‘Battleground’ had its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival on Sunday 12 June and it was exciting, exhilarating and compelling!
The premiere was surrounded by lots of buzz after being picked as a festival highlight by The New York Times, who called the film out as one of three ‘timely, enriching chronicles’ playing at the fest, with a special mention for ‘tactful editing.’
Our director Cynthia Lowen arrived on the red carpet, accompanied by producer Rebecca Stern, executive producers Jeff Sobrato, Dexter Braff, Nicole Shipley, Ryan Harrington, and Ruth Ann Harnisch, co-producer Steffie Van Rhee, cinematographers Barbie Leung and Hannah Varnell, composer Gil Talmi, consulting producer Eliza Licht, impact partner Sarah Mosses and associate producer Chrisi Hornback.
The film played to a sold-out house. There was a moving introduction to the film by Tribeca Programmer Jose Rodriguez and Cynthia Lowen, which centered the audience on the historic time that we are currently facing. “We couldn’t have imagined that the premiere would coincide with the Supreme Court decision expected to overturn Roe this month.”
The Q&A panel was moderated by Alex Morris (Rolling Stone Magazine) and the panel guests were Cynthia Lowen, Alex McGill Johnson (President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund) and Lourdes Rivera (Senior Vice President, US Programs, Center for Reproductive Rights). We also welcomed two contributors, Samantha Blakely and Lauren, to discuss their own experiences of seeing abortion in Alabama and Texas, and how they are fighting for continued access.
During the Q&A, Alexis McGill Johnson said: “The anti-abortion movement are willing to forgo traditional norms around how power and checks and balances operate in a democracy. That is the thing we need to be most afraid of. That is the reason why we have to see this film. I can’t think of anything more fascist right now than taking complete control over someone’s body. And that is exactly what they said in this film – your body is not your own.”
Following the screening, we welcome our audience and partners to join us for a drink at Jungle Bird.
From Top Left Clockwise – ‘Battleground’ executive producer Nicole Shipley and Jaden Levitt of Safe Space Pictures; ‘Battleground’ executive producer Ryan Harrington and producer Rebecca Stern; ‘Battleground’ director Cynthia Lowen and executive producer Ruth Ann Harnisch; ‘Battleground’ co-producer Steffie van Rhee and filmmaker Erik Parker; ‘Battleground’ producer Rebecca Stern; Julia Black of Safe Space Pictures and filmmaker Jeff Orlowsky.
Photographs by Romina Hedlin
We celebrated the premiere and our enthusiasm to bring the film to audiences across the U.S. The party had a distinct Tribeca Festival energy with lots of filmmakers and folks who spend time both in-front and behind the camera!
The film continues to receive rave reviews from the press and positive responses from audience members. Check out our social media accounts for further feedback on the film!
Thanks for having us #Tribeca2022!
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