The 8th
Sunday, March 7th • Available from 9 AM ET
Followed by a recorded Q&A with filmmaker Maeve O'Boyle and organizers Ailbhe Smyth and Andrea Horan (both featured in the film), moderated by Irish Times Washington Correspondent Suzanne Lynch.
THE 8TH traces Ireland's campaign to overturn the 8th Amendment — a constitutional ban on abortion. It shows a country's transformation from a conservative state in thrall to the Catholic church to a more liberal secular society. THE 8TH includes voices from both sides of the debate, but its primary focus is on the dynamic female leaders of the pro-choice campaign. The film follows veteran campaigner Ailbhe Smyth and self-described glitter-activist Andrea Horan as they chart a bold strategy of grassroots activism and engineer the impossible. This dramatic story is underscored by a vivid exploration of the wrenching failures that led to this defining moment in Irish history. An urgent narrative, a cautionary tale and a roadmap for progressive reforms in a modern era where authoritarianism is on the rise, THE 8TH shows a country forging a new progressive path when reproductive rights are threatened all over the world.
(Note adapted from Galway Film Fleadh.)
Please note: This title is available to viewers located anywhere in the United States and U.S. Territories.
Awards: Official Selection, 2020 Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, Galway Film Fleadh and Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
Credits: DIR/SCR/PROD Aideen Kane, Lucy Kenn
