The Documentarians Exposing Poland’s Catholic Church

Unable to secure financing from Polish media outlets or film studios, the Sekielski brothers got crowdfunding—1.42 million zloty ($367,000) so far—to investigate allegations of abuse and church complicity in covering it all up. The documentary they released this year combines interviews with victims and hidden-camera footage of priests admitting to their crimes. In one scene a priest leads a retreat for children even though he’s been convicted of abusing kids.

Tell No One has been watched more than 23 million times on YouTube (it’s subtitled in English) and was so popular that it was shown on prime-time TV in Poland. Within days of its release, the government announced the harsher prison terms. The episcopate issued an apology that was read aloud during Mass across the country, and some statues of priests accused of child abuse were taken down or covered up. A follow-up film is planned, but no release date has been set.