Reel Faith set to Kick off Second Season

Where can Catholic moviegoers turn for reliable information on current films from a faithful Catholic perspective?

BROOKLYN, NY (June 22, 2011) - This Summer, they can tune into REEL FAITH, a weekly, half-hour movie review program, now in its second season, airing exclusively on New Evangelization Television (NET), which is available to cable viewers in New York on Cablevision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97. It is also always available online at www.netny.net/reelfaith/.

Returning as co-hosts are David DiCerto, former film critic of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting, and Steven Greydanus, film critic for the National Catholic Register and creator of decentfilms.com.

Each week, REEL FAITH takes a look at Hollywood’s biggest films, as well as smaller independent releases, all “through a Catholic lens.” With the help of film scholar Fr. Robert Lauder, REEL FAITH also introduces viewers to motion picture classics from the Vatican’s “Great Films” list, and a new feature for the coming season highlighting “Movies with a Message.”

“Movies are much more than mere entertainment; they have the power to influence ideas and attitudes,” says DiCerto. “I’m thrilled to be able to provide Catholic moviegoers – especially parents – with a voice they can trust, in a way that’s fresh, informative and, hopefully, entertaining.”

“Catholic film reviewing has been around for as long as the movies themselves, but we've been slow to bring it to the screen, which is ideal for a visual medium like movies. The Church has always been aware of the power of images, and on Reel Faith we can interact with the movies we're reviewing in a way you can't do in writing. It's almost a more Catholic way of reviewing movies.” said Steven Greydanus.

Movies being reviewing this season include highly anticipated sequels like “Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides,” “Transformers 3,” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2;” big-budget action-adventures like “Thor,” “Captain America,” and “Cowboys and Aliens;” and family fare like “Cars 2” and “Kung Fu Panda 2.”

Labeled the “Catholic Siskel and Ebert,” the duo see REEL FAITH as an innovative opportunity for evangelization and spreading the Gospel message, while encouraging greater film literacy among Catholics, using a format that appeals to mainstream viewers.

Launched in 2008, NET is available to more than 1.8 million homes throughout New York City on Cable Vision channel 30 and Time Warner Cable channel 97, as well as streaming online at www.netny.net.