Look Again. Jan 19 – 29, 2012 Park City, Utah

In June 2003, the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire came under fire when it became the first to elect an openly gay man, Gene Robinson, as a bishop. Since that flash point, Robinson has been at the center of the contentious battle for LGBT people to receive full acceptance in the faith.

Director Macky Alston (whose film, Family Name, won the Freedom of Expression Award at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival) follows Robinson into the breach in the struggle for equality. While resolute in his calling, Robinson grows increasingly critical of the central role that religious institutions have played in fostering homophobia and hatred. He is pointedly not invited to a once-a-decade convocation of bishops and courts controversy by attending. His presence the next year for the Episcopal General Convention underscores the impact of its impending decisions about the church’s stance on the consecration of future gay bishops and the performance of same-sex marriage ceremonies.

While Robinson never intended to be the poster boy for gay bishops, Love Free or Die demonstrates that he has become a beacon of hope for millions. His history-making church provides a model for other communities of faith to treat all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their sexuality.

Award Winner
U.S. Documentary Special Jury Prize for An Agent of Change - B.T.

Sandra Itkoff
sitkoff@earthlink.net
Reveal Productions
Los Angeles, CAUnited States
www.lovefreeordiemovie.com Facebook

Macky Alston’s award‐winning documentary films include Hard Road Home (2007), The Killer Within (2006), Questioning Faith (2002), and Family Name, which won the Freedom of Expression Award at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival and aired on P.O.V. on PBS. Most recently, Alston executive-produced Off and Running (2009), which won the WGA Documentary Screenplay Award at the Silverdocs documentary film festival. His films have earned a Gotham Open Palm Award and three Emmy nominations. Alston also serves as director of media at Auburn Theological Seminary.

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