
2024 • Documentary
Availability
Available until Jan 01, 2027
Available Worldwide
Available until Jan 01, 2027
Available Worldwide
Available until Jan 01, 2027
Available Worldwide
Speakers Available
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About the film
This gripping feature documentary tells the story of five tenacious mothers determined to establish the first public school in New York City for children with dyslexia. Addressing a learning disability that impacts an estimated 200,000 students in NYC, and roughly 20% of the public at large, the mothers’ struggle to upend the nation’s largest public school system and garner support to open the South Bronx Literacy Academy in September 2023.
Winner SOHO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2025
Nominated, NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM, 2026
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Director
Anna Toomey
Producer
Chris Farrell, Larry Mullen Jr, Sian Edwards-Beal, David Beal, Mari Keiko-Gonzalez
Upcoming screenings
Awards & recognition
Woodstock Film Festival
Official Selection
DOC NYC
Official Selection
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection
SOHO International Film Festival
Official Selection
What people are saying
‘“One of the best truly political documentaries of this or any other year”‘
Dominic Patten
Deadline
‘“Powerful...inspiring.…Left Behind is an urgent call to action to help dyslexic kids”‘
Anderson Cooper
CNN
‘“The catchy, propulsive song - is spiky and defiant, driven by Mullen’s drumming”‘
Melinda Newman
Billboard