‘Freetown’ to Premiere at 2015 LDS Film Festival
Two high-profile films, “Freetown” and “The Cokeville Miracle,” are scheduled to premiere at the 2015 LDS Film Festival on March 4- 7, 2015.
The film “Freetown” is based on a true story of Liberian missionaries who fled their country because of widespread violence and made a treacherous trek to Freetown in Sierra Leone. “Freetown” was filmed on location in Africa and directed by Garrett Batty, director of “The Saratov Approach,” and was produced by Adam Abel, producer of “Saints and Soldiers” and “Forever Strong.”
“When I first announced ‘Freetown’ last year at the LDS Film Festival, I had no idea of the powerful experiences that this film would provide,” Batty said. “I’m thrilled to now have audiences share in this significant journey.”
“Freetown” will be shown on the opening night of the LDS Film Festival. Christian Vuissa, founder and director of the LDS Film Festival, recognized a distinct change in the films being made by LDS filmmakers.
“This year’s festival lineup indicates a clear growth in the LDS film community,” Vuissa said. “More films are being made on a wider range of subjects.”
“The Cokeville Miracle” is also based on a true story that takes place in Cokeville, Wyoming where a man and his wife took over an elementary school and held everyone hostage with guns and a bomb. Two hours later, the bomb went off with over one hundred children and teachers within feet of the explosion, only two deaths associated with the incident occurred. “The Cokeville Miracle,” directed by T.C. Christensen, director of “17 Miracles,” will show on the closing night of the LDS Film Festival.
The LDS Film Festival will also include presentations by Orson Scott Card, author of “Ender’s Game,” Jerusha Hess, director of “Austenland,” cast members of “Studio C,” and Blair Treu, Jeff Roberts, and David Nielson, filmmakers of “Meet the Mormons.”
All events are open to the public. Festival passes, day passes and tickets for individual screenings can be purchased directly at the Scera Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah, on their website or by phone at 801-225-ARTS.