Rachel Feldman’s LILLY: From Vision to Theatrical Release

May 9, 2025

The road to bringing LILLY to the big screen has been long and much anticipated. Now, BTTL alumna (’20) Rachel Feldman, a filmmaker deeply committed to stories of justice, sees her vision fully realized as LILLY opens in U.S. theaters on May 9, 2025.

A Story Worth Telling

LILLY dramatizes the life and fight of Lilly Ledbetter, a longtime Alabama tire factory supervisor who, after years of working under unequal pay conditions, challenged systemic injustice and became a catalyst for change. Her battle culminated in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear lawsuit, and later in the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009.

The film stars Academy Award nominee Patricia Clarkson in the title role, alongside John Benjamin Hickey and Thomas Sadoski, among others. It premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2024, just days before Ledbetter’s passing.

Feldman’s Journey & Mission

While Rachel Feldman has built a strong legacy in television, directing episodes of Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, The Rookie, and others, LILLY marks a defining leap for her in feature filmmaking. The screenplay, co-written with Adam Prince, was supported by the Athena List and received a Ravenal Foundation Grant.

Feldman has spoken openly about the drive behind taking on Lilly’s story:

“Fair pay is not a partisan issue … every single one of us needs to stand up for justice in every part of our life.” The Women's Eye

Release & Reception

On May 9, 2025, LILLY hits opens select U.S. cities and is being distributed internationally by Radiant.

LILLY not only revisits a landmark moment in America’s pursuit of workplace equality, but also amplifies a narrative of perseverance, resilience, and hope. As Feldman has said, its timeliness is intentional: this is a story that still resonates.

Watch the official trailer here: LILLY