[2][3] Lee has created The Philomena Project in order to raise awareness about adoption laws and find ways to improve them.
After forcing Philomena to sign the adoption papers, the nuns involved refused to disclose any details regarding her son’s fate, except that he was taken to the United States.
Sixsmith and Philomena eventually came to learn that Michael died (of AIDS) in 1995, and that for years he had tried, without success, to find his birth mother.
Before his death he arranged to be buried at the Sean Ross Abbey, in the hope that his mother might someday find his grave, which she eventually did.
The film was distributed by The Weinstein Company in November 2013 and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score.