Nine for IX

About Nine for IX

'Nine for IX' is a series of documentary films that premiered on ESPN in 2013 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX, a 1972 education amendment that, among other things, mandated equal attention to women and girls in federally-funded educational and athletic programs. Each of the nine films concentrates on women in sports, directed by women filmmakers. The series covers narratives from the groundbreaking Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis bout to the tale of college runner Mary Decker's heart-breaking encounter with Zola Budd at the 1984 Olympics.

Making / Production

The series was executive produced by Robin Roberts and Jane Rosenthal in association with ESPN Films and Tribeca Productions. The documentaries feature a rich assembly of footage, interviews, and narration to weave together these compelling narratives.

Actors

• Robin Roberts: Serving as the executive producer and public face of the series, Roberts brought her own experiences as a female sportscaster to the project.
• Jane Rosenthal: As the executive producer, she used her experience in film production to steer the direction of the series

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title 'Nine for IX' is not only a play on ESPN's successful "30 for 30" documentary series, but also denotes the nine films for the Title IX amendment.
• A diverse group of award-winning filmmakers were brought on board for the various films, including Ava DuVernay, Shola Lynch, and Whoopi Goldberg, among others.

Quotes

• "I thought I could never be a coach. He saw something in me I didn't see in myself." - from 'Pat XO', in reference to Pat Summitt's mentor Bill Yoast
• "We gave women a chance to be heroes." - from 'The 99ers', in reference to the 1999 U.S. Women's World Cup team.

Music, Soundtrack

• 'Nine for IX' is notable for its various tightly edited montages, each with a fitting musical accompaniment that underscores the highlighted historical event or personality. The specific tracks used vary from film to film and are as diverse as the stories themselves.