Back in 1989, a ten-year old boy, Joshua Dennis from Kearns, UT, was lost in an abandoned mine.
He spent five days beneath the Earth, hungry and cold. However, his cry was heard — and a rescue took place. John Skinner, a historian who had familiarity of the mine, and who had premonitions, traveled hundreds of miles to assist with that rescue.
At the time, then President George H.W. Bush reportedly announced that this story was “evidence that miracles do happen.”
The account of Dennis’ miracle survival is retold in the faith-based feature movie, Faith of Angels, from filmmaker Garrett Batty, and it’s expanding to 400 theaters this Friday nationwide after making $151K over the last two weekends from 30 theaters. The movie’s expansion is timed to the 35th anniversary of the mining rescue.
The movie stars Cameron Arnett (The Forge), Kirby Hebourne and Michael Bradford who plays Dennis.
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Batty and Producer Daren Smith are releasing Faith of Angels independently through Purdie Distribution and began detailing the entire behind-the-scenes experience months ago, on their weekly podcast Truly Independent. The weekly episodes offer a transparent look at the challenges and triumphs of independent film distribution through interviews with industry experts, and their own experiences.
EPs are Kirk Roos and Roger Lindley of Heartstrings Media Capital.
“Making an independent film feels like a sprint. Releasing it to theaters across the country feels like sprinting a marathon. This incredible story makes it all worth it,” says Batty, whose previous films have seen similar theatrical roll-outs.
Smith says “Expanding to hundreds and hundreds of screens after a successful limited release is a credit to the audience who are embracing this film. We’re thrilled that theaters are jumping on board to bring it to them.”
Faith of Angels is a Three Coin Productions, Kappa Studios, FilmFrog and Heartstrings Media Capital.
Take a look at the trailer above.