FreedomFest 2025

“The Reformers” is a behind-the-scenes documentary about the infamous Grievance Studies Affair—an audacious academic hoax that set out to expose the entrenchment of illiberal ideology within Western universities. In a daring undercover experiment, a ragtag group of concerned intellectuals submitted fabricated social research papers to prestigious journals in politically charged fields. The aim? To reveal a worldwide research and credential-laundering racket. The film follows their often hilarious journey while probing the alarming state of the modern academy, raising urgent questions about intellectual integrity, free speech, and the future of higher education. Bret Weinstein and James Lindsay lead the post-screening discussion.

Join Bret Weinstein and James Lindsay as the take you behind-the-scenes to learn more about the infamous Grievance Studies Affair—an audacious academic hoax created to expose the rise of illiberal ideology within Western universities–and the film they made to document it. Don’t miss their film “The Reformers” before the panel.

After new Anti-Hate Speech laws are implemented, England’s greatest threat is an American internet troll with an anonymous X account. In this short comedy, James Bond’s mission is to take him down before this anxiety terrorist’s tweets start a chain reaction of free speech online. Q&A with Matt Kibbe, Terry Kibbe, Lou Perez

How does a satire comedy website find itself on the front lines of the debate over free speech online? Seth Dillon and his team at the Babylon Bee tell the story of how they unwittingly found themselves at war with Twitter over a joke, eventually garnering the attention of Elon Musk and ushering in a new era for the social media company. The future of comedy and free speech on the internet are all at stake and in the hands of a couple of jokesters and satirists. Joel Berry, Babylon Bee, joins the Q&A.

America’s defense budget exceeds $800 billion, but the real cost goes deeper. The True Cost of Defense follows quadruple-amputee veteran Travis Mills, military recruiters, families on overseas bases, and communities shaped by global military commitments. It reveals defense’s most profound price: the human one—lives forever changed by service and America’s role in world affairs.

For five years, Thomas Quiter was trapped in his house because insurance denied the wheelchair he needed to get outside. After a multi-year journey, Thomas, along with a team of engineers and disability community advocates are unveiling open-source wheelchair technology. This will give wheelchair users access to the equipment and repairs they need without bureaucratic delays and denials. Thomas is jump-starting an overdue movement: removing the barriers that prevent the disabled community from living truly independent lives.

From Dua Lipa to Ed Sheeran, today’s top artists are regularly hit with claims of music copyright infringement. How do courts determine which musical elements warrant copyright protection, and which qualify as commonplace building blocks? This short film unpacks the legal tests behind these high profile cases, exploring whether our system strikes the right balance between protecting intellectual property and encouraging creativity.

A Staged Reading of a Play by Vaclav Havel
Václav Havel’s Protest (1978) is a searing, one-act confrontation set in Communist Czechoslovakia, where fear and betrayal are everyday currency. Staněk, a privileged, regime-friendly playwright, summons Vaněk, a blacklisted dissident, to plead for help — but hesitates when his own safety is threatened. Their tense conversation becomes a battle for the soul, exposing the corrosive power of fear and the high cost of integrity. Written as Havel himself faced brutal persecution, Protest was performed secretly, in living rooms and underground venues, defying the totalitarian state’s attempt to crush all dissent. The play remains a stark act of rebellion and an enduring cry for freedom.Starring Steven Schub (from 24, CBGB, The Chicago 8, The Thirteenth Floor, and Caught) as Staněk, and Robert Anthony Peters (from Steve Jobs and The Pursuit of Happyness, creator of Tank Man, Anthem Film Festival’s “Audience Choice”) as Vaněk. Directed by Jeffrey Carpenter, Artistic Director of Bricolage Theater.

(Special event — tickets required.)

Meet the directors, talk about films, eat drink and be merry, and listen to producer Mark Joseph talk about the challenges and success of making the movie “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, and Jon Voight. Learn practical advice on the crucial role of editing, where storytelling really takes shape.

In a dystopian near future where the state has freed parents from the "burden" of raising children, a rule enforcer learns a shocking truth that sparks her rebellion. More than a dystopian thriller, "Motherland" is a deeply human story about love, loss, and resistance. At its core, it asks: What are we willing to sacrifice to protect those we love? Co-starring Holland Taylor and Nestor Carbonell.