The 8th will now be released on video on demand in the UK and Ireland on May 25th, to coincide with the third anniversary of the referendum.
Directed by Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy and Maeve O’Boyle’s The 8th is the first independently made documentary about the triumphant referendum campaign led by a group of women including Ailbhe Smyth and Andrea Horan to repeal the Eighth Amendment and change Ireland’s abortion laws after a 35-year long struggle.
While featuring voices from both sides of the debate, the primary focus of this new documentary is on the dynamic female leaders of the pro-choice campaign. The film closely follows veteran pro-choice campaigner Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of the ‘Together for Yes’ campaign, and self-described glitter activist and co-presenter of the podcast Don’t Stop Repealin’, Andrea Horan, as they chart a bold strategy of grassroots activism and engineer the near impossible. This dramatic story is underscored by a vivid exploration of the wrenching failures that led to this defining moment in Irish history.
Directors Aideen Kane, Lucy Kennedy and Maeve O’Boyle grew up in Ireland under the shadow of the Eighth Amendment. They witnessed the impact on women’s lives, notably in 1992 “the X case” — a 14-year-old rape victim who was refused permission to leave the country for an abortion — and in 2012 the death of Savita Halappanavar who died of septicaemia after she was denied her request for an abortion.
“When the government called a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, we knew this was one of the most important stories of our generation,” said the directors “Our goal was to document this defining moment in the context of Ireland’s historic treatment of women. We are also excited to show The 8th to UK audiences as a celebration of the kindness of strangers who have without the judgement or question helped, and still help, Irish women to travel to the UK for abortion care.”
Shot over a three-year period between 2017 and 2019 in Ireland, The 8th shows a country forging a new progressive path at a time when reproductive rights are threatened around the world.
The 8th will be available On Demand from May 25th.
