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American Orthodox

Unearth the spiritual heritage of America in American Orthodox. Travel to California’s coastal Fort Ross, where an icon mysteriously washed ashore, sparking a legacy of faith. Encounter St. Peter the Aleut, a Native American saint who courageously planted the seeds of Orthodoxy and gave his life as a martyr. Through the lives of early saints, this evocative series reveals the hidden stories and sacred connections that continue to shape America’s spiritual landscape.

  • Robert John Hammond
    Director
  • Robert John Hammond
    Writer
  • Robert John Hammond
    Producer
  • Silas Karbo
    Director of Photography/Cinematographer
    Sacred Alaska
  • Silas Karbo
    Editor
    Sacred Alaska
  • Robin Innokentia Wellman
    Key Cast
    "herself"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    50 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    3840 x 2160
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Palm Springs International Screenplay and Trailer Contest

    Finalist
  • Christian Online Film Festival

    United States
    Best Documentary
  • Indie Short Fest
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Best Director (Male)
  • IndieX Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Outstanding Achievement Award - Documentary Short
  • Chameleon Film Festival
    Naples
    Italy
    Winner Best Documentary
  • Hollywood International Indie Film & Screenplay Awards
    Hollywood
    United States
    Winner Best Trailer
  • Christian Film Festival
    Newport News
    United States
    Winner Best Documentary
  • MosFestFilm Festival
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    September 20, 2025
    Semi-Finalist
Director Biography - Robert John Hammond

Robert John Hammond is an award-winning screenwriter, author, and producer whose projects include the documentary American Orthodox based on his book American Orthodox: Finding the Ancient Faith in the Modern World and the Cecil B. DeMille biopic based on his novel C.B. DeMille: The Man Who Invented Hollywood. He also provides literary, film and creative consulting through LightJourney Consulting, LLC.

Hammond holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing and has taught screenwriting and creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University and Brandman University (division of Chapman). He has also taught film history as a visiting lecturer at Mills College and University of Maryland.

In 2010 Hammond worked on 10 different films including One Day on Earth, Destiny's Lance, Dryertheque, Clues, Damage, Pool Pirates, and Green Bandits.

Hammond is the author of several bestselling books, including Life After Debt (Career Press), Credit Secrets (Paladin Press), Identity Theft (Career Press), The Light (New Way Press), and American Orthodox: Finding the Ancient Faith in the Modern World (New Way Press). He was also an editor and contributor to the anthology, Roads Less Traveled: Journeys to Orthodoxy (Divine Ascent Press).

Hammond's first film project was Hollywood Shuffle with Director Robert Townsend.

Hammond's script C.B. DeMille won Best Screenplay award at the 2011 Los Angeles New Wave International Film Festival.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

American Orthodox began as a personal journey - one rooted in a search for meaning, beauty, and something enduring in a world that often feels fragmented and fast-moving. I was drawn to the forgotten stories of saints, mystics, and seekers who walked this land before us, not just as historical figures, but as deeply human souls whose struggles and transformations still speak to us today. These are not relics of the past - they are voices echoing in the present, reminding us of what it means to live with purpose, humility, and transcendence.

My approach to storytelling in this film is cinematic, immersive, and experiential. I wanted to capture the mystery and majesty of sacred places in California through sweeping visuals, evocative sound design, and emotionally resonant personal narratives. This is not a film about dogma - it’s a film about wonder, about the universal longing for truth and connection. Whether or not you come from a religious background, American Orthodox invites you to step into a deeper story - one hidden in plain sight - where the sacred meets the everyday, and where ancient faith quietly transforms modern lives.