Press – Kristine Stolakis

Awards Watch Interview: ‘Pray Away’ director Kristine Stolakis on her film’s personal inspiration and what “ex-gay” conversion therapy looks like today

There are times when a documentary film opens the door to an important conversation and leaves you breathless with the weight of what it depicts. And there are times when a documentary pushes the filmmaking form in new directions, leaving a lasting impression of innovation. With Pray Away, a thorough examination of the Christian-led conversion therapy and “ex-gay” movement, director Kristine Stolakis does both, presenting a film that will long be remembered for both form and content.

The Guardian ‘It doesn’t leave you’: the toxic toll of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy

USA Today ‘Pray Away’ details trauma of LGBTQ conversion therapy – and new leaders are still emerging

NBC News ‘Netflix’s ‘Pray Away’ looks behind the curtain of the ‘ex-gay’ movement

The Daily Beast What It’s Like to Survive Gay Conversion Therapy

Salon “Pray Away” director on conversion therapy: “It’s a movement of hurt people, hurting other people”

Refinery29 Conversion Therapy Hurts People. So Why Is It Still Around?

POV Magazine Pray Away Review: The Ex-Ex-Gays Denounce Conversion Therapy

Entertainment Tonight ‘Pray Away’ Director Talks Pulling Back the Curtain on Conversion Therapy in Netflix Doc

San Francisco Chronicle Pray Away confronts the painful legacy of gay conversion therapy

“Harrowing”

The Advocate Pray Away Goes Deep Into the ‘Ex-Gay’ Movement That Began in the ’70s

Rolling Stone Netflix Film Pray Away Documents Abuses by Gay Conversion Therapy

Them. New Netflix Doc Pray Away Exposes the Sham of Conversion Therapy

Variety Gay Conversion Therapy Doc ‘Pray Away’ Releases Emotional Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

ABC News Creators of Netflix documentary PRAY AWAY talk about importance of the film

Director Kristine Stolakis and Producer Jessica Devaney join ABC News Live during Pride month to discuss Pray Away, which launches on Netflix in August.

Variety PRAY AWAY to debut on Netflix

“The film, from executive producers Jason Blum and Ryan Murphy, will debut on the streaming service in August. Prior to its arrival on Netflix, “Pray Away” will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 16.”

CBS News 2021 Tribeca Festival: More highlights you can stream at home

Indiewire PRAY AWAY to premiere at 2021 Tribeca Film Festival

“After having their planned Tribeca 2020 premieres canceled, the feature films of the 2020 festival have been invited back for long awaited in-person premieres in 2021.”

DOC NYC Kristine Stolakis included in third annual “40 Under 40” list

The list from DOC NYC, co-presented by HBO Documentary Films and Topic Studios, celebrates young talent in the documentary field.

The Hollywood Reporter PRAY AWAY selected for 2020 Telluride Film Festival

“[B]ecause our lineup is so small, it means that there’s been a great amount of care,” Telluride’s Julie Huntsinger says. “This year, this is what we think you should look at.”

The Hollywood Reporter Critics’ Picks: 10 Highlights From SXSW and Tribeca Online

“A gripping documentary… The film is measured yet forceful, never strident in making its point… It’s important to note that at no time does the film mock anyone’s religious beliefs, though it unequivocally exposes hypocrisies… It’s to Stolakis’ credit that she remains nonjudgmental.”

The Hollywood Reporter Pray Away: Film Review | Tribeca 2020

“Gripping…[t]he compassionate insight into people’s lives spent carrying shame and humiliation, hurting themselves and others, is powerful stuff.”

Awards Circuit Tribeca Film Review: Pray Away Will Break Your Heart

“Essential viewing… Among the best things that Tribeca 2020 has to offer. Director Kristine Stolakis doesn’t pull any punches, but this is never exploitative, either… Stolakis uses the testimony of survivors to demonstrate the damage that conversion therapy can do, resulting in something impossible not to be moved by…Pray Away may well break your heart.”

Awards Watch Pray Away cements itself as a definitive documentary on conversion therapy

“Pray Away cements itself as a definitive documentary on conversion therapy that will be an exemplary text for years to come.”

The Playlist Pray Away: Kristine Stolakis’ Doc Is One Of The Most Important Films Of The Year

“The documentary scene has yet to contribute a triumphant piece of nonfictional filmmaking to the discussion [on conversion therapy]. But now, the wait is over, because Kristine Stolakis’ latest project Pray Away is a profoundly moving, heartbreaking examination of the fallout associated with conversion therapy—and it might be the must-watch movie of the year.”

Film Threat Pray Away Film Review: 9 out of 10

“Pray Away invites the viewer into a world that many would like to think doesn’t exist much anymore, but is in fact, quite prevalent. As Bussee states at the end of the film, “As long as homophobia exists in this world, some version of Exodus will emerge.”

Alliance of Women Film Journalists Pray Away (Tribeca Film Festival 2020) Review

“Pray Away takes its evisceration of the belief that sexual orientation and gender identity are sicknesses to be cured, sins to be remedied and crimes to be punished to the next potent and moving level.”

Queerty Kristine Stolakis cracks the secrets of the ex-gay movement in Pray Away [Press Clip]

“We were not prepared for the gut-punch power of Pray Away, or for the questions it raises.”

Geeks Out Tribeca Film Festival 2020 Review: Pray Away

“A significant and illuminating piece of history and activism.”

Daily Beast An Inside Look at America’s Insidious Christian ‘Ex-Gay’ Movement

“Pray Away deftly explains the continued and renewed existence of the “ex-gay” movement.”

The Queer Review Film Review: Pray Away 4.5/5 Stars

Women and Hollywood Tribeca 2020 Women Directors: Meet Kristine Stolakis – “Pray Away”

Filmmaker Magazine Sheltering in Place: The Independent Film Community Faces the Coronavirus Shutdown

Deadline PRAY AWAY to world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca Film Institute PRAY AWAY invited to the Tribeca/A&E Storylab

Chicken and Egg Pictures Kristine selected for Chicken and Egg’s 2019 (Egg)celerator Lab