OREM — They come to envision, to create and to illuminate.
And this year more than 5,000 ticket holders including producers, directors and actors are expected at the 7th Annual LDS Film Festival.
The LDS Film Festival focuses on films produced and directed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or films that have an LDS theme or interest.
Festival director Christian Vuissa says the festival continues to grow each year.
"This is the strongest festival program ever put together," Vuissa said.
Familiar full-length movies that have made their debut at the LDS Film Festival include "Saints and Soldiers," "The Best Two Years," "Sons of Provo," "Return With Honor," "Anxiously Engaged," "Believe," "Suits on the Loose" and "The Sasquatch Gang."
This year's full-length features include the opening night premiere of "Forever Strong," directed by Ryan Little and produced by Adam Able and Ryan Little. Other films include "Tears of a King: The Latter Days for Elvis," directed by Josh Diamond and produced by Joshua Pearson and Kels Goodman, and "Take," starring Minnie Driver, directed by Charles Oliver, produced by Chet Thomas.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, see www.ldsfilmfestival.org. Here is a show schedule:
Wednesday Jan. 16: 7 p.m., XanGo Grand Theatre, "Forever Strong."
Thursday, Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Showhouse II, "Tears of a King: The Latter Days of Elvis"
9:45 p.m. XanGo Grand, "Happy Valley"
10 p.m. Showhouse ll, "TAKE"
Friday, Jan. 18: 12:30, XanGo Grand, "The Pratt Brothers: Builders of Faith"
5 p.m., XanGo Grand, "Tears of a King: The Latter Days of Elvis"
7:30 p.m., XanGo Grand, "The Errand of Angels"
7:30 p.m., Showhouse ll, "TAKE"
9:45 p.m., XanGo Grand, "The Eleventh Hour"
9:45 p.m., Showhouse ll, "Hold the Door"
Saturday, Jan. 19: noon: XanGo Grand, "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons"
12:30, Showhouse ll, "An Off-Court Story: The Life of Kresimir Cosic" and "Los Mormon Boys"
2:30 p.m., XanGo Grand, "Emma Smith — My Story"
3 p.m., Showhouse ll, "Pioneers in Mormon Media" and "The Christian Eye"
5 p.m., XanGo Grand, "The Errand of Angels"
7:30 p.m., XanGo Grand, "Forever Strong"
9:45 p.m., XanGo Grand, "Happy Valley"
If you go
What: 7th Annual LDS Film Festival
Where: SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State, Orem
When: Jan. 16-19
Cost: $45 event pass; $28/day pass; $2-$6 various events
Phone: 225-2569