has spread across the United States. Featuring interviews with best-selling authors like Jodi Picoult, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, and Ellen Hopkins—authors whose works have been at the center of these book bans—the film doesn’t shy away from the personal and political impact of this censorship.

We hear from constitutional scholars, teachers who have been fired or silenced, and students who are forced to fight just to keep their classrooms free from ideological manipulation. We also see the troubling influence of far-right organizations like Moms for Liberty, who have waged a calculated war on public education to impose their narrow worldview on the rest of us.

As Congressman Jamie Raskin points out in the film, "This is about the fundamental rights of students and teachers to access a full range of human experience and knowledge. It’s an assault on the freedom of thought."

Beaufort students talk to Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland in his office in Washington, D.C.

But this documentary is also a testament to the power of resistance. In scenes that will inspire activists across the country, Banned Together shows how ordinary students, educators, and community members are standing up for themselves, organizing protests, speaking out at school board meetings, and turning the tide against these bans.

As we watch these young people step into the national spotlight, it’s impossible not to feel the urgency of their cause. Banned Together captures the stakes of this fight with visceral intensity, showing the personal threats, criminal accusations, and public backlash these activists face.

"This film is not just about censorship—it’s about power," said Jennifer Wiggin, one of the film’s producers. "We’re seeing students rise up to defend their right to access diverse stories and information, and their bravery is what will carry us through this dark time."

Banned Together is set to appear in three film festivals:  the Awareness Film Festival and the LA Femme Film Festivals in Los Angeles, CA, as well as the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival in Lewes, DE., with a broader impact campaign being rolled out nationwide. The campaign includes special screenings at libraries, civic groups, and nonprofits, offering communities the chance to come together and discuss the dangerous trend of censorship and how to fight it.

This documentary arrives at a moment when the far-right’s assault on intellectual freedom is spreading like wildfire, fueled by fear, misinformation, and bigotry. For many, Banned Together will serve as both a wake-up call and a rallying cry.

At its core, Banned Together reminds us that book bans are a symptom of a much larger disease—an authoritarian effort to dismantle public education and reshape it into a tool for indoctrination. This film shines a light on the dark forces behind the bans, but it also reminds us that we have the power to resist.

With elections around the corner and book bans accelerating at an alarming rate, Banned Together is the documentary that progressives, educators, and activists need right now. It challenges us to confront the uncomfortable truth: If we don’t act now, we risk losing the very freedoms that define who we are as a society.

Banned Together will be available for screenings across the country, and its producers are calling on communities to join the fight. Organizations interested in supporting the film’s Impact Campaign or hosting a screening can visit www.BannedTogetherDoc.com.