Contact: LaVonne McIver James, 862-588-2671

ISELIN, N.J., July 16, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ --The Churches Making Movies Christian Film Festival (CMM) announced today the first films selected for its 2014 festival to be held October 10-14 in Iselin, New Jersey. The festival is the only film festival in the world dedicated to showcasing church-produced feature films.

For the 2014 Churches Making Movies festival, so far 22 films have been selected inclusive of seven church-produced features, six documentaries, seven shorts and two special presentations.

NARRATIVE FEATURE CATEGORY:

ANOTHER CHANCE/ U.S.A.; Director, Paulo Simoes; church affiliation, Living Word Family Church, Raleigh, North Carolina (Regional Premiere) — Peter Martin, a sleazy small town politician, has his world turned upside down when two teenagers struggling to overcome their own mistakes bring him face to face with his sordid past.

REDEMPTION OF THE COMMONS/U.S.A.; Director, Pastor KT Terry; church affiliation, Downtown Community Fellowship, Seneca, South Carolina (Regional Premiere)—Through this drama's inspiring ending of reconciled relationships and realized dreams, we are reminded that no life is "common" - and that everyone has a God-given purpose.

MR. WHAT/USA; Director, Shuan Maki; church affiliation, First Baptist Church of Tecumsah, Michican (World Premiere)- Mattiesko Wuopio, though innocent , has spent twenty-two years in prison. Upon apprehension of the real criminal, Mattiesko seeks redemption through his father, a stray dog, and an endearing little boy.

SAVIOR/U.K. Director, Jordan Snowzell; Church Affiliation: Freedom Church, Hereford, England — Savior is a contemporary interpretation of the Christmas story set in modern England.

WHATEVER THE COST/U.S.A. Church Affiliation: Four Square Gospel Center, Winston, Oregon; Director: Jerry Smart (World Premiere) — Imagine a world where coming to church on Sunday was against the law; where owning a Bible could get you arrested; where sharing the gospel with someone who does not know Jesus could get you killed. "Whatever the Cost" is a depiction of such a time.

LOVE UNCUT/U.K. Church affiliation: His Praise and Glory Ministries; Director: Bola Akande- Love Uncut explores infidelity in marriage and the power that forgives all sin.

CRITICAL CHOICE/USA. Church Affiliation: NACADRAM (North American Conference of Evangelical Drama Ministers); Director: Mike Bamiloye-A wife bids her husband a temporary goodbye and thinks she made the right decision. Little does she know she would have to make a Critical Choice that would change their lives forever.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE CATEGORY:

SING OVER ME (2014) Director: Jacob Kindberg

IRREPLACEABLE (2014)Director: Tim Sisarich

HERE WE ARE TO WORSHIP (2013) Producer: Minister Valerie Allen

AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY RISING: (2013); Director: James Ault

BEYOND FORGIVING; (2013) Director: Dr. Imad Karam

VIRGIN TALES; Director: Mirjam von Arx

SHORT FILM CATEGORY

ONCE WE WERE SLAVES(2014) Director: Dallas Jenkins

THE MARY CONTEST (2014);Writer/Director: Teresa McGee

STORING TREASURES (2014); Director: Jerry Smart

5 WORDS FILM (2014);Affiliation: The Art Institute of Portland (student film);Director: Dennis Mulyar

THE WALK(2013); Director: Paul Snider

FAITH (2014); Directors: Cody J. Carlson and Andrew Peterson

BUTTERFLIES (2014)Director: Cayman Grant

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

THE GOOD BOOK–Writers/Directors; Fred and Sharon Wilharm- The Good Book is the first evangelical silent feature to be released since sound was added to movies.

WEDNESDAY MORNING BREAKFAST CLUB – Director: Justin Barber; Writer: Amanda Barber - A waitress befriends three elderly customers and learns to cherish the elderly.

THE FESTIVAL
The mission of the Churches Making Movies Christian Film Festival is to educate, energize, and empower churches to incorporate filmmaking into their ministries and to give exposure to the best church-produced films. In addition to movie screenings, the festival offers seminars and panels for church leaders, directors, producers, actors and those interested in utilizing films as a Christian evangelical tool. For images and additional information about the films and filmmakers, please visit www.churchesmakingmovies.com.