The Janes: Screening and Discussion with Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
5 PM EST – In-Person Event, Mandatory RSVP
Intercultural Center (ICC) Auditorium, Georgetown University Main Campus
Presented by Gender+ Justice Initiative and Women’s and Gender Studies
Join us in welcoming directors, Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes for a screening and discussion about their latest documentary: The Janes (HBO, 2022).
The Janes profiles seven women in Chicago who were part of a clandestine network formed in 1968. Using code names, blindfolds and safe houses, and calling themselves JANE, they built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions. Directed by Oscar-nominee Tia Lessin (HBO’s Trouble the Water) and Emmy-nominee Emma Pildes (HBO’s Jane Fonda in Five Acts), The Janes offers first-hand accounts from the women at the center of the group, many speaking on the record for the first time.
Program:
- Screening (1hr and 42min)
- Q/A with directors and the Janes (40min)
About the filmmakers:
Tia Lessin is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and director and producer, with Carl Deal, of Citizen Koch and Trouble the Water–winner of the 2008 Gotham Independent Film Award and the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize. She was a co-producer of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, winner of the Palme d’Or, Academy Award-winning Bowling for Columbine, and Capitalism: A Love Story. In television, Tia line produced Martin Scorsese’s Emmy and Grammy-winning film No Direction Home: Bob Dylan. She directed and produced Behind the Labels for which she received the Sidney Hillman Award for Broadcast Journalism. Her work as producer of the Bravo series The Awful Truth earned her two Emmy nominations, one arrest and a lifetime ban from Disney World.
Emma Pildes is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker Emma Pildes and has extensive background in, and boundless love for, non-fiction storytelling. “The Janes” is Emma’s directorial debut. As one of Pentimento Productions’ principal producers, Emma produced, Spielberg, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, and Very Ralph — all for HBO Documentary Films. Spielberg had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in 2017 and was later nominated for an Emmy. Jane Fonda in Five Acts had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and its international premiere at Cannes Film Festival. The film was nominated for the 2019 Emmys. At PBS’ American Masters, Emma helped to produce the Emmy and Peabody-award winning LennoNYC, Emmy-award winning Inventing David Geffen, as well as American Masters: Billie Jean King.
More about the film:
Trailer – Film site and resources, HBO
Accommodation requests can be made at genderjustice@georgetown.edu
This event is free and open to all