Private Project

Holly Near: Singing For Our Lives

Singer, songwriter, and social activist Holly Near has been performing for well over 50 years and in the process created what Gloria Steinem called, “the first soundtrack of the women’s movement.” From small-town Northern California to sold-out shows on some of the most iconic stages to million-person peace marches, Singing for Our Lives documents the story of the activist and her art. It also serves as an important testament to a time—a time of protest and coalition building, and the weaving of a multicultural consciousness always rooted in contemporary activism. Featuring Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, the late Ronnie Gilbert, and the late Tom Hayden with appearances by Pete Seeger, and others, this film, directed by Jim Brown (The Weavers: Wasn’t That a Time!), elevates Near to her deserved status of iconic artist and activist, and speaks to anyone who believes in peace, justice, feminism, and humanity.

  • Jim Brown
    Writer
  • Jim Brown
    Producer
  • Donna Korones
    Producer
  • Heather A. Smith
    Producer
  • Holly Near
    Key Cast
    Singer, activist and subject of the film (subject of film)
  • Jane Fonda
    Key Cast
    Actor and political activist. One of the Free the Army founders and hired Near to perform in the F.T.A tour and the Indochina Peace campaign of 1971
  • Gloria Steinem
    Key Cast
    Feminist, journalist, and social and political activist. Nominated Near as a “Woman of the Year in Ms Magazine in 1985
  • Kevin Bacon
    Key Cast
    American Actor and Musician and Holly Near’s first cousin
  • Tom Hayden
    Key Cast
    Social and political activist/organizer. Worked with Near during the Indochina Peace campaign 1971 and various movements over the last 40 years. Hayden died in 2016
  • Ronnie Gilbert
    Key Cast
    American folk singer and activist, member of the iconic FOLK group The Weavers. Gilbert and Near toured and released 4 albums together. Gilbert died in 2015.
  • Timothy Near
    Key Cast
    Holly Near’s sister who is a theatre director
  • Jeff Langley
    Key Cast
    Pianist, composer who went to high school with Near and collaborated with her for many years and to this day
  • Jim Brown
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Music Video
  • Genres:
    Music, Culture, LGBTQ, Feminist doc, Historical doc, Social justice, Peace movement, Human rights
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 2 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 1, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mill Valley Film Festival
    Mill Valley, CA
    United States
    October 7, 2018
    North American Premiere
Distribution Information
  • TBD
Director - Jim Brown