Celebrating Trailblazers, Trouble Makers and Women Who Refuse to Sit Quietly
Northern Banner Releasing presents
TOUGH OLD BROADS
a film by Stacey Tenenbaum
PRESS RELEASE
After strong audience response in Vancouver and Montreal, Tough Old Broads expands to theatres across Canada beginning March 27, including Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton.
The feature documentary written, produced and directed by Stacey Tenenbaum (Shiners, Scrap, Pipe Dreams), follows three women who shook the world when they were young and never once eased up. Their early achievements in sport, climate action, and civil rights opened doors for countless others. The film captures the same wit, grit and unapologetic force that powered them then and still drives them today. They have been shaping history for decades, and they are certainly not done.
Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, a moment that changed the landscape of women’s athletics and ultimately helped bring the women’s marathon into the 1984 Olympics. Her influence continued to grow as she founded 261 Fearless, a global non-profit that empowers women in regions where running is still a political act. At 79, she remains a formidable advocate and mentor, pushing for equality with the same determination that carried her across that finish line.
Siila Watt Cloutier began fighting for environmental protections long before the world understood the depth of the climate crisis. As a key leader with the Inuit Circumpolar Council, she drove international policy to ban toxic pollutants and reframed global thinking on climate justice. Her groundbreaking human rights petition in 2005 set a new precedent in the climate movement, and her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 underscored her impact. Today she continues to speak around the world, defending Inuit culture and calling for environmental action with clarity and moral force.
Sharon Farmer entered the civil rights movement through the viewfinder of a camera, documenting unrest and social change as a young photographer at Ohio State University in the early 1970s, amid escalating anti-Vietnam War protests following the killings of students at Kent State. Her early vision and relentless commitment eventually led her to become the first woman and the first person of colour to serve as Director of White House Photography. She has spent decades capturing pivotal moments in American history and continues to photograph the realities of injustice, focusing her lens on the stories that demand to be seen.
These women tell their stories with sharp humour, fearless honesty, and an unshakable sense of purpose. In a world that often tries to shove older women to the sidelines, they continue to claim space, challenge expectations, and call out injustice. Their lives stand as living proof that change is possible, earned through persistence, courage, and the belief that speaking up, again and again, actually matters, not just for themselves, but for those who follow.
Stacey created Tough Old Broads after witnessing ageism and gender bias in the industry and recognizing how often older women are pushed out of the frame. “I made this film,” Stacey says, “to share the wisdom and experience of older women with a new generation and to inspire all people to remain vital and outspoken as they age.”
The film was generously funded by Yes TV, CMF, Telus, + SODEC. We would also like to thank our Audience partners: 261 Fearless, Active Aging Canada, Avon, The Female Lead, Impossible2Possible, Sustainability X, and THIRD ACTion Film Festival.
About Stacey Tenenbaum
Stacey Tenenbaum is an award-winning creative producer and director. In 2014 she founded H2L Productions, a Montreal-based boutique documentary film production company specializing in crafting character driven stories which are shot internationally. Her films Shiners (2017) Pipe Dreams (2019), and Scrap (2023) have screened at festivals worldwide and have been broadcast on CBC, PBS, NHK, SVT and more. Stacey is known for making cinematic documentaries filled with humour and heart.
About Northern Banner Releasing
Northern Banner Releasing is Raven Banner’s specialty distribution arm with a singular vision to distribute quality, award-winning indie films. Northern Banner’s past releases include: Gaspar Noe’s Climax, Jeremy LaLonde’s Ashgrove; Kevan Funk’s Hello Destroyer; winner of Cannes Un Certain Regard-The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki; Cannes Critic’s Week Grand Prize winner-Mimosas; and Academy Award-nominated Embrace of the Serpent.
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