Philadelphia, PA (March 16, 2014) – The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 announced today that it has commissioned History Making Productions (HMP) to produce two documentary films related to the World Meeting of Families Congress and Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia. These films will be marketed for sale via DVD and digital download.
“It’s important that we record the collective experience and memory of the events of the World Meeting of Families and the Papal visit,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, executive director of the World Meeting of Families -Philadelphia 2015. “Our experience with History Making Productions has been highly collaborative and we felt that its production of these important films would be a logical extension of HMP’s own work on the history of Catholic Philadelphia. We expect that audiences, both locally and nationally, will want to own these commemorative films documenting this incredible historic moment.”
As part of today’s announcement, the World Meeting of Families also released a video, produced by HMP, chronicling the artistic process by which Neilson Carlin, a Kennett Square artist commissioned by the World Meeting of Families, created the definitive iconic image for the event. This image, which is a depiction of the Holy Family, is a religious work of art meant to encourage both reflection and prayer. Mr. Carlin’s painting was unveiled at a Mass celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on September 7, 2014. The new video can be viewed at www.worldmeeting2015.org. It will also be distributed through social media.
Additionally, HMP is producing a series of travel videos highlighting Catholic shrines, churches and other sites of visitor interest throughout the region. These videos will also be distributed freely by the World Meeting of Families and through partner websites including Visit Philadelphia, PHLCVB and other community supporters. Diana Van Glahn of The Faithful Traveler hosts these short tourism programs. Among the sites to be featured are the Shrines of St. John Neumann (Philadelphia), St. Katharine Drexel (Bensalem), St. Rita of Cascia (Philadelphia), Miraculous Medal Shrine (Philadelphia), St. Gianna Berretta Molla (Warminster) as well as university campuses, historically significant churches and Mother houses of orders of women religious.
“We are thrilled and honored to participate in the World Meeting of Families in these film projects,” said Sam Katz, Executive Producer for History Making Productions. “To document the breadth of history and the influences on the city that Catholic communities have had and will have is a unique opportunity for a hometown film studio. We are working hard on Urban Trinity. Covering the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis’ visit enables us to bring that history up to the present day.
Urban Trinity: The Story of Catholic Philadelphia, a 75-minute three-part documentary film produced by HMP, will be premiered at Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts during the week of the World Meeting of Families.
About World Meetings of Families
Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015). Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe. The World Meeting of Families is a triennial global event, sponsored by The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, which seeks to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. Being held in the United States for the first time ever, the official theme for the 2015 World Meeting of Families is “Love is our mission: the family fully alive.” For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next September, please visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org. For more information regarding The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, which co-sponsors the World Meeting of Families with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, visit http://www.familiam.org/famiglia_eng/00002554_HOME_ENG.html. You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015), Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015).
About History Making Productions
History Making Productions (www.historymakingproductions.com) is a Philadelphia based documentary film studio whose work has primarily interpreted and presented the history of Philadelphia. HMP blends the talents of young filmmakers with more experienced talent to create content for television broadcast, digital platforms, classroom use and museum and community events. The company’s first series, Philadelphia: The Great Experiment (www.historyofphilly.com) chronologically explores the history of Philadelphia from 1600-1995 in 14 episodes, eight of which have been completed. A new series, The Women of Philadelphia (www.womenofphilly.com) will excavate the city’s history from the vantage point of its women whose contributions were largely overlooked by historians. A series on Philadelphia innovations is also planned with initial films on contributions to the creation of motion pictures to be later supplemented with stories on the railroad industry, medicine and science, art and culture and others. Urban Trinity: The Story of Catholic Philadelphia (www.urbantrinityfilm.com) is in production and will be presented during the week of the World Meeting of Families. Sam Katz, its Executive Producer, founded HMP in September 2008. The company’s studio is located at 340 North 12th Street in the Callowhill neighborhood.
Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747