On Friday, Oct. 18 at the Bearsville Theater, the documentary Left Behind will premiere as part of the 25 annual Woodstock Film Festival.
The feature documentary Left Behind follows a group of determined moms who band together to open NYC’s first public school for dyslexic students. The documentary depicts the long journey as the heroes face both institutional and personal hurdles as they try to upend a system for the city’s dyslexic youth.
The film gives insight into the ways that the public school system ignores the needs of students with learning disabilities and, in doing so, contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline. It examines the current public education system and evaluates it is not built to help students with learning disabilities succeed or thrive. This becomes especially a problem for lower income families as just about every single dyslexia-centered school in the country is privately owned. Anna Toomey’s gripping documentary chronicles a group of advocates in their struggle to start New York City’s first public school for dyslexia.
“Powerful…inspiring Left Behind is an urgent call to action to help dyslexic kids”
Anderson Cooper
Director, Anna Toomey, is an Emmy Award winner as a Producer for ABC News, Good Morning America, ABC News long-form unit, and Peter Jennings Reporting on projects including The Gun Fight, an inside look at the NRA, The Century, and more. Left Behind began in 2020 after her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and she realized the inadequate resources for millions of children across the country. Toomey created, developed and directed the film and it is her first feature length independent documentary. She owns her own production company, Sandy Dog Productions, where she works on independent film projects.
Following the screening on Oct. 18, Juju Chang, multiple Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline,” will host a Q&A on the emotional impact of dyslexia within families and the global issue of the school to prison pipeline.
Learn more here.
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