Resurrection of faith-based filmmaking

It is rare to find a production model which genuinely reduces risk. Here is one, working quietly in the shadows, which makes a strictly logical use of prayer.
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There’s more to smart film marketing than a dog, but they always help. Image: Hachi – a Dog’s Tale.

Religious films were popular from the dawn of filmmaking as Milies made Christ Walking on Water in 1898 and started a genre based on Joan of Arc. Melbourne claims the world’s first narrative drama with Soldiers of the Cross, made by the Salvation Army’s Limelight Films in 1901, which combined slides and fragments of film. According to Pamela Grace in “The Religious Film: Christianity and the Hagiopic”, religious presentations advanced the notion of film storytelling because they could be complex, relying on audiences who knew the story and wanted emotional surrender.

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David Tiley was the Editor of Screenhub from 2005 until he became Content Lead for Film in 2021 with a special interest in policy. He is a writer in screen media with a long career in educational programs, documentary, and government funding, with a side order in script editing. He values curiosity, humour and objectivity in support of Australian visions and the art of storytelling.