Faith-based films were big business at ICRS Orlando, with screenings throughout the week. The best-attended event was the Tuesday-night screening of 90 Minutes in Heaven, a drama from Giving Films (Family Christian Ministries) based on the best-selling book by Don Piper. More than 250 packed into the screening before organizers began turning people away because the room had reached capacity. Piper and his wife, Eva, attended and were visibly moved by the movie, which is based on Don’s story of dying in a car accident and going to heaven.

“This was the first time we’ve seen it with a big group of people, and it was very hard to watch and re-live it,” Don said. “It is very true to the way it all happened.”

Sony’s Affirm Films hosted small, in-suite screenings of the Kendrick Brothers’ film War Room, scheduled to release in theaters Aug. 28, as well as upcoming biblical epic Risen, scheduled to open on the big screen Jan. 22, 2016.

“We want to try to rally believers across racial and denominational lines to go to battle in prayer,” Stephen Kendrick said at the screening. “We want to see an awakening in this country.”

War Room tells the story of a young couple struggling to keep their marriage together, until the wife meets Miss Clara, who teaches her to fight on her knees in prayer.

“We like to tell these stories through film because if I preached a sermon to 1,000 people each week, it would take me 1,000 weeks to reach a million people,” Alex Kendrick said. “But millions of people around the world can hear the same message in one film.”

War Room’s potential impact was already being felt on the convention floor where tie-in products could be seen throughout the floor. B&H Publishing Group is releasing a Church Campaign Kit, Bible study and related nonfiction titles like The Battle Plan for Prayer. Tyndale releases War Room: The Novel by Chris Fabry on Aug. 7, and Carpentree has designed a line of gift plaques and wall decor.

Risen stars Joseph Fiennes as a Roman tribune who plays detective to determine whether or not the resurrection of Jesus really occurred. The film begins at the crucifixion and ends just after Christ’s ascension.

“I first read this script seven years ago and loved it,” said Rich Peluso, senior vice president, Affirm Films. “When it finally came to us, I said ‘yes’ right away.”

The Erwin Brothers, who saw success with last year’s Mom’s Night Out, are back with the football film Woodlawn, opening in theaters Oct. 16. The film is based on the true story of a high school football team in Birmingham, Alabama, which overcame racial tensions and found fame after being impacted by the Jesus Movement of the 1970s.

“I’m from Birmingham—that’s my backyard,” said Caleb Castille, an actor who played football for Alabama State University like his character, Tony, goes on to do in the film.

“I didn’t know this story growing up, of how the Jesus Movement was such a catalyst for this team," Castille said. "It shows that the love of Jesus Christ can overcome any amount of hatred.”

Other big film releases to come include the powerful Paramount drama Captive, based on the true story of Ashley Smith, a young woman who was held hostage in her apartment by a killer who let her go hours after she read parts of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life to him. Starring Kate Mara and David Oyelowo, Captive opens in theaters Sept. 18.

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