SIFF x NFNR present: Zurawski v Texas

Zurawski v Texas

USA | 2024 | 100 min. | Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault

February 27, 2025

Join us for a unique evening of multimedia storytelling and community building: One part film screening, one part live reading, one part fundraiser. We’ll explore together the importance of reproductive freedom, and what happens when the vital right to abortion ceases to exist.

Here’s what to expect.

We’ll watch the award-winning documentary Zurawski v Texas, which follows the stories of women in Texas impacted directly by the fall of Roe v Wade, and their legal fight for justice.

We’ll hear three incredible Seattle writers read nonfiction works on abortion.

We’ll raise funds to support the vital work of Northwest Abortion Access Fund (NWAFF), which helps people find healthcare out of state, offering support around finding clinics, transportation, childcare and more. Half of the profits from ticket sales will also be donated to NWAAF.

ABOUT THE FILM
Women denied abortions under Texas’ ambiguous and unforgiving abortion bans band together with a fearless attorney to sue Texas. While battling in court against the state and its immovable Attorney General, the extent of their traumatic experiences is revealed as they wrestle to regain their reproductive futures and set a precedent for millions of other women and families. Zurawski v Texas reveals the dire impact of losing access to healthcare—and the extraordinary efforts of the women and men fighting on the frontline to regain those rights.

Director: Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault
Country: USA
Year: 2024
Running Time: 100 min.
Producer: Amy Flanagan, Siobhan Sinnerton, Blye Pagon Faust, Cori Shepherd, Maisie Crow, Abbie Perrault
Cinematographers: Maisie Crow
Editors: Austin Reedy
Music: Osei Essed
Language: English
US Distributor: Film Collaborative
International Sales: Film Collaborative

About The Northwest Abortion Access Fund

The Northwest Abortion Access Fund is an abortion fund serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Trained, compassionate volunteer advocates run our toll-free hotline. We help people pay for their abortion care by sending funding directly to the clinic. We also help people get to and from the clinic and make sure people traveling for care have a safe place to stay.

About Nonfiction for No Reason

Nonfiction for No Reason (NFNR) is a queer-led nonfiction literary arts organization that brings writers of different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds at different stages of their writing careers to perform new work to share audiences, build community, and exchange ideas. We create events that celebrate writers and arts venues all over the city, country, and the world. NFNR has biannual events in Tokyo, and has received coverage in The Stranger and support from Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, 4Culture, Shunpike, Hinton Publishing, and ArtsWA.

About Joanna Pawlowska

Joanna Pawlowska is a creative producer and experience designer who has spent the last decade bringing people together. Her work at NPR ranged from staged theatrical productions to intimate gatherings in the woods to hands-on workshops and everything in-between. Connection through thoughtful conversation lights her up. She’s currently working on a children’s book and her first novel – and passionate about access to reproductive care for all.

About Katie Lee Ellison

Katie Lee Ellison is the founder, curator, and host of the Seattle-based international literary event series, Nonfiction for No Reason. You can find her writing in Shenandoah, Moss, The Seventh Wave, J Journal, and elsewhere. She’s at work on a memoir-in-progress, supported by a Hugo House fellowship, the TENT program through the Yiddish Book Center, and the Tin House Summer Workshop. Find her at katieleeellison.com or read musings and about the next NFNR in her newsletter, A Beautiful Fad.

About the Writers: Gemma O’Neil

Gemma O’Neil was born and raised in Seattle. Gemma is proud of her West African Heritage and she works in Early Learning Advocacy and Policy. Her work revolves around her desire to help shape the early education space into a more equitable and inclusive one. Gemma is a daily distance runner, a sometimes painter, and she loves her Italian Greyhound Jamal.

About the Writers: Lifthrasir Green

Lifthrasir Green (he/him) is an artist, parent, and advocate for the right to abortion and bodily autonomy. He can often be found on the trails and waterways of the Pacific Northwest. After writing his essay, LÍfthrasir learned about Ursula K. Le Guin’s essay (and video) “What It Was Like” from the book Words are My Matter. He dedicates his essay to her, everyone who has had an abortion, and everyone who has worked to make abortion safe and legal.