'For Grace' was released globally on Netflix in 2016.
It premiered worldwide at South by Southwest
and internationally at Hot Docs.

“Powerful”
Andy Lynes
“Impressively slick and surprisingly
captivating”
Joe Leydon
“A full meal
of a documentary”
Linda Barnard

A film about food, family, and sacrifice.

The kitchen became Curtis Duffy's refuge after an unimaginable tragedy.

Now as one of the country's most renowned chefs, he's building his dream restaurant—but at another point of personal crisis.
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.
"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

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.”
Marcus Leshock, WGN-TV
“An elegant, moving film about the healing power of art, in this case, art you can eat.”
Peter Sagal, NPR Host, "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!"

🏆 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
“[For Grace] is brilliant. Really well-made, truly honest, authentic.”
Paul Foster, Michelin-star chef, Chef/Owner of Salt
"Trust us—you need to add this poignant, powerful documentary to your watch list.
Megan Beauchamp, MyDomaine
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.”
Jeff Ruby, Chicago magazine

📽 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.