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2009 Film Festival
The majority of these films will be sold in the LifeWay Bookstore on the Ridgecrest Campus. Some are being sold with a 40% discount.
SUNDAY, MAY 31; 1:30-2:30 PM
A CRY FROM IRAN
Iran, December 1993
An Islamic judge in north of Iran condemned a zealous Christian convert, Mehdi Dibaj, from Islam to death. His crime was apostasy. Dibaj had already served ten years in prison.
Haik Hovsepian, the leader of Evangelical Christians of Iran, chose to speak out and launch an international campaign for Dibaj's sentence to be overturned.
Haik's campaign was successful, and Dibaj was released only a few days before his execution date. But, there was a price to pay...
This is the untold story of their sacrifices, courage, commitment and faith.
SUNDAY, MAY 31; 2:30-3:30 PM
ALIYAH, REBIRTH OF A NATION
DVD #4 in the "Israel, A Journey Through Time" series
Can a nation be born in a day? This unit both asks and answers this profound question by tracing the history of the Jewish children of Abraham from the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, through 20 centuries of exile among the nations, up and until their miraculous return to their ancient and biblical homeland, Israel.
40% discount for the series in the LifeWay Bookstore.
SUNDAY, MAY 31; 8:00-10:00 PM
THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN SPERRY
Best buddies Dustin (Jansen Panettiere), Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez) and Mark (Allen Isaacson) are twelve year old boys looking forward to a summer of fun in 1970.
Dustin has a crush on Tanya (Bailey Garno) and wants to ask her out on a date, something he has never done before. His main obstacle though is the town bully, Nick (Taylor Boggan), who also likes Tanya. When Dustin mows the lawn of seventy-five year old Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod), a man he has seen at church, a unique friendship develops.
What happens the rest of this summer is something Dustin and his friends...will never forget.
After the showing, talk to co-screenwriter, Dave Christiano.
SUNDAY, MAY 31; 10:30 PM
HEARING EVERETT
Over forty years ago, Ed Everett made a simple trip to Mexico to help the poor. During this trip, he realized that a unique opportunity existed to help the deaf, so he took a leap of faith. Little did he know that one of his own sons had prepared him for this very moment. "Hearing Everett" is a documentary that tells a story of faith, love, and adventure. It's about a legacy, started by one man, which continues on today.
Q & A with the producers T.C. Johnstone and James Kirk-Johnson after the film.
MONDAY, JUNE 1; 3:15-5:00 PM
KIMJONGILIA
North Korea is one of the world's most isolated nations. For sixty years, North Koreans have been governed by a totalitarian regime that controls all information entering and leaving the country. A cult of personality surrounds its two recent leaders: first, Kim Il Sung, and now his son, Kim Jong Il. For Kim Jong Il's 46th birthday, a hybrid red begonia named kimjongilia was created, symbolizing wisdom, love, justice, and peace. The film draws its name from the rarefied flower and reveals the extraordinary stories told by survivors of North Korea's vast prison camps, of devastating famine, and of every kind of repression.
Kimjongilia was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Talk with cinematographer and producer, Kyle Saylors following the film.
MONDAY, JUNE 1; 6:30-8:15 PM
Torry Stories: Lessons In Laughter
Live stand-up comedy act by comedian Torry Martin. This will be filmed for a DVD.
MONDAY, JUNE 1; 8:30-10:00 PM
THE TOUCH
A young woman, Hannah More, acquires a lifetime of bad touches as she journeys through dysfunction, rejection, drugs, and jail. At the same time a local church has a bitter fight and is split down the middle on whether or not to open a shelter for homeless women. After a suicide attempt Hannah finds herself on the steps of the church's shelter. Not only does her life begin to change through a series of good touches but the church is changed, and challenged, as well. Based on a true story.
Q & A with Executive Producer and Screenwriter, Art Ayris.
MONDAY, JUNE 1; 10:30 PM-UNTIL
SOUND OF A DIRT ROAD
John Crowe is a humble rancher whose family has owned and managed the Crowe Ranch for over 150 years. When John meets Ellen Sower, his life slowly begins to change. Jeremiah Stillwell, the soon-to-be pastor of the local church becomes interested in Ellen as well. Intellectual warfare ensues as John rescues Ellen from a false prophet, then learns she is deathly ill. Jeremiah longs for power, and once he achieves it, he goes after John.
Q & A with director/actor Graham Alexander.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 8:30-10:30 PM
COME WHAT MAY
With his mother a lawyer and his father a professor, Caleb Hogan has grown up understanding the importance of stating his case, backing it with facts, and choosing what's right...Come What May.
This ability has served him well in his internship at his mother's law firm and it has guided him to the college with the best Moot Court team. But has it prepared him to deal with the collision-course elements of the most important legal issue of our time?
When does life really begin?
Come What May is a vivid reminder that choosing what's right is never easy...but it's always worth the cost.
Q & A with directors/screenwriters/producers George Escobar and Manny Edwards.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 10:30 PM - UNTIL
SAVING GOD
After serving 15 years for manslaughter, reformed pastor Armstong Cane (Ving Rhames) is ready to make amends with the neighborhood he abandoned. Returning to his late father's preaching ground, the First Community Church of God, he reaches out to Norris, a young, troubled dealer on the path to self-destruction. With Armstong's guidance, Norris wants out but drug boss Blaze (Dean McDermott) threatens to kill Norris if he quits. When Armstong is pressured by another pastor (Ricardo Chavira) to sell the church, their chances of building a new life seem slim. Together, they strive to escape their dark pasts, and to reclaim a brighter future.
Q & A with producer Andre van Heerden.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 10:30 AM-11:00 AM
HARVEST
Q & A with producer/actor R. Keith Harris.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 11:00 AM-11:30 AM
WARS OF HUMANITY: THE PROMISED FULFILLED
The wandering is over! Joshua is ready to lead his people in an epic battle against seemingly impossible odds. Will this confrontation lead to deeper rebellion or a promise fulfilled? Join the fun in this comical retelling of the battle between the nation of Israel and the mighty army of Jericho!
Q & A with Rodina Family and see their stop-motion sets.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 11:30 AM-12:00 PM
FATAL FLAW
Jonathon Ridecher is an average man who is living beyond his means.
Desperate he now makes the ultimate gamble.
But with choices there is accountability.
Imagine being interrogated by someone who knows the truth about everything you've ever done...in your life.
There's nowhere to hide and there's no way out...or is there?
See Fatal Flaw at the Gideon Film Festival and Joseph Q. Simpkins, the Executive Producer and Screenwriter will be on hand for a Q & A.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 3:15-4:30 PM
APOSTLES OF COMEDY
The Apostles of Comedy is scheduled to be shown at the Gideon Film Festival, followed by a Q & A with Producer, Mitchell Galin.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 8:00 PM-10:00 PM
DANGEROUS CALLING
A suspense thriller set in the world of small town church politics, Dangerous Calling follows the story of Pastor Evan Burke and his wife Nora as they assume leadership of First Baptist Willit Springs after the mysterious death of the previous pastor.
Eager to get to know the new pastor, Miss Pat, the church's controlling widow-woman, invites Evan and Nora to stay with her while she has the parsonage renovated. Left alone at Miss Pat's beautiful home in the mountains of North Georgia, Nora begins to suspect that Miss Pat's extremely sheltered adult son, Elijah, may have had something to do with the previous pastor's death.
Although the story involves Christian characters, Dangerous Calling is not your typical church film. Owing more to Psycho and Misery than Left Behind, Dangerous Calling is sure to keep you on the edge of the pew. In this church the politics can be deadly!
Q & A with producers/directors The Daws Brothers.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3; 10:00 PM-UNTIL
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES
Three oxymoronic storylines pay tribute in Barnum-esque style to the most important entertainment form in American history: the CIRCUS! Features include: the OLDEST YOUTH circus in the country, the LARGEST MINIATURE circus model in the world, and the LAST ORIGINAL Ringling performers who worked under the Big Top. The interviews are exclusive, the archives so rare many have never been seen and the cultural & historical information imparted is fascinating and entertaining. Film Festival award-winning CHILDREN OF ALL AGES is a critically acclaimed film from the producers of "A Man Named Pearl."
Q & A with producer Cecil Stokes.