Director: Jesse Moss
Year: 2014
Running Time: 100 minutes
Synopsis
In the tiny town of Williston, North Dakota tens of thousands of unemployed hopefuls show up with dreams of honest work and a big paycheck when hydraulic fracturing in that region unlocks a vast oil field in the nearby Bakken shale. Upon arrival, however, busloads of newcomers step into the sad reality of slim work prospects and nowhere to sleep – the town lacks the infrastructure to house even those who do find gainful employment. Over at Concordia Lutheran Church, Pastor Jay Reinke is Hell-bent on delivering the migrants some dignity. Night after night he converts his church into a makeshift dorm and counseling center, opening the church’s doors to allow the “Overnighters” – as he calls them — to stay for a night, a week or sometimes even longer, sleeping on the floor, in the pews, and in their cars in the Church parking lot. As broken men continue to arrive in droves, the congregants sling criticism, neighbors get suspicious, and the City Council threatens an ordinance to shut the Overnighter’s program down. When the Williston Herald gets wind that sex offenders are among Reinke’s church guests, and a mounting controversy peaks within the clergyman’s personal life, even the Pastor’s supernatural determination and heartfelt quest for humanity can’t stop things from spiraling enormously out of control.
Awards
Oscar Shortlist – Best Feature Documentary
Directors Guild of America – Nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary 2014
Sundance Film Festival – Special Jury Prize for Intuitive Filmmaking
2 Cinema Eye Nominations: Best Documentary Feature and Best Direction
San Francisco Intl. Film Festival – Golden Gate Award for Best Documentary Feature
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival – Inspiration Award
Miami International Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize
Philadelphia Film Festival – Best Documentary Feature
National Society of Film Critics – (3rd Place) Best Documentary
Toronto Film Critics Association – Best Documentary
Allan King Documentary Award Recipient
Denver Film Critics Society – Best Documentary
Vancouver Film Critics Circle – Best Documentary