EXCLUSIVE: “Fury” over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has boosted the Democratic Party’s chances heading into the mid-term elections this fall, according to a New York Times-Siena College poll published today.
Into that political and social vortex enters the new documentary Battleground, a film that explores the decades-long movement to overturn the 1973 ruling that enshrined a woman’s right to choose. The film directed by Cynthia Lowen (Netizens, Bully) debuts in theaters in New York and L.A. on October 7, followed by a 40 city “impact tour.”
“Battleground is required viewing for anyone with a stake in the future of abortion in America,” according to a statement about the film, a co-release of Abramorama and ROCO Films. It follows “three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the enormous influence they wield. As the nation faces the end of Roe, the film also depicts those on the frontlines of the fierce fight to maintain access.”
The documentary premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film is produced by Rebecca Stern (Level Playing Field, Netizens) and Lowen, edited by Nancy Novack (All In: The Fight For Democracy, When the Levees Broke), and executive produced by Jeff Sobrato, Dexter Braff, Nicole Shipley, Ryan Harrington, and Ruth Ann Harnisch.
The social impact campaign is being handled by Together Films and Red Owl. The film’s website invites viewers to “join the movement.”
“Battleground shows how anti-abortion forces have advanced their goals, although the majority of Americans think abortion should be legal,” battlegroundfilm.org notes. “Now is the time to get involved to support abortion access.”
ROCO Films, founded in 2000, “is a leading global documentary distribution agency. With an educational division aimed at bringing these compelling films to schools, libraries, corporations and other semi-theatrical environments, ROCO broadens the impact and influence of these films by mobilizing communities to host, organize and execute their own screening events.”
Abramorama, meanwhile, “is the preeminent global theatrical distribution, marketing and sales partner for nonfiction music and social impact films and is recognized for the consistent high quality of its work on award winning features. Over the course of over 20years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films, including Ron Howard’s Grammy Award®-winning The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years; Stanley Nelson’s Miles Davis; Amir Bar-Lev’s Long Strange Trip – The Untold Story of the Grateful Dead; Brett Morgen and National Geographic’s seminal Jane, and Asif Kapadia’s Senna,” among many others.
Watch the trailer for Battleground above.