WATCH TRAILER

Sin by Silence

A film by Olivia Klaus

US | 2009 | 49 minutes | Color | DVD | Order No. O9978 |

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SYNOPSIS

From behind prison walls, a group of extraordinary women are shattering misconceptions of domestic violence. An important film that profiles Convicted Women Against Abuse (CWAA), the US prison system’s first inmate initiated group and led by women, SIN BY SILENCE is an essential resource featuring more than two hours of bonus materials, including interviews with experts on abusive relationships, law enforcement leaders and leaders in faith-based communities about domestic violence, and more.

Created by Brenda Clubine in 1989, CWAA has changed laws for battered women, raised awareness for those on the outside, and educated a system that does not fully comprehend the complexities of domestic abuse. Like many CWAA members, Brenda’s years of inflicted abuse were never fully revealed. But because of CWAA’s work and advocacy, new laws were enacted that now allow incarcerated survivors to challenge their original conviction. With unprecedented access inside the California Institution for Women, this emotionally packed documentary tells the stories of courageous women who have learned from their past, are changing their future, and teaching us how domestic violence affects each and every person.

PRESS

“Shows that intimate violence can happen to anyone—these women are every woman.”

Dr. Elizabeth Dermody Leonard Author, “Convicted Survivors: The Imprisonment of Battered Women Who Kill”

“Not only raises awareness…but offers hope to every survivor who views it. We were in tears.”

Linda Dooley Johanek Executive Dir., Domestic Violence Center

“A film that touches the soul of any human concerned with justice and fair treatment…. [A] cry for social action.”

Alyce LaViolette Founder, Alternatives to Violence

“Brenda Clubine[’s]… personal story of loss, suffering, betrayal and courage could inspire a season of movies on Lifetime.”

Cleveland Free Times

“The women of SIN BY SILENCE eloquently speak about why they couldn’t get away from their violent partner and the devastating psychological effects of battering.”

Nancy Kaser-Boyd, PhD Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

“Sparks important conversations and squashes that voice in your head that tells you nothing like this could ever happen to you.”

FilmArcade.net

“Offering a powerful look at a controversial topic, this is highly recommended.”

K. Fennessy Video Librarian

“…disrupts conventional assumptions about victimization and empowerment to provide an alternative perspective for courses on feminist activism.”

Wendy Kozol Films for the Feminist Classroom

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Sacramento Film and Music Festival, Audience Award for Best Documentary
  • Winner of the 2011 ALA “Notable Video for Adults”
  • Cable Fax Award, Best Show or Series - Public Affairs
  • The Mary Byron Project, Celebrating Solutions Award
  • Women of Color Film Festival
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
  • Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
  • United Nations Association Film Festival
  • Female Eye Film Festival
  • Starz Denver International Film Festival
  • Femmes en Resistance

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Olivia Klaus

Olivia Klaus is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and creative director who believes in the power of storytelling to shape culture and change laws. Her films and digital campaigns have reached millions worldwide, streamed on global platforms, featured in books, and permanently preserved in national archives.

Olivia’s directorial debut, Sin by Silence (2009), won widespread acclaim and captured a broadcast audience of millions on Investigation Discovery. The film went on to catalyze real-world justice by exposing the systemic failures facing incarcerated domestic violence survivors. The documentary mobilized a historic legislative movement in California, ultimately paving new paths to freedom for nearly 7,000 women.

She followed this success by securing an exclusive, highly sought-after narrative for Life After Manson (2014), which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was showcased on the prestigious New York Times Op-Docs series. Beyond her own directorial projects, Olivia is a sought-after creative partner and consultant within the independent film community, lending her vision to high-impact projects like the Netflix Original Lessons from a School Shooting and the Sundance-selected documentaries Newtown and Us Kids.

Bridging the screen with the digital landscape, Olivia is currently the Creative Director of Orange Static, a premier boutique agency that designs the digital presence for major releases from National Geographic, Netflix, Amazon Studios, and AMC Networks, among others. Highlighting her lasting legacy on the industry, Orange Static’s work was recently selected for permanent preservation in the Library of Congress motion picture archives, cementing these digital campaigns as a significant piece of modern film history.

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