Film Festival Live: Looking Back
The festival is over. The week is done. I stood in the hallway of the San Antonio Convention center and said goodbye to many of the strong Christian leaders I had the honor of spending a bit of time with. Like Stephen Kendrick, producer of Facing the Giants, John Moore, newly awarded winner of the largest grand prize for film in US history (Huemoore productions also holds claim to this years Audience Choice Award), the Von Trapp children, great-grandchildren of the Captain and Maria Von Trapp, and many, many more.
Over the past week I’ve seen history made. I stood and watched Christians leap to the front of the film festival race, I saw resolute followers of Christ decide to use film for the glory of God, and to use it with competence. I’ve seen bewildered press from all over the nation ask themselves, “Who are these Christians, and what are they doing?” But most importantly, though it’s in the unclear future, I believe I saw the beginning of a Christian film industry that will someday influence the world for good as much as Hollywood has done for ill.
I stood alongside 500 young filmmakers who sacrificed their time and money to sit through three days of film training. From theology to technology they dissected what it means to be a Christian filmmaker. They recognized that the message is the priority, but the quality will influence how far their film goes, and how many people it reaches.
One step at a time is what these pioneer Christian filmmakers are doing. No, the films aren’t perfect. Yes, sometimes there are some very cheesy acting or scripting, but, as my father says, you can’t make your fifth movie first, and I know they can and will continue to rise up.
The whole event was incredible. A huge blessing, and a huge learning experience. Lord willing, I may be submitting a film into the competition one day but either way, I know I want to go back next year.
Will I see you there?
To Christ Alone be the Glory,
Isaac F. Harris
January 11th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Thanks so much Isaac, I really felt like I was there!!!
God Bless,
Tiffany
January 11th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Wow Isaac, that was great! My parents have seen some of your posts and they want to try to go next time. They are really interested. Thanks for taking the time to blog about it for us. It was really fun to see all the posts!
I hope you learned alot (which it seems like you did)! 
God Bless you,
Sophie:)
January 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
would anyone be interested in leading an “anti hollywood” campaign??? I really hate what they are doing to Rick Warren.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Thanks for the Posting Isaac! You’ll be a great film maker someday
God Bless,
Elisabeth
January 11th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Again, Awesome job, Isaac. I really appreciated and thouroughly enjoyed reading your posts!!!
I’m hoping and praying that I’ll be able to go next year!! Thanks again and may the Lord richly bless you this year and in years to come!
January 11th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thanks so much for blogging through the Film Festival, Isaac! It was great being able to keep up with what was going on. God bless!
January 11th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
May we united together and fight( by God’s grace) the forces of evil that have a grip on the culture. Pray for evangelists, writers, filmmakers, actors, comedians, businessmen, and engineers that will stand against the tyranny of the culture and start a reformation that will cause Hollywood to shut its doors and the only to start doing business is to do it in a biblical way. Thanks for the posts Isaac. Enjoyed reading some of them.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I’ve been sharing these posts to a pastor and people who are interested in film making. Though we’re far I’ll be praying that someone or some people from our country could go there someday and learn more about filmmaking, God’s way. Hollywood’s influenced our film industry so much that there are hardly Christ-themed and culturally relevant films that people could see here. They’re really crap (pardon crap but I can’t find a word to describe them) and shallow. I hope to see Christian film making industry spread around the world someday. Who knows? If He isn’t coming yet, there might just be an Independent Christian Film Festival in every country someday.
Thanks for starting it out there in San Antonio. And thanks so much for the posts again Isaac.
January 11th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hey, I just wanted to clarify - I love that the Christians are getting together and doing film festivals. I think that it’s really cool that they are doing that, and I’m not implying that I don’t like Issac’s posts, I LOVE them and think that they are REALLY cool.
I just think that we can’t stand here and watch these people from Hollywood pick on US!!!!
January 11th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Thanks so much Issac for doing all these posts while you were there! I have really been enjoying them and would love someday to be apart of a Christian film (I think I’d probably rather act, than be a director though… :D)
Oh, and I was wondering… do you have any idea of what you’d want to do a movie on?
God bless you!
-Destiny
January 11th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Thanks for these posts! I really enjoyed them!
God Bless!
Devorah =)
January 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Thanks for keeping us updated all along the way! God bless!
January 12th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Thanks so much for all of your informaive posts Isaac.
I have no doubt you will be a great filmmaker one day!
God Bless!
January 12th, 2009 at 8:51 am
To those who are doing hard things, to the young and very young who love the Lord and seek a life of service to Him, support one another in Christian filmmaking. Share information 24/7. Help finance Christian film ventures. Help promote Christian films. There is NO LIMIT to what those of you who are young can do for the Kingdom minded others of youi who actually write and film the features. Gather together online, like the Harris brothers did to pledge financial support to one central account which will be used to pay for the films to be created. I will help if you want. Just be in touch and we will see how we can create a literal central clearing house for lending real money to pay for these creations. raymeo888@yahoo.com
January 12th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Isaac, that was so exciting and thank you SO MUCH for doing all of that! God Bless!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Thanks for the posts, Isaac! It enjoyed hearing your take on the festival. You have a great writing style, very informative and professional, but still personal and fun. Thanks for working so hard to let us “be a part” of the festival from afar. God bless you and I will hope to see you there next year!
January 12th, 2009 at 11:30 am
I’ll be back!
January 12th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Great job Isaac! I followed along all week, your posts were very clear and interesting. I look forward to seeing how God will use this experience in your life. I would be happy with just a small part in your first film.:)
January 12th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I’ll try and make it next year man
January 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thank you soooo much for the posts of the film festival!
I have LOTS of Ideas about films Christian filmmakers would be really good at portraying, but don’t know where to share my ideas, and there are not many people that I know in California (that is where I live) that have the same Ideas, or convictions as myself! there are a few, but not many!
any one else out there who has the same problem?
January 12th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Antoinette: Many people do, and the best way to share your ideas, would be at this festival.
January 12th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Thank you so much, Isaac for being diligent in blogging the Film Festival. I really enjoyed reading all your thoughts about the Academy and Festival. I also enjoyed watching The Widow’s Might. I am a little disappointed that Fireproof did not win Best of Festival. But I think it was good that they chose The Widow’s Might so that young filmmakers will continue be encouraged to keep working toward that award. Thanks again for blogging.
January 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Thanks for the blogging Isaac!
January 12th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the Widow’s Might?
January 12th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Thanks for taking the time to do this, Isaac!
Gabriella, you can buy The Widow’s Might here:
http://behemoth.com/album/52769/
January 12th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thanks so much for blogging, Isaac. It’s been really inspiring and exciting to hear what’s going on in the Christian film making arena. Sounds like God is up to some amazing things. I’m looking forward to the next however-many-years. Amazing things are going to happen. Are happening.
God bless you.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Thank you so much for the posts Isaac! I am really interested in making films and these articles have given me some good tips.
God bless!
Sarah.:)
January 12th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Thank you, Isaac, for blogging about the festival. The posts were really interesting. I think it would be interesting to do something with the media, not exactly movies though. Thanks again.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Thank you Isaac.
Wish I could have been there as well, but your posts were awesome. Can’t wait for next year. God is doing some huge things in the Christian Movie world, and it’s so awesome to see it unfold.
January 13th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Dear Issac,
I have had trouble with my web connection so I haven’t been able to read every post. But I liked this one. Thank you for taking time to write to the rest of us about what you are doing.
May God give you a safe journey home.
Rose
January 13th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Thank you, Isaac, for your very detailed and thorough posting of the festival. I am thrilled to see that, like all of your other brothers, you too are discovering the gifts God has given you in the arena He has chosen, and using it to impact the world for His glory.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Sounds incredibly cool, Isaac! Wish I could have been there!
January 13th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Great job Isaac! I really hope to go next year, maybe entering a film, it was great to read your posts!
January 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hey Isaac, that was an awesome job blogging the festival! I think my favorite post was on the 4 C’s of music part.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Thanks so much for all your posts, Issac! I really enjoyed and appreciated each one.
I really do hope to go next year. So maybe I /will/ see you there!!
January 14th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Thanks for all the posts, Isaac! You did a great job with it all and I really enjoyed reading the updates.
I don’t know if I would do the Academy, but I would really like to try for the Festival next year. If everything works out, maybe I’ll see you there!
Thanks again!
A sister in Christ…
January 14th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Thank you so much for writing about the film festival. I’m homeschooled to and we go to a Baptist Church in our small about an hour south of Chicago. Me and my older sister are going to bring a few friends with us to the Conference in Chicago. And by the way I’m 14 to. My mom agrees with everything your dad says and both my and my sister agrees with everything Alex and Brett says. well I have to go. You and your family will be in my prayers.
P.S have you ever heard of Wolrdview Acdemy.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thanks for sharing with us!
January 14th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Thank you so much for all the updates on the film academy and film festival! I strongly desire to make films which glorify God and further His kingdom. I live near Portland, OR. Perhaps we can discuss collaborating on a project?
Congratulations to all those who won awards at the SAICFF!
Soli Deo Gloria,
Alyssa
January 14th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
this film festival would fit me so well. when go threw colledge i want to be a writer and a directer. i hope it isn’t weird but i have my life goals already planned out. this is something that i am going to do. i have let people tell me i can’t that i wanted to do it for all the wrong reasons. that i can’t do it. well i can. that is something i got from your book. doing the hard things. that it isn’t going to jump up from just doing nothing you have to work at it. so that is why i am going to push all things that they said out and do what my goals are in life to live more like god and have my dreams come true. thank you soo much.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
That’s great man. I’m with you on the fact that the Christian films will one day change the nation for good, unlike Hollywood has done for ill.I hope that one day I will be able to give my money to young movie makes like yourself and the boys I know from my church who went to the Festival. Who have the talent it takes to make movie’s. God Bless.
In Christ
Jordan
January 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Looks as though it turned out well. Thanks for writing, Isaac.
Will you see me? I certainly hope so.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I read your bok, It has realloy made a difference in my life.
God Bless,
Emma
January 15th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I mean book. Oops.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I cannot type today! Aak! I meant really:)
January 15th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Hello again!
I watched Pendragon yesterday and it was reeeeeeally goooood!
I could not believe the neat special affects that where in this movie! thumbs up from me!
We just Got the Widow’s Might and I cannot whait to see it!
January 16th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Good blogging Isaac. You made me feel like I was there experiencing it all myself.
May God bless your endeavors!
In His Strength,
Noella
January 16th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I’m really looking forward to seeing Pendragon and Widow’s Might. I’m glad to hear the positive feedback on them.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I really am excited to watch Fireproof and Expelled.
January 31st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Hi! I am a total newcomer to the Rebelution…and I like what I see.
I had heard positive things about the site, so I decided to check it out for myself. Of course, one of the motivators (I must be honest) was the requirement, for a course I am taking in college, that I must visit and comment on a certain number of new blogs each week.
So here I am.
But, now that I’m here, I will be staying. Of my own accord.
Keep up the good work!
Col. 3:23-24
February 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Good stuff, Isaac;
The San Antonio Christian Film Festival
sure was awesome this year; even better
than the last one, which was really good too.