2011 was a year of great progress for Band of Sisters

Here are some of the highlights:

Bernadine Colish, a New York-based editor, began work on Band of Sisters in early summer. Bernadine is the editor of Herb and Dorothy (2008), which won the Audience Award at Silverdocs, and Body of War (2007), which was named Best Documentary by the National Board of Review.

A work-in-progress screening took place on November 5th at the Center for History Museum in South Bend, Indiana. The well-received screening was followed by a panel discussion with Mary Fishman, Producer/Director, and four sisters featured in the film. The event was planned to coincide with the Women & Spirit traveling exhibit at the Museum, which chronicles the history of Catholic sisters in America.

Several grants and major contributions by women religious congregations and others were awarded to help pay for editing and other expenses. We greatly appreciate the assistance of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe IHM's); the Sisters of Mercy, West Midwest Community; the Sisters of Providence; the Adrian Dominican Sisters; the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine; the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; and the Elephants in the Living Room.

Six fundraising parties were organized by friends and supporters of Band of Sisters in 2011, drawing hundreds of people and raising thousands of dollars. Between the parties and a month-long email fundraising campaign (for which an anonymous donor gave a $10,000 matching challenge grant), over $40,000 was raised.

Film composer Miriam Cutler of Los Angeles www.miriamcutler.com   began working near the end of 2011 on an original musical score for Band of Sisters. Miriam recently produced and scored One Lucky Elephant (2011), named one of the best documentaries of the year by Roger Ebert.