Charlie Zahm, leads festival attendees in the National Anthem.

“Every single one of the very best filmmakers of all time, including the filmmakers of our generation, have made first films, and then they made second films. And the truth about their first films is that they were much weaker and worse than their second films, etc. and it often takes four to five films for these filmmakers to become truly competent.”

“It is now possible for nobodies like us to enter into an industry that has been closed to outsiders. We can succeed outside of the machine of Hollywood. But we can create another engine outside of Hollywood, and begin to learn the same things that the beginning filmmakers learned.”

Mr. Botkin’s session tomorrow will teach us how he teaches his family to analyze film, by taking a popular film that has been lauded by both Christians and non-Christians alike and examining it theologically and artistically.

“Our vision for world change must begin with changing ourselves. What is less important is what is coming through the camera, and what is more important is what is coming out of the filmmaker, through the camera, to the world. We must show the world what is inside us — which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Stephen Kendrick, producer of the film, Facing the Giants (in theatres now), opens the event in prayer after an extended ovation from Festival attendees.