One of the year’s top faith-based films has been named the top romantic movie of the year by a mainstream publication, Seventeen Magazine.
The publication recently listed its “7 Most Romantic Movies Premiering in 2020” and placed I Still Believe — a faith-based movie directed by Christian filmmakers Jon and Andrew Erwin — at No. 1.
“If you're a sucker for love, then get ready because 2020 is going to be your year,” the magazine’s Jasmine Gomez wrote. “... Browse through this list to figure out what days you have a date with the movie theatre.”
I Still Believe, which releases in theaters March 13, was No. 1 on Seventeen’s list. It was made by the same directors who made I Can Only Imagine, Woodlawn and Mom’s Night Out.
“Riverdale's KJ Apa stars in this romantic movie about singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp,” Gomez wrote. “The movie follows Jeremy's life, including his marriage to his first wife, Melissa. Melissa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just before they were married, but the pair continued on with their relationship through Melissa's illness.”
Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland, A Dog’s Purpose) stars as Melissa.
Camp is a well-known contemporary Christian singer.
The movie’s producer, Kevin Downes, told Christian Headlines he hopes the cast of Apa and Robertson — along with Melissa Roxburgh (Manifest), Gary Sinise (Apollo 13) and singer Shania Twain — will bring in moviegoers who normally wouldn’t watch a faith-based film.
“It's so hard to reach a younger generation through film,” Downes told Christian Headlines. “And I believe that this film is going to do that – mainly because the cast is gonna really allow an opportunity for that younger audience to want to come in and experience an emotional true love story. But what's great is our foundation, our basis, is the Bible.”
The movie has a clear gospel-centric message, Downes said.
“Our goal is when we embark onto a new film is really to be able to showcase the power of the gospel, and we felt like we found that in this story,” Downes said. “For those who aren't familiar with [Camp’s] story, I think what they'll see is a young love story that showcases the power of true love and sacrificial love – and a love that is patient, a love that is kind, a love that just understands and that is really selfless. It’s a biblical love. They may not know that's what it is, but they're going to see it showcased right in front of them.”
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
