On October 8, 2024, thousands of Seventh-day Adventists all across Australia and New Zealand filled cinemas for an advanced screening of The Hopeful, one week before the Division-wide rollout on October 17. The Hopeful is a 90-minute feature film from Hope Channel International’s cinematic brand, Hope Studios, in collaboration with Kyle Portbury Films. Following last year’s partnership with the East Central-Africa Division’s “Hope for Africa” evangelism campaign through television, Hope Channel International is proud to partner with the South Pacific Division (SPD) this year to support “The Hopeful” evangelism campaign through the use of cinema.

“The visual movie screen has been a major influencer in our society for more than one hundred years, but there have not been many times that the Seventh-day Adventist church has been profiled on it,” said Glenn Townend, president of the South Pacific Division (SPD) of Seventh-day Adventists. “Eight years ago, the movie Hacksaw Ridge highlighted the life of US Army corporal noncombatant medic Desmond Doss in World War II. His beliefs about Jesus, the Sabbath, and the sanctity of life were portrayed. Many of us invited our friends to watch it with us as it portrayed our faith positively. Books and leaflets were given to friends and neighbors as well. We have another such opportunity coming this year – The Hopeful shares the story of Adventist missionary pioneer JN Andrews and his focus on taking the last-day gospel message to Europe.”

In July, the SPD released a 24-page evangelism document outlining the plan for total member involvement, including endorsements and ministry resources such as Steps to Christ: The Hopeful Edition book and audiobook, a historical narrative book from Review & Herald, and an interactive Bible study course. All these resources are available on the campaign’s website.

Vyacheslav Demyan, president of Hope Channel International and executive producer of The Hopeful said, “This is more than a film; it’s a tool to inspire and equip our global community for mission. As part of Hope Channel’s 2030 vision to reach 1 billion people with the message of eternal hope, this film demonstrates the power of media to connect people to the life-changing story of Jesus. We are excited to partner with the South Pacific Division to bring The Hopeful to hearts across the region.”

The film will play on over 150 screens in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. While The Hopeful had a two-night release across 900 theaters in North America back in April, the SPD rollout will extend for at least 10 days.

“In the spring, the Adventist Church baptized over 400,000 people in Papua New Guinea,” commented Kevin Christenson, director of Hope Studios and executive producer of The Hopeful. “Most of those new members don’t know the story of the movement they’ve joined, so it’s a blessing for Hope Channel International to follow that miracle by releasing this high-quality telling of that story. This partnership between filmmakers, writers, and ministers is a testament to how effective ministry happens – through a network of mission-minded people using their God-given talents.”

Releasing a film in cinemas is no small feat, which is why this marks the first for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a rarity among faith-based films to achieve international cinema distribution. Remarkably, so many theaters have chosen to showcase the story of the Advent movement – a miracle that deserves recognition.

Additionally, HOYTS and Event Cinemas recently selected The Hopeful for their Senior Movie Program in the region, providing extra promotion to the senior moviegoing demographic.

“There’s a tremendous appetite for quality storytelling on the big screen, and it’s no surprise that The Hopeful has been selected by large cinema chains to be showcased to senior audiences nationwide,” said Rod Hopping, founder of Heritage Films. “The senior market is a vital segment of the film industry, and a period piece like The Hopeful resonates deeply with this demographic.”

About Hope Studios

Hope Studios, the cinematic arm of Hope Channel International, crafts and shares stories across the globe through our footprint in over one hundred countries. With content rooted in faith and values, its mission transcends entertainment. Hope Studios strives to inspire positive change through the universal language of storytelling.

About Hope Channel International

Hope Channel International is a Seventh-day Adventist global media evangelism network that connects every heart globally with eternal hope through media that inspires. Hope Channel produces and distributes content in 100+ languages in more than 80 countries around the world, with each locally operated channel creating tailored messages to meet the spiritual needs of their communities. 

The orignal article was pubslihed on the Hope Channel International website.