Miranda Spigener-Sapon’s Documentary What It Means… Wins Best Documentary at BSSAV Film Festival and Gains Houston TV Rotation
The short documentary What It Means… by director Miranda Spigener-Sapon has won the Best Documentary award at the October 2024 Best Shorts Social Audiovisual Film Festival (BSSAV) in Los Angeles. The film, which tackles pressing social issues through the true stories of two women from very different backgrounds, is currently making its way through film festivals both in the United States and internationally.
In a significant step for the film, What It Means… will also be featured in a heavy rotation on Houston Media Source (HMS) Television, a public access network based in Houston, Texas. The documentary is scheduled to air starting November 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM CST/5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST. Local viewers in Houston can watch the film on Comcast17, AT&T U-Verse 99, Sudden Link Channel 99, and Phonoscope 96, while audiences across the United States and internationally can stream it online via the station’s website.
The documentary’s powerful poetic message highlights the real-life experiences of women facing critical challenges in the context of women’s rights, particularly the debate over emergency abortion access. The film tells the story of Kristin Ruggaber, one of many women whose lives were put at risk due to restricted access to life-saving procedures. “Women in America are dying when they didn’t have to because several states like Indiana and Georgia denied access to emergency abortions due to life-critical situations like an ectopic pregnancy… Kristin Ruggaber’s story in What It Means… is one of those stories, but Kris is alive today because the life-saving procedure… women’s rights must be protected,” said Spigener-Sapon, the film’s director, co-writer, and producer.
What It Means… is not just a documentary; it is a call to action, delivered through a narrative style that blends personal accounts with a broader social commentary. The film focuses on empathy, understanding, and connection, aiming to promote social justice and change by fostering deeper awareness of diverse perspectives.
Miranda Spigener-Sapon is an award-winning writer, director, and producer known for her work in film and television. Her career spans decades and includes notable achievements such as the international screenings of her short TRUE at L’Entrepôt Cinema in Paris and MARISA ROMANOV debuting at the International Venice Film Festival. Spigener-Sapon has also produced and directed for Discovery Networks and led numerous successful commercial and documentary projects. Recently, she produced MASCULINITY THAT INSPIRES CHANGE and directed THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS, both acquired by Amazon. Spigener-Sapon is also preparing to release her debut novel CHARLES: A MARISA ROMANOV STORY and a psychological drama feature film, LIFELINES.
What It Means… continues to captivate audiences with its compelling and timely message, shedding light on critical social issues while inspiring a call for empathy, understanding, and action in the face of injustice. Bonfire Cinema is a multi-platform independent studio that brings together high-concept inspiring, entertaining and enlightening content across the mediums of: Cinema – Television – Publishing – Animation -Theatre.
