Home 5 News 5 Documentary on Florida Book Ban Oscar-Nominated

Documentary on Florida Book Ban Oscar-Nominated

by | Jan 25, 2024 | News

 

A documentary about book banning in Florida entitled The ABCs of Book Banning has been nominated for an Oscar in the Short Documentary category.  The film features children and adults discussing the banning of books related to LGBT and race issues in Florida.

 

Its director is 80-something Sheila Nevins who oversaw documentary programming at HBO for 40 years.  She said she was galvanised into action after she stumbled on a video of centenarian Grace Linn protesting book banning at Martin County School Board.  Nevins told National Public Radio’s Scott Simon:  “My husband, Robert Nichol, was killed in action in World War II, defending our democracy, constitution and freedoms. One of the freedoms that the Nazis crushed was the freedom to read the books that they banned.

 

“And I thought, holy [expletive], this woman is out there doing something, and I’m doing nothing. And I know I’m only in my 80s, for heaven’s sake. And here’s this woman fighting for young people to be able to read the books that she read and I read and possibly you read, Scott, that in many ways change our lives and make us know about the world we live in. And I thought I’ve got to grab her. I’ve got to get her. And I’ve got to get some of these kids who’ve lost the books or who have been deprived of the books to read them and to see how they feel about what they’re missing.”

 

Books mentioned in the film include respected classics such as Slaughterhouse-Five, The Handmaid’s Tale and The Kite-Runner.  NPR asked why Nevins decided to speak to the children rather than the parents who are supporting the banning.

 

“I felt the children were the victims here,” Nevins says, “even though adult books were somehow pulled off shelves as well. I felt it was in the beginning that you needed the right and the freedom to learn about the world you were going to be growing up in. And you really didn’t have free choice if you didn’t have the economic ability or access to pick any book you wanted, but you relied on your school library to get your book, and it wasn’t in it. The shelves were empty. The books were, you know, held in abeyance until they were approved or banned completely. So I wanted to go to those who reached for the book and couldn’t get it.”

 

The 96th Oscars will be announced in Los Angeles on 10 March.

 

Recent News

20Dec
Saudi Arabia’s Publishing Boom: Over 500 Houses Driving Growth

Saudi Arabia’s Publishing Boom: Over 500 Houses Driving Growth

According to the latest SME Monitor report released by Monsha’at, the Kingdom’s General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, Saudi Arabia’s publishing industry is witnessing remarkable growth. With over 500 local publishing houses operating across the Kingdom, the sector is making significant strides in bringing Saudi and Arabic-language literature to wider audiences.   The report […]

20Dec
Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary

Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Supreme President of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, has been awarded a Guinness World Records certificate recognizing the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language as the largest and most comprehensive historical linguistic project in the world, consisting […]

18Dec
How Is the “PublisHer” Paving the Way for Women to Lead the Publishing Industry?

How Is the “PublisHer” Paving the Way for Women to Lead the Publishing Industry?

The publishing industry is one of the most dynamic sectors globally, yet, like many creative fields, it grapples with persistent challenges related to achieving gender equality in the workplace. Although women constitute a significant portion of the workforce in this sector, they often face barriers that limit their access to leadership roles or hinder the […]

Related Posts

Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary

Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Supreme President of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, has been awarded a Guinness World Records certificate recognizing the Historical Dictionary of the...

Literary Celebration and Cultural Insights at Jeddah Book Fair 2024

Literary Celebration and Cultural Insights at Jeddah Book Fair 2024

The Jeddah Book Fair 2024 has opened its doors, welcoming over 1,000 publishers and agencies from 22 countries. The event celebrates literature and culture on a global scale. The Saudi Authority for Literature, Publishing, and Translation organized the fair at the...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this

Pin It on Pinterest

Nasher News
Saudi Arabia’s Publishing Boom: Over 500 Houses Driving Growth
Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary
How Is the “PublisHer” Paving the Way for Women to Lead the Publishing Industry?
Sharjah Ruler Honored Guinness Certificate for Arabic Dictionary
How Is the “PublisHer” Paving the Way for Women to Lead the Publishing Industry?
Literary Celebration and Cultural Insights at Jeddah Book Fair 2024