Barrymore Film Center & Teaneck International Film Festival partner to champion independent journalism with the NJ Premiere of “Steal This Story, Please!”

(TEANECK, NJ) — The Teaneck International Film Festival (TIFF), a project of The Puffin Foundation, is proud to announce a new partnership with the Barrymore Film Center, launching with the New Jersey premiere of the acclaimed documentary Steal This Story, Please! on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 7:30pm followed by a special talkback with Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) who is the subject of the documentary and Karen Ranucci, one of the film’s producers.

The film, which centers on legendary journalist and Democracy Now! co-founder Amy Goodman, explores the power of independent journalism and the personal and political stakes of telling stories that challenge entrenched systems, examining how truth-telling can provoke resistance while shaping public consciousness. At a moment when free speech and press freedoms are increasingly under threat, Steal This Story, Please! arrives as both a warning and a call to action. Oscar-nominated filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin craft a riveting portrait of journalism’s power – and peril – in an era of corporate control and political attacks on truth.

Drawing on themes highlighted in a recent Jewish Forward article, the documentary explores how Goodman’s deep Jewish values inform her lifelong commitment to justice and speaking truth to power. Goodman, whose father was an Orthodox rabbi, has often cited Jewish ethical teachings as foundational to her work—particularly the moral imperative not to remain silent in the face of injustice. As Goodman has said, “We will not be silent,” words she believes should serve as the modern Hippocratic Oath of the media.  “In light of current global events, this film could not be more timely,” said TIFF Executive Director, Jeremy Lentz. “It reminds us that independent journalism is essential to democracy, and that resistance—grounded in moral clarity—is a form of civic responsibility.”

Amy Goodman

A moderated audience talkback and discussion will offer audiences a rare opportunity to engage directly with Goodman and Ranucci on issues of press freedom, activism, and the role of media in shaping a just society.  The film has been lauded at film festivals throughout the world winning the coveted audience award at the following festivals: Woodstock, Mill Valley, Hamptons Doc Fest, Santa Fe, Seattle, and St. Louis film festivals.

Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase online. The Barrymore Film Center is located at 153 Main Street in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

This special event marks the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between the Teaneck International Film Festival and the Barrymore Film Center, uniting two organizations committed to bold storytelling, cultural dialogue, and films that matter.

Now celebrating its 21st year, the Teaneck International Film Festival, a project of the Puffin Foundation, continues to spotlight socially conscious cinema that sparks dialogue and inspires change. With its enduring theme “Activism: Making Change,” TIFF brings together filmmakers, audiences, and advocates committed to telling stories that matter.

The Barrymore Film Center not only preserves the rich cinematic legacy of Fort Lee but also serves as a beacon for film education, community engagement, and innovation in the art of filmmaking.