Ilene Kahn Power’s “An Amish Sin” won Best Picture for Television at the 2023 LEO Awards as well as Best Cinematography by Thomas Burstyn. The film was selected as a Humanitas finalist.

An Amish Sin is produced for Lifetime by Amish Productions, Inc. in association with the Johnson Production Group. Ilene Kahn Power (Gone Mom: The Disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, Gia starring Angelina Jolie for HBO, Stalin for HBO which won the Emmy for Outstanding Made For Television Movie, Roswell for Showtime, Who Is Clark Rockefeller, Traffic the miniseries, Elvis, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and many others, all of which were nominated for Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards) is Executive Producer. An Amish Sin was directed by Michael Nankin and written by Barbara Nance and Michael Nankin. 

The Amish world has always fascinated outsiders with its insular community and 18th century lifestyle that shuns the temptations of modernity. All is not as wholesome as it seems. Inspired by true stories, Amish Sin follows Rachel (Dylan Ratzlaff), an Amish teen who refuses to obey her parent’s command that she marry the man who abused her as a child. When she attempts to run away, she is caught and sent to a “rehab” for Amish girls who don’t follow the rules. Managing to escape from the facility, she makes her way to a neighboring city where she has to learn to live – and find her place — in our world. The film also stars Kellie Martin as Rachel’s mother Sara and Rukiya Bernard as Grace, who befriends Rachel when she leaves the Amish community.

Beyond The Headlines: An Amish Sin talks to real women who have left the Amish sect, and discusses the challenges they faced as part of the community, how they got out, and what their lives are like today. We also have consulted an expert on the roles of women in the Amish community, both past and present.