Christian Retailing

‘Return to the Hiding Place’ film sees top-five per-screen average showing Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Thursday, 29 May 2014 04:20 PM America/New_York

ReturnToTheHidingPlace-webSpencer Productions’ World War II drama Return to the Hiding Place, ranked in the top-five for per-screen average, reaching $7,338.40 per screen in its opening weekend, according to the Rogers & Cowan agency. Released in Chicago; San Antonio and New Braunfels, Texas; and Washington, D.C., this independently produced faith-based film surpassed other wide-release movies, including Neighbors, Blended and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

The film’s overall total during the three-day holiday weekend was $36,942 on five screens. The ticket pre-sales campaign through online ticketing reservation service Seatzy, Christian radio and local churches and ministries helped advance sales beyond expectations.

Return to the Hiding Place was a labor of love for everyone involved, and we’re thrilled to see the huge wave of support it received over the long Memorial Day Weekend,” said Peter Spencer, director, writer and producer. “We had sold out screenings in various markets as well as strong word-of-mouth throughout. We couldn’t be happier and looking forward to wider release plans for the film later in the year.”

The multi-award-winning film stars John Rhys-Davies ("Indiana Jones," “Lord of the Rings”); Craig Robert Young (NCIS: LA, Hawaii Five-O); David Thomas Jenkins (CSI: Miami, Bold and the Beautiful); Rachel Spencer Hewitt (Fly by Night, A Civil War Christmas); and Mimi Sagadin (The Dilemma).

Return to the Hiding Place (hide-movie.com) is based on the true story taken from the autobiographical book of the same name by Hans Poley that recounts his experiences as a student resistance fighter during the Holocaust in World War II. Set in Holland, the movie follows the exploits of an army of untrained teenagers living in hiding at Corrie ten Boom’s home. They face deadly challenges in the Resistance as they rescue Dutch Jews from the Holocaust.

Premiering to a sold-out screening at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Return to the Hiding Place has garnered several awards. It was selected as Best Feature Film at the Bel-Air Film Festival, Central Florida Film Festival, San Antonio Christian Film Festival and Life Fest Film Festival. In addition, it also won awards for Best Cinematography and Director’s Selection at the Bel-Air Film and Life Fest Film Festivals and was recently chosen as the Official Selection at the Projecting Hope Film and Mission Fest Vancouver Film Festivals. The film also has been recognized by Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.