ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
SANCTUARY is a feature-length documentary that exposes the plight of LGBTQIA+ individuals within modern faith systems—told through the eyes of a visionary architect whose passion project becomes a lifeline.

SYNOPSIS
SANCTUARY follows architect Doug Staker’s art installation, Sanctuary, as it travels to Pride celebrations across the United States during the tense political climate of 2024. Inspired by a reflective moment after his brother revealed the difficulty of feeling shunned by his Mormon community after coming out as gay, Doug’s creative endeavor posits that sanctuary should be attainable for every human by nature of their humanity.

Alongside Doug’s journey, LGBTQIA+ individuals across six states who have experienced tension at the intersection of their faith communities and identity share how sanctuary is being experienced across a landscape of religious and spiritual traditions, both in and outside “church.” As doctrine collides with identity, those who witness Doug’s installation experience how a sacred space rises from rejection, offering refuge and hope.

Doug’s passion project explores the essence of sacred space by recreating it from scratch in unexpected public settings. Designed with parametric modeling, yet built from recycled materials by a dedicated team of volunteers, the structure embodies fragility, accessibility, and transformation. Participants write messages of hope, joy, and grief directly onto the surfaces, infusing the space with community spirit.

The conversation in SANCTUARY also weaves in interviews with scholars and liturgical consultants from a variety of faith backgrounds to share how they are transforming institutions and the cultural pulse to encourage congregations to welcome the marginalized and re-imagine what it means to belong. Along the way, the question arises: as religious buildings undergo physical renovation, what can be done to make them safer on the inside?

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Autumn McAlpin, Vienna Boyes
PRODUCER Autumn McAlpin
CO-PRODUCER Darice Auston

WEBSITE sanctuarydoc.com

ID: 769