(LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ) -- The Lighthouse International Film Society presents a screening of Ask E. Jean on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 7:30pm. This is director Ivy Meeropol's acclaimed new documentary about journalist, author and legendary advice columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Long before she became known for holding Donald Trump accountable, E. Jean Carroll was already breaking barriers. From her early days as Miss Cheerleader USA, to her career as a fearless journalist, author, television personality and the voice behind one of America’s longest-running advice columns, Carroll built a reputation for her sharp wit, independence and willingness to say what others would not. Bold, funny, candid and ultimately inspiring, Ask E. Jean introduces audiences to a woman whose extraordinary life extends far beyond the headlines.
But this is more than a courtroom drama as director Meeropol looks beyond the legal battles to reveal the woman at its center—irreverent, complicated, wickedly funny and determined not to allow anyone else to define her. Drawing on intimate interviews, extraordinary archival material, and unprecedented access the film traces Carroll’s remarkable career and the personal cost of choosing to speak publicly when the person on the other side is one of the most powerful men in the world.
The result is a documentary about much more than one woman or one court case. It’s about truth, resilience, and the importance of refusing to remain silent.
Tickets are $12 and available for purchase online. Tickets are $15 at the door and free for Lighthouse Film Society members. The screening takes place at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, located at 120 Long Beach Boulevard in Loveladies , New Jersey.
For audiences who know E. Jean Carroll only from the headlines, the documentary offers something unexpected: the opportunity to discover the remarkable woman who existed long before the court cases—and the humor, intelligence and determination that allowed her to withstand all she endured.
This is not a film about a victim. It's a film about finding your voice, protecting your name, and discovering just how powerful you can be when refusing to disappear.
Ask E. Jean premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival and was also selected for DOC NYC. The 91-minute documentary has earned widespread critical praise and currently holds a 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety called the film an “enthralling and unapologetic as its subject.” Meeropol is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker whose work includes HBO’s After the Bite and Roy Cohn: Bully. Coward. Victim., which was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary. Her films have consistently examined fascinating individuals and the intersection of personality, politics, and the American story.
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The 45th Bi-Annual New Jersey Film Festival will be taking place between September 4-October 4, 2026. The Festival will be a hybrid as we will be presenting it online as well as doing select in-person screenings at Rutgers University. Almost all the films will be available virtually via Video on Demand for 24 hours on their show date. VOD start times are at 12 Midnight Eastern USA. Each General Admission Ticket or Festival Pass purchased is good for both the virtual and the in-person shows when both are offered. This program is only available Online for 24 hours on this show date!
