Fifty/50, ESPN’s previously-announced initiative celebrating Title IX’s 50th anniversary, has unveiled its current programming lineup. As we reported last fall, Dawn Porter (“John Lewis: Good Trouble”) and Nicole Newnham (“Crip Camp”) are directing a docuseries exploring the landmark law’s history and legacy. Joining this project on the schedule are a “30 for 30” doc from Kristen Lappas (“Blackfeet Boxing: Not Invisible”) and a short film anthology executive produced by Robin Roberts, a press release has confirmed.
Commemorating Title IX, the civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at any educational institution that receives federal funding, Fifty/50 “will present content and experiences that explore stories at the intersection of women, sports, culture, and the fight for equality” throughout June 2022.
Premiering June 21 on ESPN, Porter and Newnham’s “37 Words” tells the story of the fight for and passage of Title IX, and asks whether the law has lived up to its full potential.
Lappas’s three-part “30 for 30” doc “Dream On” will bow June 15 on ESPN. It revisits the 1996 United States women’s Olympic team’s winning streak, which led to the formation of the WNBA.
The Fifty/50 Shorts collection hails from an all-women creative team featuring Roberts, Allison Glock (“The Blacklist”), Kate T. Parker (“Strong is the New Pretty”), Shayla Harris (“Who Killed Malcolm X?”), Bethany Mollenkof (“Anything for Selena”), Elizabeth Lo (“Stray”), and Bonni Cohen (“Athlete A”). The project is comprised of five short films presenting the diverse experiences of women in sports and premieres June 1 on ESPN2.
Other Fifty/50 programming includes 50 inspiring stories about women in sports post-Title IX that will air on eight local ABC networks across the country. Additional projects are to be announced.
“This is an important milestone for Title IX and we wanted to find creative ways to celebrate it,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content. “Whether it is our commitment to a rich package of live women’s sports highlighting the stories of female athletes across our platforms, the many talented women working in front of the camera, or the diverse teams behind the content we create, our commitment to elevating women in sports is unwavering. Fifty/50 has been an incredible endeavor made possible by so many at the company, and I have no doubt sports fans will appreciate the extraordinary work they have created.”
Check out a promo for the Fifty/50 initiative narrated by Tessa Thompson below.
