Christian Film: creativity, film and festival

According to Genesis, the first thing God did was to create. His ulimate creation was us, and he made us in his own likeness. This means we carry in within us the truth of what God is really like.

If we – the ones who acknowledge God as creator, really are made in his likeness then his creativity is at the heart of what he meant us to be.

Being creative like God doesn’t mean we have to make a new physical world – though we’ve acquired a frightening amount of God like powers in this direction. It means we have to create in his likeness – things, words, images, experiences that reveal what God is really like.

God, creation and creating movies

The creative arts give us, God’s people an opportunity – a responsibility even, to show what God is really like and how he meant us and his world to be.

Each new age brings new methods and new materials for showing creativity. The creative art that most defined the last century and looks set to dominate this was film and cinema.

Film and cinemas, and later TV, was the mass media entertainment of the last century. Through a resurgence of cinema, advances in TV and new interactive and portable devices, screen arts continue to dominate.

Movie media-moguls and motivation

From the beginning of moving pictures, faith motivated creatives saw the creative potential of film but couldn’t hope to compete with the production and distribution resources of the big studios.

The image and likeness of God was the image and likeness approved by the big studios and their big money backers. The Christian story they told was the ‘self authorised’ version; conventional, safe and in tune with what audiences expected.

There might be no questioning the craft of the big studio Bible epics, but whether or not their output was 'creative' will be a feature of film student dissertations for long time to come.

Faith based movie-making opens up

Twenty-first century technologies and internet distribution brought the cost of film making into the reach of anyone with the determination and talent to make to make it happen.

Faith based film makers are now taken seriously as a creative and economic force in the industry. Christian film festivals and competitions show case the best in established and new movie talent.

One of the most creative Christian film projects draws its inspiration from the Genesis account of the original creative act. The '168 Hour Film Project' allow faith based film makers the same time to make a film as God took to make the universe.

168 Film project: 7 days to make a movie

The 168 Hour Film Project is a worldwide competition for faith-based teams to make a short film in just 7 days. Each year’s films are screened at the annual 168 Film Festival.

The challenge for the 2012 is to explore the importance of being faithful. Under the working title ‘Promises, Promises’ films will show how God's promises are a testimony of his love and how love prioritizes the actions of his people… and what happens when it doesn’t.

Armed with only a theme (‘Second Chances’ in 2011 and ‘Hearing God' in 2010), a verse from the Bible and 168 hours, amateur, independent film makers even on the smallest scale compete for up to $10,000, media exposure and access the industry’s top facillitors.

Faith movie festivals drive excellence

With affordable technology, social network distribution and prestigious festivals faith based film has never been better placed to show creativity in the image and likeness of God.

Festivals like the 168 project raise the profile of faith based film makers within the movie industry. Winners of the 168 Festival include York based UK Christian company 'Riding Lights Theatre Company'.

On the theme of ‘Family Business’ and the Bible text Matthew 3:21 “You are my son, …with you I am well pleased,” Riding Light's 7 minute film took best international film, best script, best supporting actress and best ‘making of…’ documentary for their 2009 entry ‘Unscripted’.

Christian film festivals in the UK

Screened in Motherwell in 2006, 'Reel to Real', the UK’s first Christian Film Festival and featured a visit from the famous VeggieTales characters. This year’s UK Christian Film Festival is supported by the Jaffa Entertainment Group of Watford.

Formerly 'The London International Christian Film Festival', the November festival will hand out awards for best feature, best short, documentary, audience choice, actor and actress.

KEYWORDS: Christian film, Christian DVD, Christian video, Christian Film Festivals, Christian Festivals. [ISBN numbers].



The first thing God did was to create stuff. The last thing he created was us, and he made us in his own likeness. That means we carry in ourselves the truth of what God is like.

If we – the ones who acknowledge God as creator, really are made in his likeness then his creativity is at the heart of what he meant us to be.

Being creative like God doesn’t mean we have to make a new physical world – though we’ve acquired a frightening amount of God like powers in this direction. It means we have to create in his likeness – things, words, images, experiences that reveal what God is really like


Godlike creativity and the creative arts
The creative arts give us, God’s people an opportunity – the responsibility even, to be show what God is really like and what he meant us and this world to be.

Each new age brings new methods and new materials for showing creativity. The creative art that most defined the last century and looks set to dominate this was film and cinema.

Film and cinemas, and later TV, was the mass media entertainment of the last century. Through a resurgence of cinema, advances in TV and new interactive and portable devices, screen arts continue to dominate.


Movie media, moguls and motivation
From the very beginning of moving pictures, faith motivated creatives knew the potential of film for showing God to a mass audience. Despite a continual industry presence, Christian film makers couldn’t hope to compete with the production and distribution resources of the big studios.

The image and likeness of God shown to twentieth cinema audiences was the image and likeness approved by the big studios and their big money backers. The Christian story they told was the ‘self authorised’ version; conventional, safe and generally in tune with what their audiences expected and believed.

While there might be no questioning the craft of the big studio Bible epics, whether or not their output was creative art will be a feature of film student dissertations for long time to come.

Faith based movie making open to all
Twenty-first century technologies and internet distribution brought the cost of film making into the reach of anyone with the determination and talent to make to make it happen.

Faith based film and film makers are now taken seriously as a creative and economic force in the industry. Christian film festivals and competitions show case the best in established and new visual media talent.

One of the most influential Christina film projects draws its ethos and inspiration from the Genesis account of the original creative act. The 168 Hour Film Project allow faith based film makers the same time to make a film as God took to make the universe.

7 days to make the world – 168 hours to make a movie
The 168 Hour Film Project is a worldwide competition for faith-based teams to make a short film in just 7 days. Each year’s films are screened at the annual 168 Film Festival.

The 168 film maker’s challenge for 2012 is to explore the importance of being faithful to others. Under the working title ‘Promises, Promises’ films will show howGod's promises are a testimony of his love for and how love prioritizes the actions of his people… or what happens when it doesn’t.

Armed with only a theme – ‘Second Chances’ (2011), ‘Hearing God (2010), a verse from the Bible and 168 hours, amateur, independent and film makers on the smallest scale compete for up to $10,000, media exposure and access the industry’s top facillitors.

Faith based movies – a call to creative excellence
With affordable technology, social network distribution and prestigious festivals faith based film has never been better placed to show creativity in the image and likeness of God.

Festivals like the 168 project help to raise the profile of faith based film makers within the movie industry. Winners of the 168 Festival include York based Christian theatre company Riding Lights Theatre Company.

On the theme of ‘Family Business’ and the Bible text Matthew 3:21 “You are my son, …with you I am well pleased,” the 7 minute film took best international film, best script and best supporting actress for their 2009 entry ‘Unscripted’. The company even took the award for the best ‘making of…’ documentary.

Links to 168 Hour Film Project, Riding Lights Theatre Company (??)

Christian Film Festivals in the UK
Reel to Real, the UK’s first Christian Film Festival screened in Motherwell in 2006 featured a visit from the now world famous VeggieTales characters. This year’s UK Christian Film Festival is supported by the Jaffa Entertainment Group of Watford.

Formerly The London International Christian Film Festival, the November festival will hand out awards for best feature, best short, documentary, audience choice, actor and actress.

For a wide selection of faith based film and DVD go to (eden.co.uk web address).




Eden.co.uk - quick guide Christian Film Festivals and Competitions

Christian Film Festivals and Competitions - what are they?

• Festivals and competitions to show case and encourage excellence visual media to engage and explore big themes of God and his purpose for creation.

• Industry and audience exposure for movie shorts and features from enriched Bible re-telling through historical adventure, romance, mysteries, science fiction, children and youth culture.

• An opportunity for the public and professionals to interact and influence the development of faith based film media.

Christian Film, DVD and visual media – why should I buy it?

• To get into a good film with a fresh, creative take on Christian themes and ideas.

• To explore a deeper understanding of man and God through film and DVD.

• As a gift to encourage another to explore God through inspired creativity and the art of film making.