Picturehouse will open Fatima in theaters and direct to home (PVOD) throughout North America on August 28, 2020. The film, acquired by Picturehouse in October, was originally scheduled to open on April 24.The shutting of movie theaters presents some parallels to the original story, set in 1917, just before the Spanish Flu.

“The response to Fatima at our Pop-Up Drive In Premieres has been wonderful,” says Bob Berney, CEO.

“Audiences and social media reactions have convinced us that we need to get this movie out now. We held out as long as possible for a traditional theatrical release but given the national situation, we did not want to postpone the release of this movie with its message of hope, any further.”

Picturehouse debuted the trailer on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26, to over 10 million views online, and took advantage of the additional time to pivot from the typical promotional activities undertaken to find an audience, including several Facebook Premiere events, and previewing the film in Pop-Up Drive Ins across the country this summer, some as benefit screenings.

A powerful and uplifting drama about the power of faith, Fatima tells the story of a 10-year-old shepherd and her two young cousins in Fátima, Portugal, who report seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, inspiring thousands of believers and angering officials of both the Catholic Church and the secularist government, who try to force them to recant their story.

As word of their prophecy spreads, tens of thousands of religious pilgrims flock to the site in hopes of witnessing a miracle. What they experience will transform their quiet lives and bring the attention of a world yearning for peace.

Fatima is directed by Marco Pontecorvo (Pa-ra-da, Game of Thrones) from a script by Pontecorvo, Valerio D’Annunzio and Barbara Nicolosi.

The film stars Joaquim de Almeida (Queen of the South), Goran Višnjić (Beginners), Stephanie Gil (Terminator: Dark Fate) and Lúcia Moniz (Love, Actually), with Sônia Braga (Aquarius) and Harvey Keitel (The Piano, The Irishman).

Producers are James T. Volk (The Code), Dick Lyles (Little One), Stefano Buono, Maribel Lopera Sierra, Marco Pontecorvo, Rose Ganguzza (Kill Your Darlings) and Natasha Howes (The 13th Day). The director of photography is Vincenzo Carpineta (Letters to Juliet), while the editor is Alessio Doglione (20 Cigarettes).

The production design was by Cristina Onori (All the Money in the World). The costume designer is Daniela Ciancio (The Great Beauty). The original music is by Paolo Buonvino (Fathers & Daughters, Quiet Chaos). The movie features an original song performed by Andrea Bocelli.

The executive producers include Marco Valerio Pugini (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Holly Carney (The Code), David Fischer (A Guy Called Michael Egan), Frida Torresblanco (Pan’s Labyrinth), and Matthew J. Malek (The Peanut Butter Falcon)….

The above comes from a July 24 story on Vitalthrills.com.