Hard Faith

08/16/2024

Thank you to this year’s Hard Faith Fest sponsor Reagan Movie!

08/16/2024

We would like to shoutout the winner of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival Pitch Fest Competition for the JUDGE’S CHOICE Award, Cova Olivia Brouwer Gentry.

A recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, Cova Brouwer Gentry is a Dutch Canadian screenwriter based out of Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee. She works as an executive assistant at American Talent Management, with a heavy focus on story consultation for the company’s signed writers. Cova primarily writes features with a focus on adventure, nature, and history with her Alberta screenwriting production company Sincerely, Bigfoot Productions.

08/15/2024

We would like to shoutout the winner of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival Pitch Fest Competition for the AUDIENCE CHOICE Award, Wayne Van Der Wal!

Author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller, ‘The Gospel of Santa Claus - Inspired by the True Story of Saint Nicholas,’ and children's Top 10 Bestseller, Beware! Corkie the Yorkie is a Sock Thief, Wayne Van Der Wal, grew up inside the beltway of Washington, D.C., in Falls Church, Virginia (with times in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wyoming). He moved to the Reno/Lake Tahoe area of Nevada when he was 20 and never left. His newest book, “Beware! Corkie the Yorkie is a Sock Thief!” was inspired by his 4 pound canine friend, Corkie, who he inherited in 2009 from his mother before her passing in 2010.

Wayne’s pitch for his screenplay — based upon his hit novel of the same name — is a story “for the whole family," which will cause each of us to reflect on the True reason for the season of Christmas! Putting Christ back into Christmas, it will enlighten all that Santa Claus IS a real person, who he is, and what his purpose is — through an intriguing, historical fiction story that includes life lessons and devotions.

More information about Wayne and his book: https://www.waynevanderwal.com/

08/13/2024

Thank you so much to our phenomenal and indispensable recipient of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Karen Covell! 🌟

Karen Covell is a film producer, author, speaker, and Founding Director of the international non-profit, Hollywood Prayer Network. Karen speaks and teaches around the country, challenging Christians to embrace the creative and business professionals in Hollywood with the love and compassion of Jesus. She is also a published co-author of two books: How to Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out (The J Bomb) and The Day I Met God, as well as the devotional Hollywood, Jesus, and You. Karen is a film producer and member of the Producer’s Guild of America. and is the Co-Founder of JC Productions; an independent films and music production company. She has had extensive experience producing TV specials, documentaries and children’s programming, and is currently in development of several projects, including a feature film and children’s competitive TV show. Karen is a graduate of USC and is married to her best pal, Jim, a composer, and they have two sons: Christopher, Head of Development at an LA production company, and Cameron, a filmmaker on a production team at Disney in New York City.

https://hollywoodprayernetwork.org/
For info about Karen’s producing: www.karencovell.com
For a link to her books: amazon.com/author/karencovell

08/10/2024

Thank you so much to our immaculate judges for our 2024 Hard Faith Films Pitch Fest, Spero Stamboulis and Chris Covell!

Spero Stamboulis has been in the entertainment industry for almost 30 years. Over the past 15 years he has produced 25 features, a few TV series, many commercials and a documentary which is being theatrically released this year. Although he understood filmmaking he still had challenges with Film Sales and Distribution. Six years ago when Spero, in an unforeseen twist of fate, brought him into the world of film distribution. Now, armed with a profound understanding of both film production and distribution, Spero Stamboulis has seamlessly positioned himself as an invaluable resource for fellow filmmakers.

Chris Covell is the Head of Development at Pinnacle Peak Pictures. Along with this, he’s worked at Alcon Entertainment, Paradigm Talent Agency, and Inspired Entertainment, partnering alongside the Heads of Development in finding, developing, and writing screenplays. He also continues to run TheScriptReader.com on the side - an online script consulting website that he’s managed for the past 6 years. Chris loves working with writers and finds great satisfaction in helping them to achieve their best work possible. Having been passionate about telling stories and making films his whole life, Chris has written and directed dozens of screenplays, short films, music videos, and TV commercials. He received his BA in Film Production at Chapman University and has continued to make films ever since.

08/09/2024

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar, founder of Hard Faith, interviews filmmaker Matthew McCaulley about his award-winning feature film unDEFILED. They discuss the film’s origins, inspired by shocking statistics on po*******hy use among churchgoers and pastors, and the journey from script development to final production. Matthew shares insights into the ministry-first approach that guided the making of the film, aiming to spark conversations and support viewers struggling with addiction. The episode also highlights the importance of community and encouragement within faith-based filmmaking, with Matthew reflecting on his positive experience at the Hard Faith Film Festival. The conversation offers hope and resources for those battling po*******hy addiction, emphasizing that change is possible with the right support.

08/09/2024

New podcast episode out today with award winning feature film from the Hard Faith Fest "unDEFILED"

08/07/2024

Congrats to the winning directors of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival’s Feature category!

1st Place: director Matt McCaulley’s ‘UNDEFILED’

2rd Place: directors Laina Barakat, Deniz Demirer, and Dan Johnson’s ‘8BEATS ANTHOLOGY’

3nd Place: director Micah Caronna’s ‘ORDINARY THINGS’

Audience Pick: directors Laina Barakat, Deniz Demirer, and Dan Johnson’s ‘8BEATS ANTHOLOGY’

08/06/2024

Congrats to the winners of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival’s Screenplay category!

1st Place: screenwriter Stephanie Hutchinson’s ‘OUT OF THE FLAMES’

2nd Place: screenwriter Antonia Roman’s ‘BELIEVERS’

3rd Place: screenwriter Audie Thacker’s ‘UNEARNED’

Audience Pick: screenwriter Antonia Roman’s ‘BELIEVERS’

08/04/2024

Another amazing film that was shown at the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival:

Congrats to director John Kestner and his short ‘THE FOXHOLE’ for winning our experimental film category!

08/03/2024

Congrats to director Michael Houston King’s pilot ‘TOWNSEND’ for winning the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival episodic category!

08/02/2024

Listen and subscribe today! New episode with Hard Faith Fest winner John Kestner

‎Show Hard Faith Podcast, Ep S2 - Ep5: "Hard Faith is Experimental" Conversation with John Kestner of "The Foxhole" - Aug 1, 2024

08/02/2024

In this episode of the *Hard Faith Podcast*, host Spencer Folmar speaks with award-winning filmmaker John Kestner, who recently won Best Experimental Short Film at the Hard Faith 2024 Film Festival for “The Foxhole.” They discuss the unique environment of the festival, which embraces challenging and faith-adjacent narratives. John shares his experiences creating thought-provoking films, the inspiration behind “The Foxhole,” and the importance of addressing tough topics through cinema. He also talks about his upcoming projects, including another short film and a faith-based Western. Tune in for a deep dive into the intersection of faith, film, and storytelling.

08/01/2024

Congrats to the winners of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival’s Documentary category!

1st Place: director Brad Alexander’s ‘THE THRESHING FLOOR’

2rd Place: director Drew Tewell’s ‘WE WERE FANS’

3nd Place: director Cullen Klassen’s ‘THE TERRIFYING DELIGHT OF LOSING EVERYTHING’

Audience Pick: director Brad Alexander’s ‘THE THRESHING FLOOR’

07/31/2024

Thank you EVERYONE for an amazing 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival! It was magnificent to have so many creative filmmakers together in one space celebrating each other’s work. We would like to shoutout the winners of each film category that we presented.

Congrats to the winners of our 2024 Short Film category!

1st Place: directors Kaleb Cook and Kyler Cook’s ‘DAVID: A KING’S CALLING’

2nd Place: director Riley Dean Taylor’s ‘PACIFIC PARABLE: BURIED TREASURE’

3rd Place: director Scott A. Magie’s ‘FOUR-NINETY’

4th Place: director Bree Blanchard-Jackson’s ‘I’LL SPEAK FOR YOU’

Audience Pick: director Jason Eaken’s ‘SMALLGROUPTHINK’

07/30/2024

Congrats to the winners of the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival’s Student Film category!

1st Place: director Lauren Elizabeth Garrison’s ‘IN SITU’

2nd Place: director Puskás Bence’s ‘ONE OF A KIND’

3rd Place: director Kiersten Williams’s ‘ALL NEW THINGS’

07/24/2024

Christian Art Should Be Truthful… Because Christians should be truthful.
Truthful about the world we are living in, truthful about our own hearts, truthful about our fears and doubts,
Truthful about the struggles and the hurts, the dark night of the soul, the hypocrisy, the damage, the abuse, the scandals and the lies
But it should also be true about the peace that surpasses all understanding, the radical love of an enemy or an irredeemable friend, the truth about the temple of the Living God living inside of us. The truth about the man who died on the tree for you and for me. Truthful about the freedom of thinking of your self less. The truth about beauty and courage and self sacrificial love. The truth about transformation and sanctification and how the worst scoundrel can still be loved.
Far too often Christianity and especially Christian art lies. The whole world and even the worst of deception soothsayers know this, but we continue to want an imitation of the truth instead of the real r rated un-sanitized and uncensored truth.
But ultimately we aren’t fooling anyone with our lies and rosy colored glasses… we don’t have it all together and some of our most known leaders standing in pulpits can be just as messy as we are and know ourselves to be. This isn’t a hunt to find the sinners but a rescue of sinners by Grace. We are called to speak the truth by love. For if we have not love then we have nothing. The world needs us to be truthful and our art can tell stories of the human experience and the unfolding story of redemption in a new and fresh way for today’s generations looking for truth.
Let’s be honest, bold, gritty, and true. The Lord’s redemption really can be true for me and you. This is who we are strive to be at Hard Faith.
Hard faith is about making truthful redemptive Christian art.
We are about bringing the lost sheep home.
Hard Faith’s goal is “Telling Stories That Liberate”
Join the movement at www.HardFaith.org

07/24/2024

This is a Trailer for THE FOXHOLE (2023) currently still in film festivals. A lifelong atheist has her first and last conversation with God.Starring: Sally A...

07/23/2024

Thank you EVERYONE for an amazing 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival! It was magnificent to have so many creative filmmakers together in one space celebrating each other’s work. We would like to shoutout the winners of each film category that we presented!

Congrats to director Michael Houston King’s pilot ‘TOWNSEND’ for winning our episodic category!

07/23/2024

Our film, "We Were Fans", won second place in the Documentary Film category at the 2024 Hard Faith Film Festival!

Thank you to the cast and crew, everyone who gave to our GoFundMe campaign and also to my family and friends for all of their support!

07/22/2024

Congratulations Twinbolt Media!

07/21/2024

Wow! We just wrapped the Second Annual Hard Faith Fest 2024! Thank you to all our sponsors, filmmakers, the Garland Hotel, staff and volunteers. It was a beautiful two days with incredible films, stories, workshops, and discussions. So thankful and amazed at how God turned up! Mark your calendars for July 17-19, 2025 and we hope to see you next year!