Christian film
Encyclopedia
The Christian film industry is an umbrella term for films containing a Christian
-themed message or moral, produced by openly Christian filmmakers to a Christian audience.
"Secular" studio productions of films with strong Christian messages or Biblical stories, like Ben-Hur
, The Ten Commandments
, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
, and The Book of Eli
, are not part of the Christian film industry per se, and operates with larger budgets and is distributed to a worldwide audience.
Films of the Christian film industry are produced by openly Christians in independent companies mainly targeting a Christian audience. This has been on the rise since the success of Sherwood Pictures
' Fireproof
, the highest grossing independent film
of 2008
.
Before the invention of the movie projector
, European audiences gathered in darkened rooms to watch magic lantern presentations. Catholic priest Athanasius Kircher
promoted the magic lantern by publishing the book Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae in 1680. Controversy soon followed as priests and masons used the lanterns "to persuade followers of their ability to control both the forces of darkness and enlightenment" and temperance groups used the lanterns to fight alcoholism. In the 1800s, missionaries such as David Livingston
used the lanterns to present the Gospel in Africa. After movie theaters emerged, magic lanterns lost their popularity and disappeared from the public.
Throughout the late 19th and into the 20th century, there was much dispute among Christians as to "Christian film". Many thought motion picture was creating a graven image
, and shunned having anything to do with the film industry. Through the years, however, many Christians began to utilize motion picture for their own purposes. Herbert Booth
, as part of the Salvation Army
, claimed to be the first user of film for the cause of Christianity, in 1899.
. Christian Cinema operated a movie theater that showed only Christian films, but closed down in the mid 1990s. The growth of Christian film libraries led to the Christian Film Distributors Association (CFDA) being formed in 1974. The CFDA began holding a conference each year for Christian filmmakers and distributors. The Christian Film and Video Association (formerly the Christian Film Distribution Association) gave out Crown Awards for films that "gloried Jesus Christ."
In 1949 Ken Anderson
, editor for a Youth for Christ
magazine, decided to form a small Christian film studio. An old shut-down dancehall was purchased and moved onto some donated land to become the first home for Gospel Films, which grew into the largest Christian film distributor. Seeing the potential of Christian films, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
created World Wide Pictures
as a subsidiary in 1951 to produce and distribute Christian films. Throughout the '50s and '60s Christian films were produced with increasing professionalism and ads for Christian films often appeared in magazines such as Christianity Today
.
opened in movie theaters in 1941, many Christian filmmakers have attempted to pursue theatrical releases. World Wide Pictures was a pioneer in partnering with churches to bring Christian films to the cinema. Gateway Films (now Gateway Films/Vision Video
) was "formed with the express purpose of communicating the Christian Gospel in the secular motion picture theaters" and released The Cross and the Switchblade
in 1972. In 1979, the Jesus
film appeared in theaters across the United States. This film, based on the Gospel of Luke
, was made for $6 million by Campus Crusade for Christ
. Many Christian films have been released to theaters since that time, such as The Omega Code
(1999), Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
(2001), Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
(2002), Time Changer
(2002), The Passion of the Christ
(2004), Facing the Giants
(2006), The Ultimate Gift
(2007), Amazing Grace
(2007), The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
(2008), Fireproof
(2008), The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
(2009), To Save a Life
(2010), Preacher's Kid
(2010), Letters to God
(2010), What If...
(2010), The Grace Card
(2011), Soul Surfer
(2011) and Courageous
(2011).
In 1993, Tom Saab launched the Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival
in Salem, New Hampshire
. Each year this festival is held during Easter
week and draws an audience of thousands to a theater to watch Christian films for free. Saab's organization Christian Film Festivals of America has also presented film festivals in Salinas, California
and Orlando, Florida
. In October 1999, the Voice of Pentecost Church in San Francisco hosted the 1st Annual WYSIWYG Film Festival
. Other Christian film festivals include San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
, 168 Hour Film Project
, Gospel Film Festival, Greater Boston Christian Film Festival, the Redemptive Film Festival
and the Reel Dreams Film Festival.
said, "There is competition for the Christian audience now that there hasn't been before. I thought at some point it would level off, but so far it's getting bigger and bigger. It's more than I could have possibly imagined. One of the audiences that has become stable and even grown for books, music and movies is the Christian audience."
Possibility Pictures
is working on Letters to God
, a film about a young boy fighting cancer who writes letters to God. Sherwood Pictures
released the over-all successful Christian film Courageous
in 2011. Praise Pictures
is working on 2010's Standing Firm. Five & Two Pictures
has plans for True Champion, a 2011 film about national roller skating champion Katie Tricarico. HeuMoore, makers of The Widow's Might
, are currently making Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man. Fresh Fruit Films is launching the series Fresh Fruit Pie on October 5, 2010. and Glowing Nose LLC is releasing the comedy film Bringing up Bobby. STARS Pictures is working on "Leap: Rise of the Beast"
is particularly hungry for faith-based, family-values films for its predominantly Christian Afrikaner
audience. Faith Like Potatoes
, Regardt van den Bergh's feature film biopic of Angus Buchan
, a farmer turned preacher, bolted the genre when it was released in South Africa in 2006. When Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
released the film in April in the U.S., it sold more than 230,000 DVDs in the first three months, making it one of the top-selling DVDs in the Christian market. Lion of Judah, South Africa's first CGI animated feature
, will be hoping to do even better in April 2010, when Eternal Pictures
plans a U.S. release the 3D retelling the Easter
story from animals' perspective.
.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God
founded Dove Studios, which has become the country’s biggest movie studio and distributor. More than 50,000 copies of their movies were sold before April 2006. The Gospel Film Festival (GOFESTIVAL) is also a major Nigeria film attraction.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
-themed message or moral, produced by openly Christian filmmakers to a Christian audience.
"Secular" studio productions of films with strong Christian messages or Biblical stories, like Ben-Hur
Ben-Hur (1959 film)
Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the title role, the third film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay was written by Karl Tunberg, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry. The score was composed by...
, The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments (1956 film)
The Ten Commandments is a 1956 American epic film that dramatized the biblical story of the Exodus, in which the Hebrew-born Moses, an adopted Egyptian prince, becomes the deliverer of the Hebrew slaves. The film, released by Paramount Pictures in VistaVision on October 5, 1956, was directed by...
, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Andrew Adamson and based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published and second chronological novel in C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of...
, and The Book of Eli
The Book of Eli
The Book of Eli is a 2010 American post-apocalyptic action film directed by the Hughes brothers, written by Gary Whitta, and starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson and Jennifer Beals....
, are not part of the Christian film industry per se, and operates with larger budgets and is distributed to a worldwide audience.
Films of the Christian film industry are produced by openly Christians in independent companies mainly targeting a Christian audience. This has been on the rise since the success of Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures is an American Christian film production company in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is unusual among production companies in that it is a ministry of a local church, Sherwood Baptist Church. The company uses mostly volunteers in their productions...
' Fireproof
Fireproof (film)
Fireproof is a 2008 American Christian drama film released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Affirm Films , directed by Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick...
, the highest grossing independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
of 2008
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
.
Beginnings
Movie projector
A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.-Physiology:...
, European audiences gathered in darkened rooms to watch magic lantern presentations. Catholic priest Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine...
promoted the magic lantern by publishing the book Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae in 1680. Controversy soon followed as priests and masons used the lanterns "to persuade followers of their ability to control both the forces of darkness and enlightenment" and temperance groups used the lanterns to fight alcoholism. In the 1800s, missionaries such as David Livingston
David Livingston
David Livingston is an American television producer and director. He is mostly known for his involvement in the writing and production of the various modern Star Trek franchises....
used the lanterns to present the Gospel in Africa. After movie theaters emerged, magic lanterns lost their popularity and disappeared from the public.
Throughout the late 19th and into the 20th century, there was much dispute among Christians as to "Christian film". Many thought motion picture was creating a graven image
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
, and shunned having anything to do with the film industry. Through the years, however, many Christians began to utilize motion picture for their own purposes. Herbert Booth
Herbert Booth
Herbert Henry Howard Booth was the third son of William and Catherine Booth. He oversaw the Limelight Department's development and he was the writer and director for Soldiers of the Cross....
, as part of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, claimed to be the first user of film for the cause of Christianity, in 1899.
20th century
In the 1940s, Christian film libraries emerged. Christian businessmen interested in renting audio visual materials started libraries to rent films to churches. Harvey W. Marks started the Visual Aid Center in 1945. Harry Bristow launched Christian Cinema in Ambler, PennsylvaniaAmbler, Pennsylvania
Ambler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:...
. Christian Cinema operated a movie theater that showed only Christian films, but closed down in the mid 1990s. The growth of Christian film libraries led to the Christian Film Distributors Association (CFDA) being formed in 1974. The CFDA began holding a conference each year for Christian filmmakers and distributors. The Christian Film and Video Association (formerly the Christian Film Distribution Association) gave out Crown Awards for films that "gloried Jesus Christ."
In 1949 Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson (filmmaker)
Ken Anderson was an American film director, producer and screenwriter of Christian-themed films, most remembered for his film Pilgrim's Progress, an adaptation of the book of same name The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan...
, editor for a Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ
Youth for Christ is the name of a number of previously unaffiliated evangelical Protestant religious campaigns which led to the creation of Youth for Christ International in 1946....
magazine, decided to form a small Christian film studio. An old shut-down dancehall was purchased and moved onto some donated land to become the first home for Gospel Films, which grew into the largest Christian film distributor. Seeing the potential of Christian films, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
created World Wide Pictures
World Wide Pictures
World Wide Pictures is a film distributor and production company established as a subsidiary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1951...
as a subsidiary in 1951 to produce and distribute Christian films. Throughout the '50s and '60s Christian films were produced with increasing professionalism and ads for Christian films often appeared in magazines such as Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
.
Movie theaters and film festivals
Since The Great CommandmentThe Great Commandment
The Great Commandment is a Christian film directed by Irving Pichel, which portrays the conversion to Christianity of a young Zealot, Joel, and the Roman soldier Longinus through the teachings of Jesus in his Parable of the Good Samaritan. It was co-produced by Rev. James K. Friedrich and released...
opened in movie theaters in 1941, many Christian filmmakers have attempted to pursue theatrical releases. World Wide Pictures was a pioneer in partnering with churches to bring Christian films to the cinema. Gateway Films (now Gateway Films/Vision Video
Gateway Films/Vision Video
Gateway Films/Vision Video is a Christian film company located in Worcester, Pennsylvania, notable for producing The Cross and the Switchblade and other award-winning films, docu-dramas and documentaries of interest to Christian audiences....
) was "formed with the express purpose of communicating the Christian Gospel in the secular motion picture theaters" and released The Cross and the Switchblade
The Cross and the Switchblade
The Cross and the Switchblade is a book written in 1963 by pastor David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. It tells the true story of Wilkerson's first five years in New York City, where he ministered to disillusioned youth, encouraging them to turn away from the drugs and gang violence...
in 1972. In 1979, the Jesus
Jesus (1979 film)
Jesus , is a 1979 motion picture which depicts the life of Jesus Christ according primarily to the Gospel of Luke in the Bible...
film appeared in theaters across the United States. This film, based on the Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
, was made for $6 million by Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christian organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in more than 190 countries...
. Many Christian films have been released to theaters since that time, such as The Omega Code
The Omega Code
The Omega Code is a 1999 thriller film directed by Robert Marcarelli, starring Casper Van Dien as the protagonist, Dr. Gillen Lane, and Michael York as the antagonist. Its main plot presents an Evangelical Christian view about the millennium, and a plot by the Antichrist to take over the world...
(1999), Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 is the prequel/sequel to the 1999 film The Omega Code. The film is more of an alternate film to the first film. Michael York detailed the entire film in a journal which he then published in book form called Dispatches From Armageddon.-Plot:Gavin Fink plays this younger...
(2001), Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie is a 2002 American computer-animated film based on VeggieTales, produced by Big Idea Productions, Lions Gate Films and FHE Pictures. It is the first feature-length film in the VeggieTales series....
(2002), Time Changer
Time Changer
Time Changer is an independent Comedy-drama science fiction Christian film directed by Rich Christiano and released by Five & Two Pictures in 2002. In the movie, Dr. Norris Anderson uses his late father's time machine to send his colleague, Bible professor Russell Carlisle , from 1890 into the...
(2002), The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 American drama film directed by Mel Gibson and starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus. It depicts the Passion of Jesus largely according to the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John...
(2004), Facing the Giants
Facing the Giants
- Official listing :# Come Together - Third Day# Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns# Facing the Giants Theme - Mark Willard# I'm Finding You - Bebo Norman# The Deathcrawl - Mark Willard# Completely - Ana Laura...
(2006), The Ultimate Gift
The Ultimate Gift
The Ultimate Gift is a film based on author Jim Stovall's bestselling novel released on March 9, 2007 in 816 theaters in the USA. The film was not well attended in the USA and produced low box office receipts, though DVD sales were quite high in relation to its theatrical receipts.-Plot:When his...
(2007), Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace (2006 film)
Amazing Grace is a 2006 U.S.–UK co-production film, directed by Michael Apted, about the campaign against slave trade in the British Empire, led by William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament. The title is a reference to the hymn...
(2007), The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie
The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie is a 2008 American animated feature-length family adventure film directed by Mike Nawrocki and written by Phil Vischer. Produced through Big Idea Productions animation studio and the animation by Starz Animation, it is the second film featuring...
(2008), Fireproof
Fireproof (film)
Fireproof is a 2008 American Christian drama film released by Samuel Goldwyn Films and Affirm Films , directed by Alex Kendrick, who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick...
(2008), The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry is a 2009 Christian film, released to theaters on September 18, 2009. It was directed by Rich Christiano, and the majority of the film was filmed in Holley, New York, beginning August 18, 2007. Its world premier was at the Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival...
(2009), To Save a Life
To Save a Life
To Save a Life is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by Brian Baugh. The film was released theatrically in the United States on January 22, 2010, and was written by Jim Britts. It stars Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Robert Bailey Jr., Steven Crowder and Sean Michael Afable...
(2010), Preacher's Kid
Preacher's Kid (film)
Preacher's Kid is a 2010 Christian film directed by Stan Foster, loosely based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Original songs and score are composed by recording artist and music producer Tim Miner. The film was written and directed by Stan Foster, and stars LeToya Luckett, Gregory Alan...
(2010), Letters to God
Letters to God
Letters to God is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by David Nixon and starring Robyn Lively, Jeffrey Johnson, Tanner Maguire, Michael Bolten and Bailee Madison. The story was written by Patrick Doughtie about his son Tyler, with the screenplay penned by Doughtie, Art D'Alessandro, Thrift...
(2010), What If...
What If... (film)
What If... is a 2010 Christian/drama film directed by Dallas Jenkins. It stars Kevin Sorbo, Kristy Swanson, Debby Ryan and Pixar's John Ratzenberger. The film was released to theaters on August 20, 2010...
(2010), The Grace Card
The Grace Card
The Grace Card is a 2010 drama film directed by David G. Evans. It intends to illustrate the everyday opportunities that people have to rebuild relationships and heal deep wounds by extending and receiving God’s grace. The film stars Louis Gossett, Jr. and Michael Joiner...
(2011), Soul Surfer
Soul Surfer (film)
Soul Surfer is a 2011 American drama film about the life of surfer Bethany Hamilton. At the age of thirteen, Hamilton lost her arm to a shark attack. The film details the events surrounding this attack and her struggle during the aftermath...
(2011) and Courageous
Courageous (film)
Courageous is an independent Christian drama film produced by Sherwood Pictures and was released to theaters on September 30, 2011. It is the fourth film by Sherwood Pictures, the creators of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. Filming in Albany, Georgia concluded in June 2010...
(2011).
In 1993, Tom Saab launched the Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival
Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival
The Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival is a Christian film festival in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The festival typically draws 12,000 to 15,000 people and is held during Holy Week. Festival organizer Tom Saab said the festival is among the more popular ones in the country. Saab began the...
in Salem, New Hampshire
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
. Each year this festival is held during Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
week and draws an audience of thousands to a theater to watch Christian films for free. Saab's organization Christian Film Festivals of America has also presented film festivals in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
and Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. In October 1999, the Voice of Pentecost Church in San Francisco hosted the 1st Annual WYSIWYG Film Festival
WYSIWYG Film Festival
The WYSIWYG Film Festival is an annual Christian film festival held in San Francisco, California...
. Other Christian film festivals include San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival
San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival is a film festival located in San Antonio, Texas.- 2007 competition :The winner of the Best of Festival Award was The Monstrous Regiment of Women, a documentary on Feminism by the Gunn brothers who in 2005 won the best documentary for their film...
, 168 Hour Film Project
168 Hour Film Project
The 168 Hour Film Project is a week-long international Christian film competition. John Ware is the founder and executive director. The 2007 winner was A Good Day, by husband and wife Wes and Amanda Llewellyn. Films premiere at the 168 Hour Film Festival in April in Los Angeles...
, Gospel Film Festival, Greater Boston Christian Film Festival, the Redemptive Film Festival
Redemptive Film Festival
Redemptive Film Festival is a film festival located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Founded in 2006, it has been an annual event in November. It showcases films, both shorts and of feature-length, professional and students filmmakers. Entries are judged by a panel of film and television professionals...
and the Reel Dreams Film Festival.
Recent years
In 2006, nearly 50 Christian-faith films were produced. The films grossed an average $39 million. All five of the major Hollywood studios have created marketing departments to target the growing demand for faith-based and family fare. Movieguide publisher Ted BaehrTed Baehr
M. Robert E. Theodore Baehr is an American media critic and Chairman of the Christian Film and Television Commission, a division of Good News Communications, Inc...
said, "There is competition for the Christian audience now that there hasn't been before. I thought at some point it would level off, but so far it's getting bigger and bigger. It's more than I could have possibly imagined. One of the audiences that has become stable and even grown for books, music and movies is the Christian audience."
Possibility Pictures
Possibility Pictures
Possibility Pictures is a Christian film production company, created by David Nixon, Kim Dawson and Tom Swanson . Their first production is Letters to God. The company is designed to be the "DreamWorks of faith-based movies."...
is working on Letters to God
Letters to God
Letters to God is a 2010 Christian drama film directed by David Nixon and starring Robyn Lively, Jeffrey Johnson, Tanner Maguire, Michael Bolten and Bailee Madison. The story was written by Patrick Doughtie about his son Tyler, with the screenplay penned by Doughtie, Art D'Alessandro, Thrift...
, a film about a young boy fighting cancer who writes letters to God. Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures
Sherwood Pictures is an American Christian film production company in Albany, Georgia, United States. It is unusual among production companies in that it is a ministry of a local church, Sherwood Baptist Church. The company uses mostly volunteers in their productions...
released the over-all successful Christian film Courageous
Courageous (film)
Courageous is an independent Christian drama film produced by Sherwood Pictures and was released to theaters on September 30, 2011. It is the fourth film by Sherwood Pictures, the creators of Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof. Filming in Albany, Georgia concluded in June 2010...
in 2011. Praise Pictures
Praise Pictures
Praise Pictures is an independent Christian film production company founded in 2007. Kyle Prohaska currently runs the business from its base of operations in Atlanta, GA....
is working on 2010's Standing Firm. Five & Two Pictures
Five & Two Pictures
Five & Two Pictures is an independent Christian film production company founded in 2002 by Dave Christiano and Rich Christiano. They have produced several major Christian films; Time Changer, Unidentified, Me & You, Us, Forever and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.- History :Five & Two Pictures was...
has plans for True Champion, a 2011 film about national roller skating champion Katie Tricarico. HeuMoore, makers of The Widow's Might
The Widow's Might
The Widow's Might is a 2009 American independent Christian film set in modern-day Texas and the Old West. It has been praised for its creative and fresh style of presenting the story it tells...
, are currently making Ace Wonder: Message from a Dead Man. Fresh Fruit Films is launching the series Fresh Fruit Pie on October 5, 2010. and Glowing Nose LLC is releasing the comedy film Bringing up Bobby. STARS Pictures is working on "Leap: Rise of the Beast"
South Africa
South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
is particularly hungry for faith-based, family-values films for its predominantly Christian Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
audience. Faith Like Potatoes
Faith Like Potatoes
Faith Like Potatoes is a 2006 South African biographical drama film based on the 1988 book written by Angus Buchan, "Faith like Potatoes." It is written and directed by Regardt van den Bergh, and stars Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Wilhelm, Hamilton Dhlamini, and Sean Michael Cameron...
, Regardt van den Bergh's feature film biopic of Angus Buchan
Angus Buchan
Angus Buchan was originally a Zambian maize and cattle farmer of Scottish descent who started farming in Zambia but was forced to sell everything and move to Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 1978 due to political unrest in that country....
, a farmer turned preacher, bolted the genre when it was released in South Africa in 2006. When Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
released the film in April in the U.S., it sold more than 230,000 DVDs in the first three months, making it one of the top-selling DVDs in the Christian market. Lion of Judah, South Africa's first CGI animated feature
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
, will be hoping to do even better in April 2010, when Eternal Pictures
Eternal Pictures
Eternal Pictures was an international film distribution company, who has distributed various Christian, family and documentary films. The company distrubuted Tugger: The Jeep 4X4 Who Wanted To Fly in South Africa, and distributed Wemmicks, The Storykeepers and Hermie and Friends in Brazil.-...
plans a U.S. release the 3D retelling the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
story from animals' perspective.
Nigeria
Nigerian Christians are actively contributing to the booming Nigerian film industry known as Nollywood. Christian films makes up about 20% of Nigerian films. Independent companies, ministries, and large churches producing hundreds of Christian films often see themselves as an alternative to Nollywood. Nevertheless, they have participated in mainstream success and many of the films appear on state television channelsNigerian Television Authority
The Nigerian Television Authority - also known as NTA - was inaugurated in 1977 and is the government-owned body in charge of television broadcasting in the country. The NTA claims to run the biggest television network in Africa with stations in several parts of Nigeria...
.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God
Redeemed Christian Church of God
The Redeemed Christian Church of God is a Nigeria-based Pentecostal Holiness ministry.-History:The RCCG was founded by Nigerian pastor Josiah Akindayomi...
founded Dove Studios, which has become the country’s biggest movie studio and distributor. More than 50,000 copies of their movies were sold before April 2006. The Gospel Film Festival (GOFESTIVAL) is also a major Nigeria film attraction.
Christian film festivals
- San Antonio Independent Christian Film FestivalSan Antonio Independent Christian Film FestivalSan Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival is a film festival located in San Antonio, Texas.- 2007 competition :The winner of the Best of Festival Award was The Monstrous Regiment of Women, a documentary on Feminism by the Gunn brothers who in 2005 won the best documentary for their film...
- London International Christian Film Festival
- Merrimack Valley Christian Film FestivalMerrimack Valley Christian Film FestivalThe Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival is a Christian film festival in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The festival typically draws 12,000 to 15,000 people and is held during Holy Week. Festival organizer Tom Saab said the festival is among the more popular ones in the country. Saab began the...
- 168 Hour Film Project168 Hour Film ProjectThe 168 Hour Film Project is a week-long international Christian film competition. John Ware is the founder and executive director. The 2007 winner was A Good Day, by husband and wife Wes and Amanda Llewellyn. Films premiere at the 168 Hour Film Festival in April in Los Angeles...
- Ignite Film FestivalIgnite Film FestivalThe Ignite Film Festival is a Christian short film festival held annually in Sydney, Australia. The major aims are to develop young Christian film makers and to encourage people to be creative about communicating the truths of the Bible...
- SonScreen
- Imago Film FestivalImago Film FestivalThe Imago Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in the state of Illinois, United States. It's usually presented in April on Judson University campus. The mission statement indicates: "The Imago Film Festival showcases faith-based indy film that emphasizes image and story...
See also
- LDS cinemaLDS cinemaLDS or Mormon cinema typically refers to films with themes relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the terminology has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers...
- List of Christian films
- List of Christian film production companies