The ongoing library drama in one pocket of Southeast Louisiana is hitting the big screens at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress and producer best known for her role in the "Sex and the City" TV series, is executive producing the documentary "The Librarians," which will premiere at next year's Sundance.
The documentary, directed by Kim A. Snyder, tells the stories of librarians who have fought against book ban challenges in Louisiana, Texas, Florida and more.
The central character in the film is Livingston Parish school librarian Amanda Jones, who has made national headlines with her book "That Librarian -- The Fight Against Book Banning in America." Her book details the backlash she received for speaking out against moving or banning books for certain content in the parish.
"It's a fantastic book, and we follow her struggles," Parker told Variety magazine at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Jones was first approached about a year ago to be in the documentary by her librarian friend who had already been filmed. After then meeting with the director, production traveled to Louisiana and filmed Jones and some of her family. It filmed in Livingston Parish and even filmed at one of the library board of control meetings.
Livingston Parish has been embroiled in library drama that has been at the forefront of board of control meetings since 2022 over book challenges, library board member removals and proposed library budget cuts. It has held several hearings over challenged books, but it has not completely banned books from the library, despite residents sometimes calling for it. The parish's library turmoil is not completely unique, as a few other Louisiana parishes face ongoing fights over similar issues.
"I don't think people realize the attacks that I've been under. I get to tell the truth about what happened to me on this documentary that's going to be seen nationwide," Jones said.
Jones said the librarians were not paid for the documentary and did it on a volunteer basis. She is attending the Sundance premiere and will be a part of a panel about the documentary at the film festival as well.
"It's empowering to me, but it's also daunting -- It shows the toll that these attacks on my reputation have taken on my family, but it also shows that I'm not unique, that this is happening all across the United States," she said.
She didn't know Parker was attached to the documentary until she got an invite to go to the Hamptons in New York this summer and meet her. Parker has executive produced a range of fiction and non-fiction television and documentary projects with her production company, Pretty Matches Productions. She also has her own book club and publishing company.
Jana Edelbaum, documentary producer, came to Parker and her company while working on "The Librarians" documentary because they were looking for extra funding for it. Parker told Variety they loved the documentary.
"They have been standing up to the ideology that prevents children from having access to certain books and they have put their own lives and their family's lives at risk, but they have not backed down," Parker said about the librarians featured.
Sundance Film Festival begins Jan. 23 and "The Librarians" will first premiere Jan. 24 in Park City, Utah. After it debuts in the film festival circuit, it is expected to head to a major streaming platform.