What are the “can’t miss” sessions at FreedomFest and Anthem this year? What’s new, what’s returning, and what’s going to blow your mind? The producers of FreedomFest and Anthem will walk you through the World’s Fair of Liberty 2026.

You can watch this film here: https://youtu.be/KM-NJvlgBYw?si=NaNCUpPG8WE_8FWl

“The Philosophy of Liberty” is an animated short film by Liberty International and Live and Let Live Movement. The film is based on the essay by Ken Schoolland which explores how the absence of violence and free and voluntary cooperation between individuals, or groups of individuals, are the key ingredients for a truly prosperous society. The film makes the abstract concrete by portraying these principles in action, using the aesthetics of the classic frontier town from the old American West to strip society back to its bare essentials. The visuals hearken back to a genre that’s been part of our collective imagination for generations. The role of authority in relation to the individual is portrayed here with a clarity that reveals how easily power can go astray when unchecked or unquestioned.

You can view this film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlHHbcWx2wk

In the 19th century, Sweden was one of Europe’s poorest countries. Then something remarkable happened. Radical pro-market reforms unleashed free enterprise, low taxes, and open trade, propelling Sweden to become one of the world’s richest nations by the mid-20th century. But success bred complacency. In the 1960s and 1970s, ambitious socialist experiments introduced sky-high taxes, massive welfare expansion, and heavy regulation. The result? Stagnation, soaring inflation, and a devastating financial crisis in the early 1990s that nearly bankrupted the country. Rainer Zitelmann narrates this gripping documentary that traces Sweden’s breathtaking rise and dramatic fall, revealing the hidden economic forces that built—and almost destroyed—a modern miracle. Eye-opening, timely, and packed with surprising lessons for today, it’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand what truly drives prosperity.

You can watch this film here: https://youtu.be/KM-NJvlgBYw?si=NaNCUpPG8WE_8FWl

Rainer Zitelmann, Ken Schoolland and Dominic Frisby join award-winning filmmaker Tomasz Agencki to discuss the connection between choice and prosperity in countries as diverse as Sweden, Poland and Vietnam. Joanna Guerra moderates.

For more than half a century, the Assad regime strangled Syria — crushing commerce, silencing dissent, and driving millions into exile. Now, for the first time in generations, Syrians have the opportunity to imagine a free and prosperous country. “Free Syria: Syria’s Economic Renewal” follows Mazen Derawan, a Syrian-American entrepreneur who returns to Damascus in the immediate aftermath of the regime’s collapse. Guided by a conviction that lasting prosperity flows from individual liberty — not state control — Mazen and a team of fellow libertarians from across the Middle East and North Africa join together to revive the traditions of free exchange that once made Damascus a crossroads of trade, ideas, and human flourishing. What he finds is a society both liberated and scarred: markets reopening, families reuniting, a country rediscovering what it means to own your future.

You can watch this movie here: https://youtu.be/6IGD7_rwGT8?si=k7Bwc0G-UkH2GQrX

While hard-working immigrants are under attack in many countries, Polish society’s exposure to popular kebab stalls is fostering openness. Tolerance, immigration, the free market and cuisine all come together in this short documentary that discusses the history of the kebab along with the economics and sociology behind it. Entrepreneurs searching for a better life sell kebabs in Poland, providing a service that Poles eagerly eat up. Immigrants, once a burden, now provide for themselves, and the kebab, once foreign, has become part of Polish culture and the Polish economy thanks to the power of the free market — the greatest mechanism ever created for lifting people out of poverty.

You can watch a vertical version of this film here: https://youtube.com/shorts/406nff3qmxo?si=SLF7qfPgA9mOSExh

In a quaint mountain village, two rival dynasties wage an absurd centuries-old war over the one true food: sausages or bread. Every morning, mustachioed sausage king Mortimer Opava races his tricycle vending cart to claim the park’s prized hilltop selling spot, leaving bread peddler Alexander Ostrava to sulk beside the toilets below. But when Alexander recruits his fearless daughter Alexandra, a disgraced cycling prodigy with unfinished business, the rivalry becomes a full-speed showdown of horns, shortcuts, flying baguettes, and sausage-fueled heroics. As the pair battle for victory, stubborn loyalty gives way to something far more delicious. Playful, handmade, and joyfully inventive, “La Petite Mortimer” celebrates the libertarian spirit of competition, choice, and spontaneous cooperation over inherited grudges and arbitrary rules. Crafted through creative limitation, the film proudly lets audiences in on the joke with its charmingly low-tech visual style and mischievous heart.  

Carlos Urbizo joins filmmakers Marcin Chmielowski, Tomasz Agencki, and Adam Weinberg to reveal how the principles of freedom are leading to a spirit of cooperation and collaboration between native and immigrant populations. Gary Alexander, mod.

“Building Home” tells the powerful story of Jared Klickstein’s journey through addiction, homelessness, and recovery, revealing how California’s well-intentioned policies often fail the very people they aim to help. Featuring Dr. Drew Pinsky, the film argues that true healing requires more than housing—it requires human connection, accountability, and a real path to recovery.

You can watch this film here: https://youtu.be/lpASNs_7Dl8?si=wq2n65S6vg3pBHkV

In the current political climate, terms like “fascist” and “socialist” get thrown around every day. But how often do people know true meaning of those words? “Beyond Labels” explores how we can stop using academic political and economic terms as divisive insults and start using them to have a deeper understanding of the systems that govern our economy and personal lives. A journey through the regimes of Nazi Germany, East and West Berlin, and modern-day Venezuela illustrates the vital importance of understanding and defining our economic and political freedoms.

Filmed almost entirely inside Cuba, “Cuba’s Eternal Night” follows five Cubans over the span of two years as they struggle with challenges related to government repression, scarcity of food and medicine, and the biggest mass exodus the island has ever experienced. Film critic Alejandro Rios said, “Through impeccable filmmaking and powerful, original testimonies, ‘Cuba’s Eternal Night,’ by virtue of its craftsmanship and courage, belongs among the finest films that chronicle ‘Cuba’s long night,’ before the longed-for ‘dawn.’”

You can watch this film here: https://youtu.be/kKkNW9shGsI?si=2hJZLqVV6zXRj2jY

On June 8, 2024, Israeli special forces from the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, Shin Bet, and the IDF launched a meticulously planned, high-risk operation to rescue four hostages kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. The rescue unfolded in broad daylight with split-second timing: simultaneous raids on two locations, intense firefights, a vehicle extraction under heavy fire, and aerial support. The mission succeeded against overwhelming odds, but not without profound sacrifice. Through gripping firsthand accounts from rescuers, freed hostages, families, and military personnel, “Operation Arnon” reveals the extraordinary planning, human cost, and unbreakable spirit behind one of the most audacious special operations of our time. It is a story of hope enduring in darkness, where ordinary heroes risk everything so others might live.

On her birthday, Lili must choose between love and emigration—leaving behind everything she knows in Iran to pursue the freedom her dreams demand. “American Dream” tells the story of Lili and Farhad, two young lovers navigating the weight of dreams, social limitations, and inevitable choices. This Persian homage to “La-La Land” is a cinematic reflection on the tension between love and the longing for freedom—between staying and leaving.

“Fulfilling the Promise” is a timely portrait of civic education that asks a question at the heart of the American experiment: are we living up to our founding principles? Through four schools in Brooklyn, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Durango, Colorado; and Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the film shows how teachers and students bring the Declaration of Independence to life, discussing its principles through the framework of civil discourse. Not merely an appreciation of the history of the Declaration, this documentary explores how teachers and students play a vital role in keeping these principles alive and, as Dr. King noted in his “I have a Dream” speech, better fulfilling the promise of the Declaration as a promissory note for future generations.

“Reagan” producer Mark Joseph and Hollywood’s biographer Marc Eliot team up to present this lively discussion of the powerful symbiosis between life, art, and public events.

“Scam Slave: From Hell to Home” follows Gideon Mwesezi, a young man from an impoverished village in Uganda who accepts a data-entry job in Thailand. The job promises $1,200 a month and the chance to support his family. But when Gideon arrives in Bangkok, he discovers the job was a lie. Instead, he is trafficked across the border into Myanmar and forced into a scam compound tied to the global “pig butchering” industry. There, workers scam victims through fake romance and investment schemes. Inside, Gideon discovers thousands of trafficked workers from dozens of countries held through violence, threats, and psychological coercion. As Gideon struggles to survive torture, imprisonment, and isolation, his story reveals that modern-day slavery is fueling one of the fastest-growing criminal economies on earth. Tens of thousands remain enslaved inside these scam compounds, fighting daily to survive in hopes that one day they can make it. African activist and entrepreneur Magatte Wade joins the Q&A.

In 2010, FreedomFest superstars Steve Forbes, Mark Skousen, Gary Alexander, Dave Phillips and Jo Ann Skousen created the FreedomFest Follies, beginning with “The Spirit of 76.” Our “Founding Fathers” danced and sang about the birth of the Declaration of Independence, while Steve Forbes brought down the house ad libbing his part as George Washington. In honor of the 250th anniversary, we are reprising this production with the same cast and adding new music!

Join us for an evening of great food and conversation—meet our filmmakers, enjoy a taco buffet, and hear “Superman” Dean Cain pull back the curtain on what happened to Hollywood. ($75 special event.)

Available in theaters September 25, 2026

“Reagan” is a triumphant film that captures the spirit of American resilience and the power of conviction. Our audience reaction to this new extended cut was electric — standing ovations, heartfelt discussions with producer Mark Joseph, and a clear sense that this story matters now more than ever.

“Flashpoint” takes an unflinching look into the challenges professors and students face in navigating ideological divides, administrative pressures, and the shifting boundaries of what can and can’t be said in academic spaces. The film’s relevance is underscored by the tragic shooting of controversial speaker Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and other highly charged events that are increasing on campuses nationwide. “Flashpoint” examines these events within a broader conversation about academic freedom, political polarization, and the fragile state of civil discourse in higher education. “We began filming before some of the most shocking recent events took place,” said one of the film’s producers. “But what’s happened in the last few months has only reinforced how urgent this conversation really is.”

This film is streaming on Salem media here: https://watch.salemnow.com/series/vwJGRCvctHWK-watergates-secrets-and-betrayals

A docudrama built from newly uncovered archival evidence that reveals how the Watergate prosecutions were shaped by secret meetings, suppressed memos, and a pattern of government overreach that shattered the rule of law. More than 50 years after the resignation of President Richard Nixon, ”Watergate Secrets and Betrayals” unveils the hidden, secret documents behind America’s most infamous political scandal.Narrated by actor John O’Hurley and based on the groundbreaking research of former White House lawyer Geoff Shepard, this documentary is set to change everything we were told about Watergate. Irrefutable evidence is presented, connecting the dots between the three branches of government and the scandal that shattered Nixon’s landslide re-election, forced his resignation, and led to the downfall of at least twenty members of his administration. Q&A: George Bugatti, Geoff Shephard, Andrew Hartman; Gary Alexander, mod.

You can watch this movie here: https://youtu.be/dSvPAfSNOTc?si=PU_dNtuBJl3iLjTm

“The Storyteller’s Role” is a compelling documentary about the fight for free expression against state-mandated censorship. Actor Annette Hubbell created a one-woman show celebrating historical figures, asserting that individual merit and the human spirit transcend collective racial identities. However, the government-run San Diego County Library canceled her performance, dictating that Annette—a white woman—was forbidden from portraying Black heroes. Rejecting the state’s attempt to police art through arbitrary racial classifications, Annette takes the bureaucracy to court to defend her fundamental right to free speech. Facing a terminal cancer diagnosis, her battle becomes an urgent defense of individual liberty. Produced by Pacific Legal Foundation, the film showcases a courageous artist standing up to institutional overreach, proving that the government has absolutely no authority to dictate which stories we can tell or who is allowed to tell them.

You can watch this movie here: https://www.youtube.com/@DadSavesAmerica
or the complete 6-part series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8QlvL7KjcY&list=PLrnxkCXk-UmVB1HboUpFC8ikz3ZAI9gJv

Freedom of speech and open debate are under assault in America–from both the left and the right. But there is reason to hope for the future. “Defending Debate” follows an upstart high school debate league, where the best of the best converge for a national tournament where no topic or stance is off limits, no matter how controversial. If America is to have a future that resembles our idealistic roots, a new generation needs to be infused with a non-negotiable commitment to free expression. These kids are the worst nightmare of any would-be tyrants seeking to control what the country can say or think.   
 

You can watch this film here, free: https://www.aninconvenientstudy.com/

In 2016, Emmy Award winning journalist Del Bigtree issued a challenge to the head of infectious disease at one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world: conduct the most thorough vaccinated vs. unvaccinated study that has ever been done. The expert took up the challenge and ran the study to prove Del wrong. That study never saw the light of day… until Del confronted the researcher with hidden cameras rolling. “An Inconvenient Study” is the result. Q&A: Del Bigtree, Kris Armstrong, Jenn Sherry Parry

Broadway actor Clifton Duncan brings Thomas Sowell’s career to life in this work-in-progress of his new one-man show, premiering live on our stage!

Kingsley, Kevin, and Hailey are ambitious eighth graders relying on individual agency and hard work to forge their futures. They are preparing for the rigorous entrance exam to New York City’s Specialized High Schools, hoping to secure admission through objective, hard-won merit. However, as they await their results, their personal achievements are threatened by the heavy hand of state bureaucracy. A fierce political battle is raging as city officials attempt to mandate demographic outcomes from the top down, prioritizing engineered equity over individual excellence. “If You Can Make It Here” places these young minds at the center of a high-stakes conflict, highlighting the tension between a student’s right to be judged solely by their own abilities and a state apparatus determined to control who gets to succeed. Corey DeAngelis joins Q&A.

Powerful, informative chronicle of the destructive rise of communist socialism in Venezuela through dictators Chavez and Maduro, and the courageous freedom fighters who tried to thwart them. The story is told intimately through the experiences of one family.

“China’s Stealth Invasion” is an investigative documentary exploring how influence operations, economic leverage, technology dependence, and information warfare may be reshaping America from within. Through interviews with national security experts, journalists, and former insiders, the film traces the intellectual roots of China’s modern strategy and examines how political, technological, and media ecosystems can become arenas of quiet competition. As the lines between war and peace blur, the film asks a pressing question: Are we witnessing a new kind of conflict—one fought not with bombs, but with influence? Q&A with Li Schoolland and Tobias Elvhage

In a hospital room, a child witnesses Mahsa Amini’s death after a fatal beating, and helps a fleeing photographer smuggle out the photo that spark the “Woman, Life, Freedom” revolution. (Iran)

A mother is running away from ISIS with her newborn son as bombs explode and soldiers search for them. She finds a hidden shelter where other women are hiding. The baby is crying as ISIS is getting closer, putting everyone in danger. What will she do? (Iran)

“NO-W-AR” is a short visual work that explores the universal human consequences of war through symbolic imagery and minimalist visual language. Free from references to specific conflicts, nations, or historical periods, the film presents war as a timeless human tragedy that transcends politics, ideology, and geography. Through silence, stark contrasts, and abstract representation, “NO-W-AR” reflects on destruction, fear, isolation, and the loss of individual freedom caused by violence and authoritarian power. The absence of dialogue allows the viewer to project personal emotions and interpretations onto the experience, transforming the film into a universal meditation on human suffering and the desire for peace. Rather than promoting a political position, “NO-W-AR” invites audiences to reflect on the value of life, liberty, and human dignity in the face of conflict. (Italy)
 

Since 2018, the Anthem Film Festival has presented Iranian films that highlight the intense desire for freedom, choice, and civil rights in Iran. Nafisa Pierce joins Persian filmmakers Farshad Sharifi and Rayan Farzad to give an insider’s view to the current conflict in Iran and the ongoing hunger for peace. Jo Ann Skousen, mod.

In an immigration office, a young man tries to attract the attention of the female clerk. The young man comes from a religious family and the young woman has no religious beliefs. He is in love with her, but their cultural conflict prevents their love from lasting. (Iran)

Octogenarians Carol and Gerry both lost their spouses after long, fulfilled marriages to their soul mates. Most people their age might be satisfied with a life well-lived. Not Carol and Gerry, two people who embody the can-do, never stop living spirit that is so quintessentially American. The two meet in the most unlikely, yet most expected of ways, and find true love for a second time, proving that romance can bloom at any age — and that the American Dream still lives.

You can watch this film here: https://youtu.be/x0Uiug3TyTE?si=u0QNyOPB0aRUIZvC

As a result of a childhood accident, Dmitry Kalinin lost part of his left arm. However, the injury that caused this loss gave him incredible vitality and allowed him to reach a new level of understanding about human goals and purpose. Through entrepreneurship, collaboration, and venture capitalism, Dimitry brought to life the boldest ideas and dreams of young engineers, inventors, and craftsmen — in Russia. This delightfully quirky motivational film is about perseverance, overcoming obstacles, success, and creating your own significant business. (Russia)

Curiosity sparks discovery, innovation transforms ideas, and entrepreneurship turns vision into reality. Accomplished leaders Alexander McCobin, Patrick Byrne, Ricky Marton, Lana Link and Tim Hedberg explore how questioning assumptions and embracing risk can drive progress, opportunity, and meaningful change.

In 2018, Venezuela’s inflation skyrocketed to over 1,000,000%, driving more than seven million Venezuelans to flee the country as refugees. Amid Venezuela’s economic collapse, two brothers struggle for survival on a militia-operated coca farm. With their lives on the line, the younger brother gambles on a last-ditch effort to rescue themselves and bring the girl he has fallen for.

As the world looks toward a new era of space exploration, model rocketry continues to inspire the people who build, launch, and compete with rockets at every scale. Skyward: The Sport Rocketry Revolution follows Tim Van Milligan, a longtime rocketry educator and founder of Apogee Components, and his daughter Ashley Van Milligan as they prepare for the World Spacemodeling Championships. Their journey moves from workshops and practice launches in the United States to the international competition fields of Serbia, where small design choices can separate a successful flight from disqualification. The film explores model rocketry as both a competitive sport and a doorway into science, engineering, and community. Through Tim and Ashley’s story, Skyward examines the discipline required to represent Team USA, the family bonds formed around the launch field, and the regulatory and logistical challenges shaping the future of the hobby. Rather than treating rocketry as a niche pastime, the documentary presents it as a global culture of builders, competitors, mentors, and students who see the sky as a place of possibility and innovation.

Come lift a glass of champagne in celebration of our 2026 filmmakers, and see if your favorite films will win an award! All are welcome–no extra ticket required. (Audience Choice and Grand Prize will be awarded at the banquet.)