Lipscomb University partners with Kingdom Story Company as the premier sponsor of ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’
Sequel to popular movie to open on 2,000+ screens nationwide Feb. 20
Kim Chaudoin |
Lipscomb University’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts is partnering with Kingdom Story Company as the premier sponsor of the upcoming feature film I Can Only Imagine 2, the sequel to the hit film I Can Only Imagine.
“Partnering with Kingdom Story on I Can Only Imagine 2 aligns with our mission to prepare students for lives of purpose through transformative experiences and our focus on inspiring students to view their career through the lens of vocation,” said Lipscomb President Candice McQueen. “We are honored to support a film that has a positive message and in a compelling way points people toward hope, healing and a deeper faith.”
I Can Only Imagine 2 continues the story of MercyMe’s Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) in the years following the breakout success of the hit song I Can Only Imagine, as he navigates the pressures of fame, family and faith. When a new bandmate, Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us”), enters the picture, Bart is confronted with the need to reckon with his past and protect what matters most at home with his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), and their son, Sam (Sammy Dell). Based on the heartfelt true story behind the single “Even If,” the film is an inspiring next chapter about redemption, relationships and finding God in the fire. The film is directed by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle, written by McCorkle, and stars Finley, Ventimiglia, Skelton, Arielle Kebbel, Sammy Dell, with Trace Adkins and Dennis Quaid.
Watch the ' Can Only Imagine 2' official trailer.
Photo courtesy of Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.
“Kingdom Story Company's mission is to tell stories that reflect truth, faith and redemption with excellence in compelling ways,” said Brandon Gregory, president of Kingdom Story Company. “Lipscomb shares that same commitment to creating meaningful content for audiences while training students to see storytelling as both a craft and a calling. Having Lipscomb as the premier sponsor of I Can Only Imagine 2 allows us to inspire the next generation of filmmakers while advancing stories we believe can genuinely impact lives.”
As the premier sponsor, Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts will be featured in a video segment preceding the film. Through this partnership, Lipscomb film and entertainment students have unique learning opportunities as they have helped create promotional assets and social media awareness. In addition, several Lipscomb film alumni who currently work for Kingdom Story Company and have been heavily involved in the creation and launch of the film.
“Our calling in the George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts is to train the next generation of believer artists who seek to uplift, challenge and entertain culture through their art,” said Mike Fernandez, dean of the college. “A partnership like this allows our students to see that vision lived out at the highest level. It gives them a front-row seat to how a major studio film with a deeply spiritual core is developed, produced and shared with the world. It reinforces that excellent, faith-informed storytelling has a real place in today’s marketplace.”
Mike Fernandez
Tony Young, Kingdom Story co-founder and CEA board member, said Lipscomb’s Christ-centered mission and growing national reputation in film and entertainment made the university a natural partner.
“We look for partners who care as much about spiritual impact as they do about artistic excellence. Lipscomb is preparing young filmmakers, writers and musicians who want their gifts to serve something bigger than themselves,” said Young. “That heart for discipleship, combined with the professional caliber of Lipscomb’s College of Entertainment & the Arts, makes Lipscomb an ideal partner for I Can Only Imagine 2 and for the kind of stories we feel called to tell.”
Photo courtesy of Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.
I Can Only Imagine 2 is distributed by Lionsgate Films and opens on more than 2,000 screens nationwide on Feb. 20. Learn more at icanonlyimagine.com.
Located in the heart of Music City, Lipscomb’s George Shinn College of Entertainment & the Arts offers undergraduate degrees in animation, art history, art therapy, commercial music (songwriting or production), fashion and interior merchandising, fashion design, film production, game art, graphic design, music, studio art, theater and visual art. It is home to Imagine House, an immersive professional content production house where students apprentice under nationally acclaimed faculty to create original, market-ready projects, including animated series, feature films, albums and live events. Through hands-on training, industry partnerships, and innovative facilities such as its new virtual production volume wall, Lipscomb prepares students for meaningful careers in today’s dynamic entertainment industry. For more information, visit lipscomb.edu/cea.
Lipscomb University, founded in 1891, is a Christ-centered, liberal arts institution in Nashville, Tennessee, committed to preparing students for lives of purpose, leadership and service through rigorous academics and life-transforming experiences. Learn more at www.lipscomb.edu.