For many, the multimedia series is often the first contact with Adventists, producers say.
The latest multimedia series in the Uncertaintyproject, produced by the Global Adventist Internet Network (GAiN), will premiere globally on November 12, 2021. Uncertainty is an award-nominated multimedia project of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Born in Europe, the initiative explores the topic of uncertainty, one of the most common emotions experienced during the pandemic of COVID-19, using a variety of tools and creative approaches like video productions, books, and films.
The Uncertaintyproject is the result of years of work and the joint effort of many people and church media departments across the world. The Inter-European Division (EUD), Trans-European Division (TED), North American Division (NAD), Inter-American Division (IAD), South American Division (SAD), and Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) of the Adventist Church worked collaboratively to make it possible. Production started in February 2019, under the coordination of Hope Media Europe, headed by Adrian Duré. The project was officially inaugurated in May 2020 during the GAiN online conference.
The first season of Uncertainty generated more than forty audio-visual resources, including a feature film, a documentary series, more than twenty inspirational clips for social media, and much more. These resources were distributed freely across the GAiN community and beyond.
Season 2 includes four new episodes of the documentary series, a book, Psalm 23 (a clip designed for social media), and the U3 Documentary film, specially produced by the NAD for this project. Resources are available in several languages on the Uncertainty: The Project site.
Awards and recognitions
Recently, episode 2 of Uncertainty’s second-season documentary series received two official recognitions in two different American film festivals: Great Lakes Christian Film Festival and Green Mountain Christian Film Festival. Additionally, the film Fathers, produced by GAiN in 2018 and 2019, was selected to be screened this month during the UK Christian Film Festival. In the past two years, that film received more than 10 recognitions and one award at the Religion Today Film Festival 2019.
“The most relevant aspect to highlight, when receiving nominations, recognitions, official selections, or even awards, is the possibility to bring greater visibility to the project … to our church, to our message, and our hope,” Duré explained.
The GAiN community
The GAiN community engages in multimedia projects to create relevant, intercultural, innovative content to create a bridge for connecting with non-Christians and wider audiences. Because the projects explore the intersection of cultures and identities, many viewers have come in contact with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its message for the first time through these videos and resources, producers said.
“We have a strong and unique network that can provide inspirational stories to touch the whole world,” Duré said. “We have a message of hope, a message that can bring peace to this chaotic world. The intercultural aspect, highlighted in all our network projects, together with the unique message of hope we have as a church, brings something particular and unique to our productions. As we are seeing, this type of content can reach people around the world.
“In times of uncertainty, love from God and care for others are two certainties you can live by and trust,” EUD communication director Paulo Macedo said. “Please watch and share these films.”
The original version of this story was posted on the Trans-European Division news site.