DocuFilm "Left Behind" Follows Mothers’ Journey To Establish First New York City Public School For Dyslexic Children

By Timothy Yap Oct 23, 2024 03:43 PM EDT

The gripping new feature documentary Left Behind, directed by Emmy Award winner Anna Toomey and produced by David Beal, Emmy Award winner Sian Edwards-Beal, Chris Farrell and Larrry Mullen Jr. tells the story of five tenacious mothers determined to establish the first public school in New York City for children with dyslexia. Addressing a learning disability that impacts an estimated 200,000 students in NYC, and roughly 20% of the public at large, the mothers' struggle to upend the nation's largest public school system and garner support to open the South Bronx Literary Academy in September 2023.

The world premiere festival screening of Left Behind was held at the 25th annual Woodstock Film Festival on Friday, October 18 at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY. The screening was followed by a Q&A hosted by one of the film's executive producers Juju Chang (Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of ABC News Nightline), with one of the film's producers Larry Mullen, Jr. in attendance. Mullen Jr. collaborated with GAYLE to create an original song for the film, "Between The Lines". Getty photos from the premiere for download here.

Larry Mullen Jr., whose son is dyslexic, said of the film: "It is a rare occasion when a film as compelling as this finds its way to you. Making the music through the eyes of my dyslexic son felt personal and visceral. I was honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with GAYLE whose lyrics for 'Between The Lines' are some of the best I've heard in a long time." GAYLE, who is dyslexic, added: "It was an honor to be asked to make a song for such an important issue and with such an iconic musician. This is a topic that affects my life and I'm so inspired to be a part of this project."

The feature documentary's Metropolis Competition screening in NYC is set for November 20 & 21 as part of DOC NYC, with screenings at Village East by Angelika and IFC Center. Tickets and more information here.

Chris Farrell, Larry Mullen Jr., Anna Toomey, Sian Edwards-Beal and David Beal

The Families of Left Behind: Naomi Pena, Freya Sakamoto, Emily Hellstrom, Jeanine Kiely, Ruth Genn, Fatima and Aden Geidi joined by Director Anna Toomey & Producer Sian Edwards-Beal

Juju Chang, Chris Farrell, Jeannine Kiely, Larry Mullen Jr., Freya Sakamoto, Anna Toomey, David Beal, David Baron, Emily Hellstrom, Donna Lewis, Ruth Genn, Stephanie Fougere, Dan Fougere (Front Row) Sian Edwards-Beal, Meira Blaustein and Sarah Johnson

All Photo Credits: Simon Russell/Getty Images

Left Behind reveals the tragic personal and societal ramifications of not addressing dyslexia. The disability has traditionally been ignored in public schools (or perceived as a behavioral problem), since addressing the need for special services becomes a financial burden for the school system, or parents---with costly private schools offering the only available help. The results are shocking: It is estimated that more than 40% of New York's incarcerated population is dyslexic, creating a school-to-prison pipeline for students who are left without essential skills.

Director Anna Toomey shared "I was shocked by the number of incarcerated individuals who are dyslexic, with this film I wanted to explore how that was possible, what is that pathway to prison. Through our characters in the film, and their journeys, Left Behind exposes the obstacles that a parent has to overcome in order to get help for their child. It is a travesty that so many struggling readers are left behind and not able to reach their full potential. This film is deeply personal to me as our son is dyslexic, and my hope is that by bringing awareness to this issue we can change the lives of millions of kids across the country and the world."

Left Behind was produced by Green Hummingbird Entertainment's David Beal and Sian Edwards-Beal and Velvet Strand's Chris Farrell and Larry Mullen Jr.Executive Producers Juju Chang (ABC Nightline co-anchor), actor Jean Reno and his wife, producer/philanthropist Zofia Moreno, Lisa Domenico Brooke, Sarah E. Johnson, Ellen Lovejoy, Dan and Stephanie Fougere. Screenwriting by Karen K. H. Sim, director of photography James Fideler, composers Olivier Manchon and Clare Manchon, editor Brittany Kaplan and two original songs by Larry Mullen Jr., GAYLE, David Baron and Reed Berin.

Producers Green Hummingbird and Velvet Strand commented: "This is a compelling David vs Goliath story that highlights these incredible women's fight to address not only what is happening in their backyard but shining a light on the fundamental civil right to an education. Collectively we as producers share a passion for telling stories of individuals striving to do the right thing in service of others."

Along with the establishment of the South Bronx Literary Academy, New York City has now committed to opening additional schools focused on struggling readers through the Literacy Academy Collective. It has also begun to provide individual dyslexia testing for students.

In recent years, successful people across a range of professions have come forward to share their personal struggles with dyslexia and inspire others. Among them are Anderson Cooper, Salma Hayek, Steven Spielberg, Gwen Stefani, Tim Tebow, Tom Cruise, Octavia Spencer and more. Many dyslexics cite 'thinking differently' as a personal superpower for creativity and thinking outside the box.