Q&A WITH PRODUCER
Ani DiFranco crashed onto the music scene in the early 1990s, a thundering new voice in the cultural wilderness, unapologetically bisexual, political and feminist. She toured relentlessly, thrashing out hundreds of shows that were part mosh pit, part hootenanny and part full-on tent revival, and selling cassette tapes from the trunk of her car to make it to the next gig. DiFranco became a worldwide phenomenon when she beat the male-dominated music industry at its own game by founding Righteous Babe Records, the first “woman-run non-corporate queer-happy” label, still going strong today after nearly 35 years. The press called her “an entrepreneurial wonder” and “the industry’s worst nightmare”. Prince called her “my hero”. She simply called herself a folk singer, dedicated to art, activism and staying true to herself. 1-800-ON-HER-OWN takes us on a wild cinematic road trip, from DiFranco’s punk-folk past to her life today as a passionate activist and revered rock star. Throughout the ride, she’s brutally honest, famously foul-mouthed and totally hilarious. Her daily challenges resonate as an enduring, inspiring musical icon and a relatable contemporary “everywoman” with her own epic fails and hard-won victories.
Dir. Dana Flor, US, 2024, 77 mins