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Welcome to the 3rd annual Missions Fest Vancouver Film Festival (MFVFF).

As a co-founder of Reel Light (a Metro Vancouver area professional fellowship for Christians who work in media and entertainment), it has been my pleasure to serve as the 2012 Film Festival Director. Together with committee members Shannon Braithwaite, Vincent Chin, Tim Hall, Phil Hood, Bill McGowan, Greg Meeres, and Marnie Wooding, eight film events (containing 700 minutes of film) and a few film seminars have been programmed -- including the Vancouver premiere of four films. In most cases, filmmakers are in attendance to represent their film and share more about their work after each screening. Additional information is contained in the film festival booklet available on-site at Missions Fest. We hope you enjoy the sights and sounds of God’s world and people brought to you in film.   Debra Sears.

FILM FESTIVAL ADMISSION:
Tickets can be purchased by phone or email until Friday January 20th @ 4pm.  After that, remaining passes and tickets will be available at the door only.
You can pay by cheque or credit card (MC, VISA, AMEX)
Call 604-524-9944 (8 am to 4 pm)
or email: tickets@missionsfestvancouver.ca  
SORRY NO REFUNDS

CONTENT WARNING:   Some films contain scenes of the effects of violence in war-torn countries as well as other content which may not be suitable for all audiences.  Viewer discretion is advised.

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8:50pm, Friday, January 27 (first screening)
4:00pm, Sunday, January 29 (second screening)
NOT TODAY (English and Telegu)
Narrative (USA / India, 105 minutes) - Canadian Premiere
Friends Media
Executive Producer: Matthew Cork (Lead Pastor: Friends Church)
Produced by Brent Martz - in attendance
Written and Directed by Jon Van Dyke
Hyderabad Liaison & Consultant Dr. Joseph D’souza - in attendance
Cinematographer: Abe Martinez
Composer: Don Harper
Starring: Cody Longo, Walid Amini and John Schneider
http://nottodaythemovie.com - http://www.dalitfreedom.net

A bet amongst privileged college students to party in Hyderabad catapults Caden (Cody Longo) from the comforts of Orange County life to India’s high life. However, a chance encounter with a homeless untouchable and his 7-year-old daughter sends Caden on a journey to rescue the girl from forced slavery.

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11:00am, Saturday, January 28
1040: CHRISTIANITY IN THE NEW ASIA
Documentary (USA, 78 minutes)
Adventures.TV in association with Arowana Films
Executive Produced by Carl Choi
Produced by Anson Ho
Directed by Evan Jackson Leong
Edited by Greg Louie
Featuring: Jaeson Ma, MC Hammer, Jin, Van Ness Wu, Mike Bickle, Sean Jinusean, and
David Wang - in attendance
http://1040movie.com - http://adventures.tv - http://jaesonma.com
Preceded by NORTH KOREAN VOICES (Canada, 26 minutes)
Greg Musselman, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada - in attendance

1040 explores the rapid changes in Asia and significant spiritual landscape shift in the area known as the “10/40 Window”- the regions between 10 degrees and 40 degrees North Latitude on the eastern hemisphere. Artist and minister Jaeson Ma takes us on an exciting journey through the Asian countries in the window, showing us the dramatic changes happening on the ground. We visit China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia. Through incisive observations, intimate interviews with prominent leaders and celebrities, and powerful, never-before-heard stories, 1040 dynamically explores a part of our globe that is experiencing vast socioeconomic expansion and profound shift in identity-- it is an area that is now nothing less than the frontier of world Christianity.

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1:15pm, Saturday, January 28
A JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION
Documentary (Canada / Cambodia, 33 Minutes)
Produced by Cheryl Weber
Camera: Mike Wright
Editor: Gary Carr
Featuring: Brian McConaghy, Ratanak International - in attendance
http://www.ratanak.org - http://www.defenddignity.ca
Preceded by 3 Short Defend Dignity Videos (Canada, 24 minutes)
Filmmaker Greg Meeres, Bold Fish Entertainment - in attendance

The journey to the first-ever conviction under Canada’s sex tourism laws began in December 2003. The case developed quickly when Vancouver City Police called upon former RCMP forensic specialist and founder of Ratanak International (a Cambodia focused mission agency) Brian McConaghy to assist. The process led McConaghy and an American couple, Don and Bridget Brewster of NewSong Centre (AIM), to partner in the work of rescuing and rehabilitating exploited Cambodian children. God’s blessing on their efforts is clearly shown in this documentary.

While no graphic content is shown in this program, the subject matter is challenging and is not recommended for younger viewers.

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2:45pm, Saturday, January 28
AN AFRICAN ANSWER
Documentary (UK / Kenya, 39 Minutes) - Vancouver Premiere
FLT Films
Producer: Imad Karam
Directed and Produced by Alan Channer
Camera: Robinson Malemo & Tony Biwott
Editor: Imad Karam
Narration: Kathleen Openda
Featuring: Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa
Chris Hartnell of Initiatives of Change - in attendance
http://www.anafricananswer.org - http://www.ca.iofc.org
Preceded by:
IT STARTS WITH A GIRL, LONG ROAD HOME, and MOTHERS OF KIGEME (Canada, 40 minutes)
Filmmaker Greg Meeres, Bold Fish Entertainment - in attendance
Filmmaker Andrew Nguyen - in attendance
Filmmaker Laurie Case - in attendance

In 2006, the documentary THE IMAM AND THE PASTOR profiled the personal transformations of Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye from militant youth leaders to peacebuilders. Through their Interfaith Mediation Center, Ashafa and Wuye have mediated peace between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria’s Plateau State. AN AFRICAN ANSWER brings the conversation on interfaith peacebuilding a step forward, detailing the pair’s unique methodology for building peace in divided societies as they work to bridge divides in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province following the 2007 outbreak of post-election inter-ethnic violence.

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4:35pm, Saturday, January 28
A FORCE FOR CHANGE
Documentary (USA / Brazil, 41 Minutes)
The Sentinel Group
Director: George Otis Jnr
Steve Loopstra, The Sentinel Group - in attendance
http://www.sentinelgroup.org
Preceded by COLOMBIAN VOICES (Canada, 30 Minutes) and
STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT (Canada / South Africa, 28 Minutes)
Greg Musselman, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada - in attendance
Russell Stendal, Colombia Para Cristo Society - in attendance
Filmmaker Stuart Spani, Norlyn Audio Visual Services - in attendance

The São Paulo police force is the largest and best-equipped law enforcement agency in the southern hemisphere. Employing well over 100,000 personnel, the force boasts aerial support operations, mounted cavalry, a counter-terrorism unit, riot control troops, and an impressive criminal intelligence division. Yet it was corrupt, brutal, and despised. In 2003, several senior officers saw the Transformations documentary and major changes began to unfold. Godly strategies emerged leading to dramatic turnarounds in the city’s most violent neighborhoods. Now other police forces across the nation are asking how they can replicate this success.

6:45pm, Saturday, January 28
PRIEST-DOCTOR: SERVING THE SOUL – HEALING THE BODY
Documentary (Canada / Peru, 45 min)
Filmmaker Erin Parks - in attendance
http://www.editorerin.com
Preceded by PLACED (Canada / South Africa, 16 Minutes)
Filmmaker Caryn Matheson - in attendance

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Erin’s film PRIEST-DOCTOR is being presented in place of her film AMAZON TEARS.

At the heart of the northeastern Peruvian Amazon is Santa Clotilde, which has grown into the largest town along the Napo River.  Two extraordinary priest-doctors - one Canadian, one American - have given more than 20 years of their lives to the people living in the Peruvian jungle.  This film shares their struggles and triumphs of bringing health care, along with worship, to this beautiful and remote part of the world.  Vancouver based Physician Dr. Kerry Telford is briefly interviewed in the film.  She frequently travelled to Peru to assist with clinic duties until she and her 6-month old baby passed away in a float plane crash in BC in 2010.

12:30pm, Sunday, January 29
UNDAUNTED: THE EARLY LIFE OF JOSH MCDOWELL
Docudrama (USA, 69 Minutes) - Canadian Premiere
Moonlit Pictures
Josh McDowell Ministries CEO John Hossler - in attendance
Produced by Douglas Maddox - in attendance
Written & Directed by Cristobal Krusen
Director of Photography: Rich Brauer
Starring: Dale Hall and Allen Williamson (as Josh)
http://moonlitpictures.com - http://www.josh.org
Preceded by HORSES FOR ORPHANS Project Brazil (Canada, 20 Minutes)
Filmmakers Tobi Elliot & Charlotte Gentis - in attendance

In October 2011, well-known speaker and author of books such as EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT and MORE THAN A CARPENTER, Josh McDowell, celebrated 50 years in ministry. UNDAUNTED is a story of hope, forgiveness and abundant grace. This is Josh’s story of growing up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic, violent father and a sexually abusive caregiver that left him with a lifetime of scars, until God’s overwhelming love touched him and he came to face a life-changing Truth.

2:35pm, Sunday, January 29
HELLBOUND?
Trailer  (Canada, 2 Minutes) - Vancouver Premiere
Kevin Miller XI Productions Inc.
Producer / Writer / Director Kevin Miller - in attendance
Producer David Rempel - in attendance
http://hellboundthemovie.com

FREE – no ticket required!

Be the very first to get a sneak peak of the trailer for a brand new feature-length documentary  that asks why we’re so bound to the idea of hell and what our beliefs about hell reveal about how we perceive God, the Bible, justice, freedom and, ultimately, ourselves.  Over the past year, Vancouver based filmmakers Kevin Miller and David Rempel have travelled to over 2 dozen cities across Europe, Canada and the USA  interviewing religious leaders, authors, scholars and celebrities on the subject.  The film is expected to be released in the fall of 2012.

Seminars presented in conjunction

with the Film Festival

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27 Click here for seminar description. Search for any word of the Seminar title. Or look at magazine pages 40-45.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 Click here for seminar description. Search for any word of the Seminar title. Or look at magazine pages 40-45.