Backed by Olympic legend Allyson Felix, film rollout coincides with DC convening and multi-state policy surge
New York, NY — As paid leave reaches a historic tipping point, the new documentary short Lifelines launches May 6 in New York City, kicking off a cross-country screening tour designed to spotlight the growing momentum now convening lawmakers in Washington.
The release comes amid a series of state paid leave wins and just weeks before legislators and advocates from 25 states gather to chart a path toward a 50-state strategy and federal action — connecting personal stories on screen with a rapidly evolving policy landscape in real time.
Directed by Hannah Rosenzweig and Robin Honan and co-executive produced by Olympic legend Allyson Felix and Dawn Huckelbridge of Paid Leave for All, Lifelines follows families in New Jersey and Colorado navigating childbirth and unexpected medical emergencies — and shows what becomes possible when a paid leave program is in place. At a moment when policy is advancing across states, the film brings added urgency and visibility to the issue.
The film will premiere in New York City with Allyson Felix, media and creators present, followed by community events in Washington, DC, Denver, Colorado, Jersey City, and beyond, engaging members of Congress, advocates, and families directly impacted by these policies.
Co-executive producer Allyson Felix noted, “When I became a mother, my sponsor would not offer contractual protections that would allow me to confidently return to my sport without losing income. Four Olympic Games and 10 medals, and I still had to fight for the right to recover after giving birth without being pushed out of my sport completely. I know this is happening to families everywhere, every day. No one should have to face that. Every mother, every worker deserves to rest, recover, and care for their family without sacrificing their paycheck — and we can’t keep leaving that to the goodwill of brands and businesses. That’s why we need federal paid leave. For all of us.”
Dawn Huckelbridge of Paid Leave for All commented “Lifelines follows two very different families but reminds us what we all share: the need to give and receive care in our lives, and the price we pay for not having the time and ability to. But it also shows us what is possible when we have supports and policies, like paid family and medical leave, that much of the world takes for granted. There is historic progress being made in states across the country right now, showing us that paid leave works and government can be a tremendous force for good in our lives. It’s time that Congress followed states’ lead and made paid leave a guarantee for every working person in America.”
The film debuted at the Garden State Film Festival and has been accepted to other festivals in Ohio, New Jersey, Colorado, and Florida, building a growing national audience as the issue reaches a tipping point.
From State Wins to a Unified National Push
Lifelines arrives amid a series of historic state-level advances:
- Virginia became the first state in the South to enact paid family and medical leave
- Ohio introduced bipartisan legislation in the State Senate
- Pennsylvania passed paid family and medical leave in the State House
- Maine and Minnesota began delivering benefits under their new programs
- New Jersey enacted a massive expansion of access to job-protection in their program
- Colorado implemented a first-in-the-nation policy for NICU families
Now, national leaders and advocates are building toward the next phase: a May convening in Washington, DC will bring together 25 states to launch a bold, coordinated strategy to secure protections in all 50 states and a federal guarantee for every worker in America.
14 states and the District of Columbia have now enacted comprehensive paid leave policies, with additional states continuing to move legislation forward.
The National Opportunity Ahead
Paid family and medical leave passed in the United States House of Representatives in 2021 — falling a vote short of becoming law. Since then, state momentum has accelerated, highlighting both progress and the need for broader, more consistent access nationwide.
Today, it remains one of the most widely supported policies in the country, motivating and persuading voting blocs across demographics, and is a major election-year issue.
The question is no longer whether paid leave will happen — but how long millions of families will be forced to wait.
Media RSVP: Adrianne Wright at Adrianne@think-rosie.com