Oscar Contender ‘The ABCs Of Book Banning’ To Be Made Available For Free At U.S. Public Libraries This Weekend

Matthew Carey
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: MTV Documentary Films is making its Oscar-shortlisted documentary The ABCs of Book Banning free to public library patrons across this country on Saturday, in partnership with streaming platform Projectr.

Documentary legend Sheila Nevins makes her directorial debut with the short, which examines the rising tide of book banning efforts around the United States. The film begins with 100-year-old Grace Linn, who appeared before the school board in Martin County, FL to protest its decision to ban works by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Wicked: Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire and dozens of other books. The film features interviews with schoolchildren in Florida and elsewhere discussing what it means to them to have books kept out of their reach.

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The ABCs of Book Banning, one of 15 short documentaries remaining in contention for Academy Award nominations, “follows the human toll the future will pay for depriving children of their right to read and learn about a complex world,” according to a release. “Interviews with children and authors shed light on this ongoing dangerous precedent.”

Sheila Nevins
Sheila Nevins

Nevins, head of MTV Documentary Films, said in a statement, “The more people know about the books children are being deprived of, the more people will feel fired up to make a difference. Where would we all be without the freedom to read?”

“The ABCs of Book Banning is an incredibly powerful and timely documentary,” said Ryan Krivoshey, president of Projectr. “We are honored to be partnering with MTV Documentary Films and public libraries around the country to make this important film accessible to library patrons everywhere.”

Projectr is a streaming platform that partners with public libraries and educational institutions throughout North America “to present a curated collection of acclaimed and award-winning independent films, documentaries and short films from around the world.”

The ABC’s of Book Banning can also be seen on the Paramount+ streaming platform. The film premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in New York in September and made the Oscar shortlist announced on December 21. Oscar nomination voting begins Thursday and runs through Tuesday, Jan. 16. Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

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