"True Believer" Pre-Election Screening!
“How can I watch your film?”
Dear True Believer Community,
Whether we met at our premiere in Cleveland, at a SoCal church screening, or virtually as part of Homebrewed Christianity’s “Faith & Politics” course, I’m so glad you’re here. Especially for those who’ve been asking how to view and share True Believer, you have one more opportunity to watch this year! You can register HERE for week-long virtual access to the film beginning Tuesday, Oct. 29th. After the screening, I will be joined by Diana Butler Bass, Lisa Sharon Harper, sex educator and “Purity Culture Dropout” creator Erica Smith, and Faith Choice Ohio ED Elaina Ramsey to discuss the stakes of the election and reproductive justice.
For those of you that have seen True Believer, I hope you’ll agree that unlike other documentary films that exploit or mock evangelicals, True Believer does not. In fact, I set out to make True Believer with my evangelical loved ones–and my younger evangelical self–in mind, hoping to break through the conspiratorial chaos and dogmatic noise to reach people I love. If you find yourself in a similar position, in relationship with folks who are victims to the MAGA, right-winged, Christian Nationalist cult, or even just well-intentioned, single-issue (“pro-life”) voters, I hope you’ll consider inviting them to our event.
When I set out to make True Believer almost 10 years ago, I was still attending an Evangelical church. I was in pre-marital counseling with an evangelical pastor–still steeped in purity culture gender norms–and I was desperate to remain within the spiritual community that raised me, despite the swelling chasm between us. I didn’t have “deconstruction” language or framing for my experience, nor did I know that others were asking the same questions I was. I only knew that my questions weren’t being sufficiently answered by the church, and that I couldn’t remain in spaces that weren’t affirming of my queer loved ones. While spending a decade making a documentary film isn’t a standard or even reasonable response to spiritual trauma, True Believer is the film and guide I wish I had had all those years ago.
I look forward to sharing more about this process with you, and I hope to see you on the 29th. Thank you for being part of the True Believer community.
Kristen Irving
Register now to view True Believer!
Donate to our Impact Campaign: make a tax deductible donation to help us bring the film to churches and communities across the US!
Contact us: truebelieverfilm@gmail.com
We can’t find the post-screening panel?