'For Grace' was released globally on Netflix in 2016.
It premiered worldwide at South by Southwest
and internationally at Hot Docs.
“Powerful”
“Impressively slick and surprisingly
captivating”
captivating”
“A full meal
of a documentary”
of a documentary”
Curtis Duffy, one of the country's most renowned chefs, is building his dream restaurant at the worst time of his personal life.
Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the Michelin Guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace to become the best in the country. But his laser focus at his cooking career cost Duffy his marriage and two young daughters.
Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the Michelin Guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace to become the best in the country. But his laser focus at his cooking career cost Duffy his marriage and two young daughters.
"For Grace" is the revealing feature-length documentary by filmmakers Kevin Pang and Mark Helenowski. The film follows the building of Grace from concrete box to its opening night, showing as few films have before the exacting standards required in luxury dining.
It also revisits Duffy's turbulent childhood: How a middle school home economics teacher recognized cooking talent in a troubled teenager, how an unimaginable tragedy made Duffy seek refuge in the kitchen, and how cooking ultimately exacted a price.
A story about food, family, balance and sacrifice.
—
Former Chicago Tribune dining reporter/filmmaker Kevin Pang and filmmaker Mark Helenowski spent four years filming, editing and producing their debut documentary. Featuring music by Chicago band The Hudson Branch.
World Premiere: South by Southwest
International Premiere: Hot Docs (Toronto)
Release: 2016 on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more
It also revisits Duffy's turbulent childhood: How a middle school home economics teacher recognized cooking talent in a troubled teenager, how an unimaginable tragedy made Duffy seek refuge in the kitchen, and how cooking ultimately exacted a price.
A story about food, family, balance and sacrifice.
—
Former Chicago Tribune dining reporter/filmmaker Kevin Pang and filmmaker Mark Helenowski spent four years filming, editing and producing their debut documentary. Featuring music by Chicago band The Hudson Branch.
World Premiere: South by Southwest
International Premiere: Hot Docs (Toronto)
Release: 2016 on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and more
Watch the film
Contact the filmmakers to organize a screening:
forgracefilm [at] gmail [dot] com
“One of the best movies about the restaurant industry I've seen ... I can't stop thinking about it.”
“An elegant, moving film about the healing power of art, in this case, art you can eat.”
🏆 Awards & Recognition
Finalist: Best Documentary, James Beard Awards
Winner: Best Feature, Midwest Independent Film Festival
Winner: Best Director, Midwest Independent Film Festival
Winner: Best Documentary, Niagara Integrated Film Festival
Winner: Best Documentary, Indy Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Hot Docs
Winner: Best of Fest, Chicago International Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Nashville Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Nominated: Best Documentary - Grand Jury, Chicago International Film Festival
Nominated: Best Documentary - Grand Jury, Nashville Film Festival
Nominated: Best Editing, Midwest Independent Film Festival
Winner: Best Feature, Midwest Independent Film Festival
Winner: Best Director, Midwest Independent Film Festival
Winner: Best Documentary, Niagara Integrated Film Festival
Winner: Best Documentary, Indy Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Hot Docs
Winner: Best of Fest, Chicago International Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Nashville Film Festival
Winner: Best of Fest, Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
Nominated: Best Documentary - Grand Jury, Chicago International Film Festival
Nominated: Best Documentary - Grand Jury, Nashville Film Festival
Nominated: Best Editing, Midwest Independent Film Festival
“[For Grace] is brilliant. Really well-made, truly honest, authentic.”
"Trust us—you need to add this poignant, powerful documentary to your watch list.
📰 Press Coverage
- The 13 Breakout Movies at the SXSW Film Festival / Variety
- SXSW Film Review: 'For Grace' / Variety
- The 18 Best Food Documentaries of All Time / The Manual
- Food Films And Documentaries To Binge Watch Under Quarantine / Michelin Guide
- The Best Documentaries on Netflix Right Now / Paste Magazine
- We Asked 11 Chefs to Weigh in on the Best Food Documentaries Yet / MyDomaine
- ‘The Nightcap’ Podcast Film Club Selection
- These Tantalizing, Food-Centric Netflix Movies Will Wake Up Your Tastebuds / Bustle
- SXSW Film Review: 'For Grace' Serves Up A Culinary Treat That Goes Beyond The Stove / Indiewire
- For Grace: Portrait of a Striving Chef with a Shocking Past / The Seattle Times
- Director/Food Writer Kevin Pang talks about his SIFF doc For Grace / The Stranger
- What To See At Hot Docs 2015 / Toronto Star
- Hot Docs '15: Secret ingredient adds spice to "For Grace" / Real Screen
- Hot Docs Film Review: 'For Grace' / Toronto Film Scene
- One More Chance to Catch the Fantastic Chef Documentary 'For Grace' / Nashville Scene
- Meet the Filmmakers from 'For Grace' / Indiewire
- Doc about Chicago chef Curtis Duffy 'For Grace' headed to SXSW / Chicago Tribune
- Indiewire: Exclusive Clip from 'For Grace'
- SXSW Filmmakers in Focus "Turning a Narrative Story into a Documentary" / Nieman Storyboard
- "Go Fork Yourself" Podcast / Andrew Zimmern
- WGN Radio Interview / Rick Kogan
- WBEZ Radio Interview / Tony Sarabia
Show more press coverage ⬇
Watch the film
For Grace: Music from the Documentary, featuring music by The Hudson Branch, is available for purchase from Bandcamp.
“'For Grace' is sweet and brutal and smart and beautiful. If ever a movie made you root for a chef, a restaurant, and a human being, this is the one — but the film manages that trick without a single false step or maudlin frame. Every emotion it provokes, from devastating sadness to supreme euphoria, is earned the old-fashioned way: through great storytelling.”
📽 Select Screening History
- South by Southwest
- Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival
- Nashville Film FestivalHot Docs (Toronto)
- Bentonville Film Festival
- Seattle International Film Festival
- Documentary Edge (New Zealand)
- SF DocFest (San Francisco)
- Best of Hot Docs (Vancouver)
- Niagara Integrated Film Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake/St. Catharines, Ontario)
- Indy Film Fest (Indianapolis)
- Melbourne International Film Festival
- Destiny City Film Festival (Tacoma, WA)
- Long Beach International Film Festival (Rockville Centre, NY)
- Edmonton International Film Festival
- Doctober (Bellingham, WA)
- Special Presentation: Michelin North American Headquarters
- Chicago International Film Festival
- Devour! The Food Film Fest (Wolfville, NS, Canada)
- Napa Valley Film Festival
- Grand River Film Festival (Cambridge, ON, Canada)
- Special Presentation: Cards Against Humanity
- DOC NYC
- Special Presentation: Columbus, Ohio Premiere
- Icicle Creek Documentary Series (Leavenworth, WA)
- Midwest Independent Film Festival (Chicago)
- Apple Store: Meet the Filmmakers Event (Non-screening in Chicago)
- Hong Kong Culinary Film Festival (Hong Kong)
- Foodable.io
- Mendocino Film Festival
- Lucy Daniels Center (Raleigh, NC)
- Coronado Island Film Festival
- Tallgrass Film Festival (Wichita, KS)
While in production on the documentary, Kevin Pang wrote His Saving Grace, a profile of Curtis Duffy in the Chicago Tribune.
The story was anthologized in the 2013 edition of the Best Food Writing series.
The story was anthologized in the 2013 edition of the Best Food Writing series.
