Watch the Trailer
Directed by Crystal Rae. Produced by Crystal Rae & JC Jackson. A film by Aichon Media.
It started with a book.
Elijah Broke the Gate is a collection of performance pieces about child loss, written by multiple authors, each carrying their own story of grief, love, and what it means to keep living. What poured onto those pages wasn't just one mother's pain. It was a chorus. A gate that, once broken open, could never be closed.
"She didn't have to hold him to love him."Making Elijah
The documentary goes even deeper.
Making Elijah follows the journey of bringing the book to life and expands beyond the page. Real families sit down and share their own stories of child loss in raw, honest interviews about the grief no one prepares you for and the unexpected places they found joy again. You see how people walked through it, and how they found the other side.
Then the stories came to life.
Professional actors step into the performance pieces written by the book's authors, bringing each writer's words off the page and onto the screen. What makes Making Elijah different is this: it weaves real interviews with dramatic performances, so you're hearing families share their truth one moment, and watching actors embody those stories the next. It's something you feel in your body, not just hear with your ears.
"Rather than offering easy answers, Making Elijah sits in the truth of loss and recovery."
And now it's yours.
This film is for every parent who has walked through that fire. It is for every friend who didn't know what to say. It is for every community that wants to understand. Making Elijah shows that joy and grief can live in the same room, and that none of us have to walk through this alone.
Behind the Scenes
Making the Film
The Producers
The Women Behind the Film
Crystal Rae
Director & Co-Producer
Award-winning Houston playwright, performer, and founder of Crystal Rae Productions. Crystal tells Sunday school stories from an adult lens for a post-modern audience, centering faith, culture, and history in everything she creates.
Crystal Rae Productions →JC Jackson
Author & Co-Producer
Author of Elijah Broke the Gate, clinical herbalist, and founder of the Elijah Broke the Gate Apothecary Division. The book, a collection of performance pieces about child loss by multiple writers, is the foundation this documentary stands on.
Elijah Broke the Gate →Say Their Name
A living memorial for every child loved and lost.
Elijah
"The gate he broke open will never close."
Your Child's Name
"Submit their name to this wall."
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Memorial wall opening soon. Every name is held with reverence.
Support the Journey
If this film moved you, you can help ensure other families don't walk this road alone. Your support helps bring Making Elijah to churches, grief support groups, hospitals, and communities across the country.
GiveElijah Broke the Gate Apothecary Division
Host a Screening
Bring Making Elijah to your community. We provide everything you need to host a meaningful screening and conversation.
- Churches
- Grief Support Groups
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Community Centers
Press & Festivals
On the Festival Circuit
About the Film
Title: Making Elijah
Genre: Documentary
Director: Crystal Rae
Producers: Crystal Rae & JC Jackson
Production: Aichon Media
Year: 2026
Press Contact
For press inquiries, screening requests, and interview opportunities:
Email: [email protected]
You Are Not Alone
Grief Resources
If this film touched something in you, these organizations can help. Whether you are a grieving parent, a friend who wants to show up better, or a community seeking understanding.
Elijah Broke the Gate
The book, the apothecary, and the community this documentary stands on. Start here.
Visit → JC's InterviewSisters in Loss
A community of Black women replacing silence with storytelling around pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility. Founded by Erica M. Freeman. Weekly grief support groups, podcast, and doula services.
Visit →Listen to the Elijah Broke the Gate interview: Episode 237
JC's ExperienceNo Longer Bound Ministry
A Christian healing ministry for women and men who have experienced abortion or miscarriage. Offers a 14-week Bible study and the Rachel's Vineyard weekend healing retreat led by pastors, clinicians, and counselors.
Visit →M.E.N.D.
Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death. A Christian nonprofit reaching out to families who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or early infant death. Free support groups, bi-monthly magazines, and remembrance ceremonies. Founded in 1996.
Visit →Return to Zero: H.O.P.E.
Dedicated BIPOC support for families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. A 6-week support group for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, plus webinars, mental health referrals, and an online community.
Visit →SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support
National support groups and resources for families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.
Visit →The Compassionate Friends
Nationwide support for families grieving the death of a child at any age, with local chapters and online groups.
Visit →Miss Foundation
Counseling, community, and advocacy for families experiencing the death of a child.
Visit →If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).