Genre
Synopsis
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY follows Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans
person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal
battle to overturn Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender
youth (United States v. Skrmetti).
The film exposes the dangerous role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans
legislation, uncovering how biased coverage drives hate, endangers lives, and
threatens democracy itself. With insights from journalists like Jelani Cobb, Lydia
Polgreen, and Gina Chua, and activists like Laverne Cox, the story dismantles
anti-trans disinformation and highlights its devastating real-world impact.
As SCOTUS prepares to rule on the case, Heightened Scrutiny reveals the fight
for bodily autonomy as a fight for the soul of democracy, offering a powerful
call to action against bigotry and injustice.
Bio
Sam Feder is a Peabody Award-nominated film director and writer. Sam created and directed Heightened Scrutiny (Sundance 2025), DISCLOSURE (Sundance 2020, Netflix 2020), the widely acclaimed Kate Bornstein is a Queer and Pleasant Danger, and Boy I Am.
Sam’s films explore the intersection of media and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender. Sam’s films have been programmed by Sundance Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, CPH:DOX, MOMA PS-1, The British Film Institute, The Hammer Museum, and in hundreds of film festivals around the world. Sam’s work has been supported by Ford/JustFilms, Fork Films, California Humanities, The Jerome Foundation, Perspective Fund, Threshold, IFP Film Week, Good Pitch USA/Doc Society, MacDowell and Yaddo artist residency.
Screening History
World Premiere - Sundance 2025
Credits
Cast - Laverne Cox
Cast - Chase Strangio
Cast - Lydia Polgreen
Cast - Jelani Cobb
Cast - Gina Chua
