Janis Ian: Breaking Silence

<p><img alt="Laurel icon denoting the film is in competition for a Jury Prize." border="0" src="https://data.ajff.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/logo_2025%20Jury%20Award%20Nominee_02.png" style="width:20%; max-width:20%; margin-left:10px; float:right;" />A Jewish Jersey teen rises above personal and professional challenges to become a pioneering singer-songwriter who reshaped the folk and pop scenes with her fearless artistry. Janis Ian came of age in the ‘60s and ’70s, performing her original songs at New York City gigs alongside future music legends. At just 14, she recorded her boundary-breaking debut hit, "Society’s Child," an interracial romance song that sparked controversy during the Civil Rights Movement. From early life on a chicken farm to a Grammy-winning career, Ian overcame racism, misogyny, homophobia, and debilitating health struggles. Archival creative materials, dramatic recreations, and candid interviews highlight her musical trajectory, turbulent life story, and indelible impact on advocacy for marginalized communities.