Celebrities and Content Makers Flock to Planned Parenthood’s Sex, Politics & Film Reception During Sundance Film Festival

Lena Dunham, Elizabeth Banks, Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette, and Tegan and Sara in attendance

Park City, Utah -- Last night, hundreds of writers, directors, producers, and actors joined Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner’s A Casual Romance Productions, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Refinery 29 for the annual Sex, Politics, and Film reception during the Sundance Film Festival to celebrate the content makers who accurately and sensitively depict sexual and reproductive health in their films and television program.

The event also honored the premiere of Across the Line, a virtual reality film that brings viewers inside the experience of women getting through protesters and into health centers for high-quality reproductive health care.Across the Line is part of ongoing efforts by Planned Parenthood and other sexual and reproductive health organizations to reduce stigma and change the conversation around safe and legal abortion.

You can see photos from the event here.

The Sex, Politics, and Film reception brought together the top creators, executive producers, directors, writers, and actors across the entertainment industry to honor the people on both sides of the camera whose stories provoke new conversations and help to reduce the stigma and shame of sex, sexuality and abortion. Guests heard from Nonny de la Pena, CEO of Emblematic Group, and Karrie Galloway, CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. Elizabeth Banks, Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette, Natasha Lyonne, Chloe Sevigny, Tegan and Sara, Christine Lahti, Jason Ritter, Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche, Melanie Lynskey, Ashley Bell, and Clea Duvall were in attendance.

“It was incredibly moving to see so many powerful entertainers and creators gather in the snow to show their support for Planned Parenthood. The collective voice has never been more powerful or more necessary," said Lena Dunham, creator and star of HBO's Girls and producer of the film Suited, which premieres tonight at Sundance.

Volunteers from Planned Parenthood Association of Utah passed out condoms and chocolate pill packs on serving trays throughout the event. Everyone in attendance was gifted with their very own Sex, Politics, and Film T-shirt, designed by Rachel Antonoff.

“At Planned Parenthood we believe that the only way our rights will ever be secure is to change the culture — to go right at the stigma and shame around sex, sexuality and abortion that fuels hatred for women, for doctors, for abortion providers,” said Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President at Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Director of Arts and Entertainment Engagement Caren Spruch discussed the many ways Planned Parenthood serves as a resource to the entertainment community, including reviewing scripts for accuracy, offering health and legislative information, connecting artists to key leaders on the ground, providing set materials, and coordinating film shoots at health centers.                    

“Even though nearly one-third of all women will have an abortion in their lifetime and 99% of all sexually active women in the U.S. use birth control, it’s still rare for a character to have an abortion or to discuss birth control on screen,” Spruch said.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is proud to help support the work of the entertainment industry as content makers continue to bravely portray honest and medically accurate sexual and reproductive health information and stories in their films, television programs, and on multimedia platforms.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With over 650 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.