Winners of the best documentary film called “Gracias Señor” (Thank you Lord) from the Central Venezuela Conference smile after receiving their award during the UVOFilm Cinematography festival held in Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 1, 2022. The event was organized by the East Venezuela Union and drew in more than 300 people. [Photo: East Venezuela Union]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the East Venezuela Union recently held a territory-wide film festival where hundreds gathered to view more than a dozen evangelistic short films and celebrate their production. The event took place at Cultural Central Park Center in Caracas, Venezuela, on Oct. 1, 2022.
“We are breaking paradigms with these films prepared by our media teams across the eight conference and mission fields here,” said Hernavid Torres, film director for the East Venezuela Union. The cinematography film festival, coined as UVOFilms, becomes the first to feature 16 short films based on the parables of Jesus. The union held its first film festival in 2019 on a smaller scale.
It was important to hold the film festival to present the message of salvation in a different way, said Lenny Hernández, communication director for the East Venezuela Union. “This was all part of gaining experience to develop an audiovisual project 100 percent through and through, scout talent and give a boost to Venezuelan cinema,” said Hernández.
Pastor Lenny Hernandez, communication director for the East Venezuela Union speaks during the opening of the church’s UVOFilms Festival, Oct 1, 2022. [Photo: East Venezuela Union]
Venezuelan film directors
Among the judges was Luis Carlos Hueck, a successful Venezuelan film director, who congratulated organizers and participants for promoting messages of hope. “The message in your productions touched my heart,” he said. “What’s most important is the message you want to transmit to the world.” Hueck expressed his interest in taking part in future film events organized by the church.
Another successful Venezuelan film director and judge of the film festival was Edgar Rocca, who said that the Venezuelan cinema was going through a crisis and applauded organizers of film initiatives. “I’m sure this is one of many UVOFilms editions and I would like to partner with the church as I too organize [film] festivals,” said Rocca.
Luis Carlos Hueck, a successful Venezuelan film director was one of the judges during the festival. He congratulated the church and participants for taking part in important the film festival. [Photo: East Venezuela Union]
An opportunity to share the gospel
Jorge Díaz, who is screenwriting and film production professor at Montemorelos University and production assistant for Hope Channel Inter-America, was among the judges for the festival and spoke during training seminars days previous to the film event. “The technological tools are not good nor bad, it all depends on their use and it’s time that we use films to advance the gospel.”
Díaz congratulated organizers and participants for inspiring others through their film projects. “It’s incredible how young people in the church are so involved and are excited because they see how this type of production is an opportunity to share the gospel,” said Diaz. “The fact is when the church opens spaces for young people who have so much talent in the audiovisual world, it opens a new door so they can be useful for others to learn about the message of hope that we have.”
Jorge Díaz, screenwriting and film production professor at Montemorelos University, in Mexico, and production assistant for Hope Channel Inter-America speaks during the film festival in Caracas, Venezuela[Photo: East Venezuela Union]
“The fact that this event motivates persons who are not necessarily professionals in communication or cinematography, who are church members, pastors, administrators in local fields eager to learn new techniques and involved in such initiatives is a wonderful step in advancing the gospel to an audience that needs the only hope,” said Márquez.
UVOFilms an annual event
The event drew participation of so many church members earlier in the year when media teams were organized, said Pastor Hernández. Church leaders are already planning on making UVOFilms an annual event. “We are challenging them to continue producing a message that can share hope and salvation,” he said.
A short film is featured during the cinematography film festival, Oct. 1, 2022. [Photo: East Venezuela Union]
To view the films featured during UVOFilms, click HERE