Margaret Munzer Loeb and Eden Wurmfeld’s exploration of contemporary childhood and parenting has found a home. Abramorama acquired U.S. distribution rights to “Chasing Childhood.” A press release announced the news.
An examination of over-parenting in the U.S. and its cost on kids, the doc made its world premiere at DOC NYC Film Festival. “Chasing Childhood” investigates “the growing trend for children to be overscheduled, overburdened, and overprotected yet still unprepared for the world,” its synopsis details. The film “features experts in the field such as ‘How to Raise an Adult’ author and former Stanford dean Julie Lythcott-Haims, psychology professor Peter Gray, Lenore Skenazy, who created the ‘Let Grow’ nonprofit that advocates for children’s independence, and public school advocate and former superintendent Michael Hynes.”
“We hope that ‘Chasing Childhood’ will help inform how we return to life post pandemic and that perhaps we will reevaluate the pre-covid over-scheduled existence of our kids,” said Loeb and Wurmfeld. “We made this film in order to start a cultural conversation that would become a catalyst for change in how we parent, school, and regulate kids’ lives. We believe this film, together with insights gained in this time, will encourage parents and schools to create a world where kids have the autonomy to engage in more free play so that they can grow up to become resilient, competent, and healthy adults.”
Abramorama’s CEO Richard Abramowitz and COO Karol Martesko-Fenster added, “This is a critical issue, never more so than after the past year when the pandemic has stifled so much personal interaction for everyone. ‘Chasing Childhood’ makes a strong case that free, unstructured play is an essential component of healthy development.”
The doc will be launched with a worldwide live streaming premiere on June 24 at 8 p.m. EST and will include a conversation with the filmmakers and additional participants. A Watch Now @ Home Cinema Release will follow on June 25.
“Chasing Childhood” marks Loeb and Wurmfeld’s directorial debuts.
