BY KAREN BOSSICK
Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Sun Valley homeowner Freida Lee Mock will hold a Q&A at a special screening of her acclaimed documentary RUTH: Justice Ginsburg In Her Own Words.”
The Sun Valley Film Festival and The Argyros will present the documentary at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at The Argyros. Mock will discuss the making of the film and her expansive career as a filmmaker.
General admission tickets are $15, available at https://www.theargyros.org/. Premium admission tickets, which include a pre-screening reception and meet-and-greet with Freida Lee Mock, cost $50.
“RUTH: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words” traces the personal, psychological and political forces that shaped Ginsburg’s journey from her early legal challenges to her appointment on the U.S. Supreme court. Early on, she couldn’t get a job despite tying first in her graduating law class. But she survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government and law to become a revered Justice and advocate for gender equality and women’s rights, serving 27 years on the Supreme Court.
The film features an original score by a Grammy Award-winning composer as it uses Ginsburg’s own words to show her far-reaching impact on American law and society.
“We’re thrilled to partner with The Argyros to showcase this incredible film, which exemplifies the powerful documentary storytelling Freida mock is known for throughout her career,” said Teddy Grennan, executive director of the Sun Valley Film Festival. “This screening shines a light not only on the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg but also on the remarkable talent of Freida mock herself.”
Mock won an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary in 1995 for her “Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision,” about the American architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. She also directed “Anita,” about Anita Hill, an American attorney who accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his Senate confirmation hearings. Her documentary “G-Dog” will be screened at Ketchum’s Community Library at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.
Mock has received four Oscar nominations, an Emmy and numerous Best Director accolades. She has been the first governor and also the chair of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences where she has been a leading advocate for expanding representation in the documentary form.
Casey Mott, artistic director of The Argyros, noted that Mock is a friend and longtime member of the Wood River community: “We look forward to more programs like this that highlight our own local legends.”