Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sundance film, “The Librarians,” prompts added security

Cast and crew attend the Q&A for The Librarians by Kim A. Snyder, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Photo: Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival

PARK CITY, Utah—Sarah Jessica Parker’s documentary “The Librarians,” which she executive produced, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday at Park City’s Ray Theater. 

Seven librarians featured in the film got the rock-star treatment with a standing ovation at the screening’s premiere before which they hadn’t even seen the final cut.

Watch the video below where Sarah Jessica Parker explains her involvement in the movie. 

Below is video footage of the moment, after seeing the film, the sold-out Sundance audience rises for a standing ovation when the librarians are introduced. First, the film’s director Kim Snyder is brought out right after the announcer tells the audience that she’d been nominated 24 hours previously for an Oscar Award for another film of hers entitled “Death By Numbers.”

Two bomb squad dogs, three sheriff’s deputies and one police officer were on hand in the back of house, behind the scenes area of the venue.

By comparison, each year the Sundance Film Festival has at least one film screening involving an A-list star, or controversial content which garner extra security measures, that said, there was a higher quantity of protectors here than seen in recent years.

A source cited “threats” for the increase. Nothing was acted upon and only a calm presence was maintained by all stakeholders.

For approximately a decade, each and every attendee to each and every film screening are asked by security personnel positioned outside of the theater to open their winter jackets and also to allow bags to be searched.

Excerpts from the SFF Program Guide say that in the film, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy. They emerge as first responders in the fight for free access to information as they face harassment, threats, and even laws aimed at criminalizing their work. Audiences are immersed in the escalating conflict, witnessing heated community meetings that lay bare the arguments for censorship. 

Below, a Producer of the film Janique Robillard tells TownLift her thoughts on Utah’s role in book banning. 

The question asked in the Q and A was spoken through tears by one audience member who could hardly speak clearly following the film as she and many others in the room were moved to tears, including, it appeared, Sarah Jessica Parker.

As ticket holders exited the theater, a man was handing out book marks on which were written the website for Let Utah Read.