Episode 179 - Bonus: Hard Faith Festival New York - with Spencer Folmar

In this special bonus episode, Your host Geoffrey Whitt  welcomes back filmmaker and producer Spencer T. Folmar, founder of Hard Faith Films and the Hard Faith Film Festival. They discuss the upcoming first regional Hard Faith Film Festival in New York City, the festival’s mission, and what attendees can expect from this exciting one-day event.

Topics Covered:

• The growth and vision of the Hard Faith Film Festival, now in its third year in Hollywood and expanding to New York City.
• The mission of Hard Faith Films: telling raw, authentic stories that inspire transformation and faith.

Details about the New York City regional festival:

• Date: Saturday, December 6th
• Time: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (doors open at 9:30 AM)
• Location: A block from Times Square, New York City
• 30 official selections, including feature films, documentaries, TV episodes, and screenplays
• Two theaters for screenings, including full-length features
• Workshops, pitch fest, and an award show
• After party sponsored by Hollywood Prayer Network

Special Guests & Workshops:

• Jaclyn Whitt: Workshop on podcast guesting
• Joseph Holmes: Workshop on making your first feature film and keeping the film critic in mind
• Nathan Clarkson: Workshop on authenticity in art
• Jennifer Porrata: Workshop on acting and modeling careers
• Chris Covell (Pinnacle Peak): Workshop on rewriting and development
• Spencer  Fulmar: Workshop on “Telling Stories That Liberate”

Festival Theme:

• “In the Bleak Midwinter” – inspired by the Christmas hymn, reflecting the time of year and the spirit of the event. (No requirement for submissions to be Christmas-themed.)

Schedule Highlights:

• Morning: Workshops and screenplay presentations (with interactive elements for screenwriters)
• Afternoon: More workshops, short film blocks, and feature screenings
• Pitch Fest: Opportunity to pitch story ideas to a panel of judges and a live audience
• Awards Show: Top three winners in short film and screenplay categories, plus other awards
• After Party: Networking and celebration at a local restaurant

How to Attend:

• Tickets available exclusively online at hardfaithfest.com or hardfaith.org
• Additional ticket add-on for Pitch Fest participation
• Buy tickets early due to high demand and limited seating

Links & Resources:

Listen to previous episodes with Spencer:

• Episode 133: “Hard Faith, Embracing Real Life in Storytelling”
• Episode 134: “Tackling R Rated Subject Matter”

• hardfaithfest.com / hardfaith.org for tickets and event info

Final Thoughts:

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the Hard Faith Film Festival in the heart of New York City during the magical Christmas season. Whether you’re a filmmaker, screenwriter, or film enthusiast, there’s something for everyone!

Edited By Geoffrey Whitt

The Faith & Family Filmmakers podcast helps filmmakers who share a Christian worldview stay in touch, informed, and inspired. Releasing new episodes every week, we interview experts from varying fields of filmmaking; from screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers, to film scorers,  talent agents, and distributors. 

It is produced and hosted by Geoffrey Whitt and Jaclyn Whitt , and is brought to you by the Faith & Family Filmmakers Association

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