This November, our film Radical Grace had its first theatrical run at The Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. What a feeling to see Radical Grace in one place for a week — and in our hometown nonetheless! We’re really proud of the film, not only because Director Rebecca Parrish has produced an amazing story and a well-crafted doc, but because of the work that it’s doing in the world. As Sister Chris Schenk, one of the nuns featured in the film, wrote, “[Parrish’s] creative vision resulted in a film that inspires even as it makes people laugh -- and then it makes them think.” 

The Siskel run was special because it allowed us to curate a series of discussion panels following each screening of the film on topics like “Empowering Women in Faith Communities,” “Christian and Islamic Feminisms,” and “Faith Organizing for Social Justice”. 

The panels were a testament to the diversity of organizations and activists that can unite around the issues of women’s empowerment and reform in the Catholic Church and other faith communities. For us, an important takeaway from the success of the panels was that one film can provide a meeting point for these folks, and forge tangible new activist networks.

The screenings fostered a safe space for the panel discussions that followed, and audience participation was high. We not only sold out three shows — the lively conversations that followed led many audience members to come and ask us about hosting their own community screenings in churches, schools, book clubs, and more. Imagine how that’s generating even further engagement with issues of faith, feminism, and social justice out in the world. 

One audience member said, “The nuns and their fight for women in the Church was really inspiring, especially as I work with women [homeless mothers] who are trying to empower themselves and find their spirituality.” We think this quote speaks for itself about the power one little doc can have in the world.

Here are some of our favorite quotes from the run:

“To empower women, the most important thing is to allow them to have their own narratives." — Nadiah Mohajir, HEART Women & Girls

"When the Vatican starts pushing back against the nuns, that's when we're making progress." — Sister Chris Schenk, FutureChurch

"When God is male, then male is God." — Jean Peterman, National Organization for Women

"We're all interconnected, needing practices for centering ourselves. I need an agnostic, postmodern spiritual director!" — Rebecca Parrish, Director of Radical Grace

"Social justice is a call, connected to why God put us on this earth." — Rudy Lopez, Interfaith Workers Justice

"They like to say the Church will never change. Well, it has. It always has." — Ryan Hoffman, Call To Action.

"Even if the world is being destroyed, if you have a seed in your pocket, you should go ahead and plant it." — Hind Makki, Side Entrance

"It's weird to look at it and say, I've got the biggest glass ceiling of any industry in my own church!" — Betsy Hoover, 270 Strategies

"Who passes on the faith in the family? It's women. Most people won't stay in a place that doesn't treat them equally." — Sister Chris Schenk, FutureChurch

"We're working to try and reclaim that sacred power to say, 'No, God created all of us. All of us are good." — Nicole Soleto, Call to Action

Did you catch one of the panels at the Siskel? Share your favorite moments with us in the comments section below!