Screening of 'Courageous' and other inspirational movies will add 'new dimension' to Expolit

The largest trade show in the U.S. for Spanish-language Christian products is showcasing inspirational films for the first time this month, with a screening of Courageous—the widely anticipated follow-up from the makers of the hit movie Fireproof—which will release in theaters nationwide Sept. 30. 

To be held May 19-24 at the Doubletree Hotel & Miami Airport Convention (MAC) Center in Miami, Expolit 2011 is introducing the ExpoCinema movie segment—which will "add variety" to the event, said David Ecklebarger, the Spanish Evangelical Products Association's (SEPA) executive director and president of Miami-based Editorial Unilit. 

"Concerts have and will continue to be a big local draw, but I am excited to see the new dimension that film showings add to Expolit," he told Christian Retailing. 

The screening of Courageous will feature Roberto Amaya, who plays Javier—a Hispanic character in the movie, that "will be embraced all over the Spanish-speaking world," said B&H Publishing Group Vice President of International Sales Jim Cook. The film addresses fatherhood through the lives of four police officers.

B&H Publishing Group will promote the Spanish version of Courageous Living by Michael Catt (B&H Books), senior pastor of Courageous' film-making brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick's home church, Sherwood Baptist Church, in Albany, Ga. B&H will also spotlight several other Courageous-related products to be released in the fall.

Other movies to be screened at Expolit include Fireproof and Poema de Salvación (The Salvation Poem)—a film based on the life of Argentinian rocker Pablo Olivares. 

"I constantly have filmmakers interested in coming to Expolit," said Marie Tamayo, vice president and director of Expolit. "We hope that (ExpoCinema) will be a regular feature of Expolit."

Also new at this year's convention will be the ARPA Awards, which recognizes excellence in Spanish-language Christian music. To be broadcast live on the TBN Enlace network, the eighth annual awards will feature performances by Manny Montes, Ricardo Rodriguez, Funky and Master Key.

Noting that Expolit's venue, MAC Center, recently went through a $18 million renovation, Tamayo said that registrations for Expolit at press time were running 18% more than last year's event. 

The show has a wide international reach, drawing an average of 140 exhibitors from all of Latin America, Spain, England and Japan. 

Several well-known authors will be featured in workshops, including Neil Anderson, Shannon Ethridge, Dr. Don Colbert and Holly Wagner. SEPA's Gala Dinner and Awards will feature author and evangelist Luis Palau as the keynote speaker. 

Concerts during Expolit will include performances by Marco Barrientos, Ingrid Rosario, Álvaro Torres and Nancy Amancio.

Cook said that Expolit is "one of the most important events" for B&H Publishing Group. "It has become the best gathering place in the Spanish market to network with the leaders of our industry," he said.

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