Kristine Stolakis is a documentary film director who has dedicated her career to tackling complex issues such as politics, prejudice, and power. Her debut feature film, PRAY AWAY, delves into the history and ongoing impact of the "pray the gay away" or ex-gay movement, and is a production of Multitude Films.
PRAY AWAY has received support from a variety of organizations, including the Catapult Film Fund, Tribeca Film Institute, Hartley Film Foundation, Chicken and Egg Pictures, and SFFilm. This is not Kristine's first foray into documentary filmmaking, however. Her directorial debut, THE TYPIST, premiered at Hot Docs in 2015 and tells the previously untold story of a closeted Korean War veteran who was tasked with writing the military's dishonorable discharges of outed LGBTQ service members.
THE TYPIST was released by KQED and went on to become a Vimeo Staff Pick. Another notable documentary directed by Kristine is WHERE WE STAND, which chronicles the efforts of a group of Mormon women fighting for equal rights within their church. WHERE WE STAND premiered at DOC NYC in 2015 and was released by The Atlantic, earning a nomination for a Student BAFTA.
In addition to her work as a director, Kristine has also produced ATTLA, a co-production of ITVS and Vision Maker Media that premiered on Independent Lens in 2019. Kristine's unique approach to filmmaking is informed by her background in anthropology, journalism, politics, and community art. She holds an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University, where she also lectures, as well as a BA in Cultural Anthropology from New York University.
Kristine has also received further training at UC Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program. Born in North Carolina and raised in central New York, Kristine is proud to call herself a native of the region. She is the founder of Lamplighter Films, and continues to produce and direct documentaries that explore the complexities of politics, prejudice, and power.
