JESUS CAMP

In America today there is a growing cultural and political divide between the secular mainstream and a conservative fringe of evangelical Christians. This provocative film takes an impartial look into the world of the evangelical movement and its youth ministry, focusing on three devout Christian children, Levi, Rachael and Tory, who attend Pastor Becky Fischer's "Kids on Fire" summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, which aims to instil in its campers a deeper devotion to God and train the next generation of fighters in "God's Army".

Scenes of children speaking in tongues and praying over president George W. Bush are sure to raise eyebrows among liberal Americans, meanwhile Fischer hopes the film will have an impact on Christian audiences so that they realise how to "truly disciple" their children "as active members in the kingdom of God". For both sides of the divide Ewing and Grady's film raises questions about these home-schooled children, who have grown up surrounded by Christian music, media and educational materials, and the impact they will have on society when they eventually come of age.

"The camp is a riveting example of a world many Americans either do not understand or dismiss as 'fringe' and irrelevant to their own lives. But we felt perhaps they should take a closer look. The people portrayed in this film – white, middle class citizens – are part of an enormous and forceful voting block, an increasingly loud voice in American culture and politics. Together with their children they are preparing not only for Jesus to come back, but to 'take back America for Christ'." Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady

Awards: Sterling Feature Grand Jury Award, Silverdocs 2006; Nominated for "Bester Dokumentary Film", Academy Awards 2007