Former Sen. Rick Santorum has been named CEO of EchoLight Studios, which produces and distributes faith-based and family-friendly films such as 1 Message, Foolishness, I Am . . . Gabriel and Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell.

"This is the right place and right time, and I've jumped in with both feet," said Santorum, who announced his appointment June 22 on FOX News Channel's The Mike Huckabee Show. "I often say that culture is upstream from politics, and I know entertainment also can be strength and light for people who want to be uplifted and reinforced in their values."

EchoLight's first theatrical film, The Redemption of Henry Myers, is slated for release this fall. Based in Dallas, EchoLight's second theatrical is Hoovey, a film to be released in 2014 and based on the story of Illinois basketball player Eric "Hoovey" Elliott. It is directed by Soul Surfer Director Sean McNamara.

Santorum, who has spent the past year helping EchoLight develop and grow, has high expectations for EchoLight.

"Dallas can become the Hollywood of the faith-and-family movie market," he said. "And the keys are great content and economic success, using money from all over to build out the industry and distribute an authentic product truthful to the faith in people's lives.

"We're in a position with potential to transform the industry," Santorum added. "EchoLight is a wide door into movie excellence and to more of it—which is why we're also helping to cultivate young filmmakers in the faith community, helping them develop cinema that, in many, many ways, can go further and do more."

EchoLight Studios has pledged up to $1 million to produce and distribute the new work from the Best Film winner in this year's 168 Film Project.

Earlier this year, EchoLight awarded $250,000 to fund, co-produce and distribute the work of the winner in the 2013 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Short Film category. Brandon Adams' film Useless took the award, which also won multiple awards in last year's 168 Film Project, including Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Acting.

Additionally, EchoLight has a multi-year, multimillion-dollar agreement to produce films from Liberty University's Cinematic Arts program.

A staunch social conservative, Santorum was the underdog who made it near the top of the 2012 Republican presidential race and won the Iowa caucuses. Prior to running for president, Santorum served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995, and in the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007.

Visit http://www.echolight.com/ for more information on EchoLight.

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