News
EchoLight Studios Continues Commitment to Emerging Filmmakers
DALLAS – Feb. 19, in the
year of our Lord 2013 – Fast-growing EchoLight Studios
continues with its multi-million dollar commitment announced
this year that supports the next generation of Christian
filmmakers. The latest announcement pledges up to $1 million to
produce and distribute a new work from the Best Film winner in
this year’s 168 Film Project. The action follows similar
commitments—$250K at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film
Festival (SAICFF) and a multi-million dollar production and
distribution deal over five years with the Liberty University
Cinematic Arts program.
“This is a great leap for the producers of the short films in
our contest,” said 168 Founder and Director John David Ware.
“They move up to making feature-length films, and this is a
great encouragement for them to continue to excel.”
EchoLight awarded $250,000 on Feb. 9 to fund, co-produce and
distribute a new work by the winner in the 2013 San Antonio
Independent Christian Film Festival Short Film category. Brandon
Adams’ film USELESS took the award. (USELESS also won multiple
awards at last year’s 168 Film Project, including Best Film,
Best Cinematography and Best Acting).
Earlier this year, EchoLight created an exclusive, multi-million
dollar partnership with Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts
program over five years to produce and distribute at least five
movies combining Liberty students, staff and state-of-the-art
equipment with EchoLight’s veteran producers and other
above-the-line personnel.
MORE ON THE 168 FILM PROJECT
In the annual 168 Film Project founded in Hollywood in 2003,
filmmakers, writers, actors and crew create a short movie on an
assigned theme in just one week. Registered contestants meet May
13, 2013, to draw stones with Bible verses on them.
(Participants outside the Southern California area “draw”
online.)
What follows is 10 days of pre-production work and one week of
shooting and editing (168 hours) to submit a finished film on
the theme for the year influenced by the contestant’s individual
Bible verse. Registration is open now at 168film.com and closes
May 11.
"It's an honor to partner with the 168 Film Project, especially
because of our mutual goal to illuminate the word of God through
film," said Christopher Morrow, chief global strategist at
EchoLight Studios.
“These awards build on EchoLight’s commitment to not only
distribute quality faith and family films but to encourage
excellence among the coming generation of filmmakers,” said
EchoLight President Bobby Downes.
Dallas-based EchoLight is a full-service film production and
distribution studio. In addition to the awards supporting new
creators, EchoLight distributes the works of established
filmmakers in the faith and family genre and produces original
works (THE REDEMPTION OF HENRY MYERS, starring FIREPROOF’s Erin
Bethea, releases next year).