‘To Bigotry No Sanction’ Wins Award for Excellence!

DDC has received honors by the Religion Communicators Council for our 2022 documentary exploring religious freedom in the United States through the lens of George Washington's 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. The national organization called ‘To Bigotry No Sanction’ “intensely topical” and “creatively told and artistically executed.” The short film was commissioned by George Washington University’s Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom, written and directed by DDC co-founder Jack Gordon, and brought to life through collaboration by our crew in the US, Madagascar, Spain, and Colombia.

The team chose to make the content of the over 200-year-old story immediately relevant to a young audience by examining present-day media representations of antisemitism and bigotry that attacked religious minorities in the United States.

The documentary dismantles the notion that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, and instead explores how a philosophy of pluralism was a fundamental part of our country’s origins (while still being a work in progress). Jack and our DDC team were able to explore an overlooked episode from our country's history, shedding light on the situation of the Jewish community in the early American period and the urgency to welcome people of all religious and cultural backgrounds, especially amidst increasing hostilities today.

The film premiered in DC with a screening and panel discussion at George Washington University in January; and the RCC award followed in April. The award is a great validation of the team's successful work. For Jack, “the project was particularly fulfilling as it provided an opportunity to bring my documentary experience to explore a longstanding personal interest in issues of interreligious dialogue and community building.”

‍In a time when religious freedom and tolerance are increasingly under attack, ‘To Bigotry No Sanction’ serves as a powerful reminder that these essential rights are not guaranteed, but rather something that each generation must actively continue to pursue. The documentary's message is especially important for young adults and college students, who will play a critical role in shaping the future of our country.