News & Events

Cinematic Arts Center holds dedication event with free film festival

Film buffs are in for a reel treat as Liberty University’s Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center will kick off its first full academic year with a dedication event, featuring a film festival, running Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The event is free and open to the public.

“This film festival brings people who love watching movies to a film event that focuses on positive redemptive films while showcasing Liberty University's new film school,” said Scotty Curlee, assistant professor of cinematic arts.

Liberty will hold screenings of the movies “Secretariat,” “Passion of the Christ,” “Courageous,” and “Seven Days in Utopia” at Cinemark Movies 10 near campus. Following each screening will be a Q-and-A with a filmmaker of that movie.

Randall Wallace (left), director of "Secretariat," and Stephen Kendrick, co-producer/co-director/co-writer of "Fireproof," will be among the lineup of panelists at the Cinematic Arts Center dedication event.

On Sept. 1, the Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center will hold a dedication ceremony in the Supreme Courtroom at the Liberty University School of Law. After the ceremony will be two filmmaking panels featuring Hollywood veterans from both mainstream and Christian circles, including Randall Wallace (“Braveheart,” “Secretariat”) and Stephen Kendrick (“Fireproof,” “Courageous”).

Several breakout sessions will take place in the afternoon, hosted by the individual panelists.

A special screening of the film “Expecting Mary,” at 7 p.m. in Green Hall 1945 will wrap up the festival.

The cinematic arts center plans to hold this event every year at the start of the fall semester.

For more information visit www.liberty.edu/cinemaevents.

• The Zaki Gordon Cinematic Arts Center launched in Spring 2012 and is designed to engage students actively in the digital and media delivery revolution that is transforming all areas of contemporary culture. Its course offerings provide both a conceptual and practical experience as well as world-class professional training facilities and equipment. Students accepted as Cinema Arts majors will enter an immersion program their junior year, in which they will be devoted solely to their filmmaking academia. All students who graduate will have written and directed their own short film; compiled a professional reel of their work; written, polished and formed a business plan for their own screenplay; and will have a credit on a long format film.

Film festival schedule of events

Thursday, Aug. 30

Film Screening, “Passion of the Christ” – 5:30 p.m., Cinemark Movies 10

            Filmmaker Q-and-A after showing

Film Screening, “Secretariat” – 8 p.m., Cinemark Movies 10

            Filmmaker Q-and-A after showing

Friday, Aug. 31

Film Screening, “Courageous” – 5:30 p.m., Cinemark Movies 10

            Filmmaker Q-and-A after showing

Film Screening, “Seven Days in Utopia” – 8 p.m., Cinemark Movies 10

            Filmmaker Q-and-A after showing

Saturday, Sept. 1

Dedication – 9-9:40 a.m., Supreme Courtroom, Liberty University School of Law

Filmmaking Panel, “Reaching a General Audience – 10 a.m., Supreme Courtroom

            Dan Gordon, Randall Wallace, Rich Peluso, Paul Lauer

Filmmaking Panel, “Reaching a Christian Audience” – 12:30 p.m., Supreme Courtroom

            Stephen Kendrick, David Cook, Bobby Downes, Chris Morrow

View biographies for the panel speakers

Breakout session (Dan Gordon), “Internet Distribution …” – 2:30-3:45 p.m., Green Hall 1953

Breakout session (Randall Wallace), “Finding and freeing up your creative voice”  – 2:30-3:45 p.m., Green Hall 1945

Breakout session (Rich Peluso), “Distribution Platforms …” – 2:30-3:45 p.m., Green Hall 1946

Breakout session (Paul Lauer), “How to make money in the movie business” – 2:30-3:45 p.m., Green Hall 1954

Breakout session (Stephen Kendrick), “The big picture” – 4-5:15 p.m., Green Hall 1945

Breakout session (David Cook), “Did he make the putt?” – 4-5:15 p.m., Green Hall 1953

Breakout session (Chris Morrow and Bobby Downs), Open Q-and-A, film production/distribution – 4-5:15 p.m., Green Hall 1946

Special Screening, “Expecting Mary” – 7 p.m., Green Hall 1945