Ani DiFranco is finally getting the deep-dive documentary treatment in “1-800-ON-HER-OWN.” Directed by Dana Flor, the film explores the turbulent, triumphant, and deeply personal journey of an artist who rewrote the rules—not just for herself, but for an entire generation of musicians who didn’t want to play nice with the mainstream.
The title nods to Ani’s 1995 spoken-word piece and tour hotline—a symbol of how she always found her own way to connect directly with fans, bypassing traditional industry gatekeepers. That same defiant spirit pulses through this film.
What we get is not a sanitized celebration, but a raw and intimate portrait—one that threads together archival footage, vérité storytelling, and interviews with DiFranco and her circle—to reveal the real-life tension between independence and identity, politics and vulnerability, poetry and protest.
More than a career overview, “1-800-ON-HER-OWN” documents Ani’s long commitment to radical honesty. From founding Righteous Babe Records in her teens, to becoming a voice in movements for reproductive justice, racial equity, and queer liberation, Ani’s life has always been about fusing art and action. And like the best stories from the underground, it’s not without risk, backlash, or bruises.
For readers of GAJOOB, where cassette culture and the self-made ethos are core to our DNA, Ani’s story hits like a battle cry. Her choice to control her music, her message, and her means of production wasn’t just ahead of its time—it was revolutionary. This film captures that essence.
Currently in post-production, “1-800-ON-HER-OWN” is looking for grassroots support to finish strong. If you’ve ever been moved by a line in an Ani song, passed her tape to a friend, or stood in a basement club hearing her shred a folk-punk set that made you believe again—now’s the time to give back.
Learn more: anidifranco.film
