The Nosebleeds Monthly Film Festival is proud to host a public screening of The Librarians at the historic Sioux Falls State Theatre, followed by a live Q&A with local librarians and elected officials. This conversation will shine a light on how national censorship trends are echoing through our own state.

The Librarians explores how library professionals—often overlooked and underfunded—have become unexpected first responders in the fight to defend First Amendment rights. With insight, courage, and emotional clarity, the film documents how book bans targeting race, gender identity, and LGBTQIA+ voices are not isolated events.

Why It Matters Here - In South Dakota, recent legislation mirrors the very tactics portrayed in The Librarians. HB1197 mandates library policies around “obscene” content, while HB1239 could criminalize librarians for providing young people access to books some deem objectionable. These bills, under the guise of protecting youth, threaten the core of intellectual freedom and access to information.

About the Festival - Founded nine years ago, the Nosebleeds Monthly Film Festival is a grassroots, family-run series showcasing independent films that provoke conversation and spark community action.