Phil Stevens on the Miraculous Way His New Production Company, Missio Dei Films, Began

December 19, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

A year ago, Phil Stevens left a comfortable job as a creative director for a large church because he felt God calling him to be an industry leader in the faith-based filmmaking industry. After a quick confirmation, Stevens launched Missio Dei Films, committed to bringing diversity to faith-based entertainment with production headquarters in Atlanta. Autumn Bailey-Ford (”On a Wing,” “A Prayer Through the Glass Darkly”), a seasoned producer, has joined as producer and is serving on the advisory board. The... Read more

New Musical ‘It’s Christmas Again’ Combines Contemporary Music, Dancing with Nativity Story

December 16, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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Combining the traditional story of the Nativity with contemporary dance musicals, the new holiday film “It’s Christmas Again” starring Lawson Touliatos, Leela Owen, Dimitri Mareno and Reina Ozbay, releases to home video this week. The film, about Jake (Touliatos), a young man who is magically transported to the birth of Christ, had a Fathom Events theatrical run late last month. Touliatos, currently a Philosophy and Political Science major at Nashville’s Belmont University, recently spoke to Reel Faith about the audition... Read more

Jason Crabb Reflects on a Busy Christmas Season, Including TV Specials, a Tour, and New Record

December 16, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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Following the release of a new Christmas record, “Miracle in a Manger,” GRAMMY Award-winning Christian singer Jason Crabb is reflecting on a “busy” season where participating in multiple holiday specials and winds up his “Christmas Forever” tour. The new record was a longtime dream of Crabb, something that he expressed hope when he signed with Jay DeMarcus at Red Street Records. “I love it when a record label comes to you and says, ‘Where’s your heart at?’ and that’s what... Read more

Critics Choice Awards Nominations Announced; ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads with 14

December 14, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today the film category nominees for the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala hosted by Chelsea Handler, which will broadcast LIVE on The CW from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 15, 2023 (7:00 – 10:00 pm ET, delayed PT – check local listings). “Everything Everywhere All at Once” leads this year’s film contenders, earning fourteen nominations overall. In... Read more

Will Smith Talks Spiritual Freedom, Seeing ‘Holy Ghost’ Visitation With Tongues on Set of ‘Emancipation’

December 8, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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During a recent interview for his upcoming film “Emancipation,” Academy Award-winning actor Will Smith revealed a spiritual component he noticed while making the Civil War-era slavery drama. Releasing Friday on AppleTV+, the film was directed, and executive produced by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day,” “The Equalizer”) and also stars Ben Foster and Charmaine Bingwa. The film is inspired by the true story of a man known to historians as “whipped Peter” who is taken from his family to a Confederate labor... Read more

Gospel Music Pioneer Bill Gaither Releases New Christmas TV Special ‘All Heaven and Nature Sing’

December 7, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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This Friday, legendary gospel music pioneer Bill Gaither (“Because He Lives,” “He Touched Me,” “There’s Something About That Name”) will present a new Christmas television special, “All Heaven and Nature Sing with Bill Gaither & Friends” on TBN. In addition to Gaither and his Gaither Vocal Band, the special will feature singer-songwriter Mark Lowry (“Mary, Did You Know?”), Gospel Music Hall of Fame group The Nelons, and gospel music artists Ladye Love Smith, and Gene McDonald. In this exclusive interview,... Read more

New Documentary Tells the Story of When Johnny Cash Met Jesus

December 5, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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The spiritual side of a beloved music pioneer is the focus of the new documentary “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon,” a Kingdom Story (“I Can Only Imagine,” “The Jesus Music”) production releasing to theaters this week through Fathom Events. The film features interviews with country music stars Marty Stuart, Wynonna Judd, and Tim McGraw as well as faith leaders Franklin Graham and Greg Laurie, who authored the book that inspired the film. John Carter Cash, son of... Read more

Christian Artists Zach Williams, Tauren Wells, Skillet to Headline Universal’s ‘Rock the Universe’ Music Festival

December 2, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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Universal Studios Orlando will host its 25th “Rock the Universe” in January with popular Christian artists Zach Williams, Skillet, Rend Collective, Tauren Wells, Bethel Music, and more. The long-running festival will convene over the weekend of January 27-29, 2023, and include meet-and-greet opportunities, Sunday morning worship, and new artist showcases. Williams, who recently appeared in the NBC special “Dolly Parton’s Magic Mountain Christmas,” will be there to share his hit songs “Chain Breaker,” Less Like Me” and “There Was Jesus”... Read more

‘The Wingfeather Saga’ Creators Reflect on the ‘Team Effort’ Behind New Animated Series

December 2, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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As “The Wingfeather Saga” animated series debuts this weekend, author Andrew Peterson sees the culmination of years of creativity. The popular young adult fantasy series led to a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign and a full commitment from Angel Studios. Also known for his music, such as the Christmas favorite “Behold the Lamb of God,” Peterson says he feels grateful for the team who has contributed to the new series. “I’m so proud of what the team has made as I am... Read more

Jodi Benson On Her New Role in ‘The Wingfeather Saga’ and Enduring Love for ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid’

December 2, 2022 By DeWayne Hamby

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Premiering today on the Angel Studios streaming app, Andrew Peterson’s animated The Wingfeather Saga is a fantasy series centering on the Igiby family and their fight against the evil Fangs of Dang and the mysterious ruler Gnag the Nameless. Based on the acclaimed Penguin Random House book series, the series set a new record for crowdfunding, raising $5 million in less than 20 days. Tony Award-winning actress Jodi Benson, forever known as the Disney princess Ariel from “The Little Mermaid”... Read more