Pray Away

Status

Production

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Director/Producer

Kristine Stolakis

Kristine Stolakis is a director whose films intimately examine how power, politics, and prejudice unfold in real people’s lives. Her debut feature PRAY AWAY takes you inside the history and continuation of the “pray the gay away” or ex-gay movement, and is a Multitude Films production. Her directorial debut THE TYPIST (Hot Docs 2015) cracks open the untold story of a closeted Korean War veteran tasked with writing the military dishonorable discharges of outed LGBTQ seamen. It was released by KQED and is currently a Vimeo Staff Pick. WHERE WE STAND (DOC NYC 2015) chronicles a group of Mormon women fighting for equal rights inside their church, and was released by The Atlantic and nominated for a Student BAFTA. Her filmmaking approach is shaped by her background in anthropology, journalism, politics, and community art. She holds an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University, where she currently lectures, a BA in Cultural Anthropology from New York University, and has received further training at UC Berkley’s Investigative Reporting Program. She proudly hails from North Carolina and central New York.

Producer

Jessica Devaney

Jessica Devaney is a Brooklyn-based producer and the founder of Multitude Films. Recent films include THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED (Tribeca 2018) and ROLL RED ROLL (Tribeca 2018). She also produced the Critic’s Choice nominated SPEED SISTERS (Hot Docs, 2015), which the New York Times called “subtly rebellious and defiantly optimistic” and OUT AGAIN (Outfest 2017) for Refinery29’s Shatterbox Anthology. Jessica’s directorial debut short, LOVE THE SINNER (Tribeca 2017), screened at over 20 festivals and was supported by Sundance, The Harnisch Foundation, Fork Films, The Fledgling Fund, and Chicken & Egg Pictures. Additional credits include CALL HER GANDA (Tribeca 2018), NAILA & THE UPRISING (IDFA 2017), Peabody Award-winning MY NEIGHBOURHOOD (Tribeca 2012), Ridenhour Prize-winning BUDRUS (Berlin, Tribeca 2010). Jessica co-founded the Queer Producers Collective, produced Doc Society’s inaugural Queer Impact Producers Lab, and was Sundance Edit and Story Lab Fellow and a Women at Sundance Fellow.

Pray Away tells the story of the history and continuation of the reparative therapy or “pray the gay away” movement.

Trailer

Press

“Gripping” "The compassionate insight into people's lives spent carrying shame and humiliation, hurting themselves and others, is powerful stuff.”

The Hollywood Reporter

"a profoundly moving, heartbreaking examination of the fallout associated with conversion therapy—and it might be the must-watch movie of the year.”

The Playlist

Premieres & Awards

Official Selection

Tribeca Film Festival 2020

Official Selection

Hot Docs 2020

Official Selection

Telluride Film Festival 2020