New York City, NY – The award-winning film “The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland” opens in select theaters across the country this weekend. Filmed primarily on location in Walker County, Georgia, the tale was inspired by the lead actors,’ Jim E. Chandler and Jenn Gotzon’s, true love story.
The feature follows Belle Winters (Gotzon), a tired New York City-based supermodel who’s worried about aging out of the industry. One evening in her apartment, Belle remembers a charm bracelet with Biblical beauty affirmations that her grandmother (Sandra Lafferty) gave her when she was a child. Belle no longer has the bracelet, but thinks it might be at Santaland, a Christmas farm where she played in her youth. Desperate to find the bracelet, Belle sets out to find it and finds herself in the process.
Chandler, Gotzon, Dr. Joel Bunkowske and George Escobar produced the feature, which also stars Corbin Bernsen, John Schneider, Robert Amaya and Natasha Bure. Chandler, who plays farmer Josh Carpenter, knew he wanted to film in Walker County due to family connections and the beauty of McLemore Cove. He also wanted to bring the creativity of the micro budget and comfort of a larger production to this experience. A number of locals appear in the film, some as extras and a few with speaking roles.
The movie made its screen debut in Walker County during the 2020 holiday season and is now being released in select theaters across the country on November 19. Vision Films is releasing the movie in areas where theaters are struggling to stay open and adding holiday festivities including caroling and Christmas shopping during some screenings.
For example, Christian-pop-worship singer-songwriter Beckah Shae is scheduled to perform on November 19 at the 4:10 p.m. and 6:25 p.m. showings at Premiere 6 in Murfreesboro, while Justin Peters, who wrote the film’s theme song, will also make an appearance at the theater throughout the weekend.
Bookstores are also setting up a table to sell gifts. Some locations will have the children’s book “Beautiful Mable” written by the VeggieTales Mike Nawrocki and featured in the film, along with devotional book “Divine Beauty: Becoming Beautiful based on God’s Truth” by Michelle Cox and Gotzon, and The Farmer and The Belle’s Beauty Bracelet, DVD and Soundtrack including 8 original songs.
Theater Listing:
Premiere 6 Murfreesboro, TN
(11/19 – 11/24)
Digimax Theatres – Atlanta Roswell, GA
(11/19 to Thanksgiving)
Canton Theatre, Canton, GA
(One Day Only: 11/21)
Rialto Theatre Pocahontas, IA
(11/15 – Thanksgiving)
GQT Willow Knolls 14, Peoria IL
(11/19 – Thanksgiving)
Celebration Cinema Grandville, MI
(11/19 – Thanksgiving)
Roxy Theatre, Northampton, PA
(11/19 – 11/24)
Harkins Theatres Casa Grande, AZ
(11/19 – Thanksgiving) Note: Theater showtimes are in the morning
Harkins Theatres Superstition, AZ
(11/19 – Thanksgiving) Note: Theater showtimes are in the morning
Harkins Theatres Chandler Fashion, AZ
(11/19 – Thanksgiving) Note: Theater showtimes are in the morning
Serra Theatres Milpitas CA, Milpitas, CA
(11/19 – Thanksgiving)
Prytania Theatre, Canal Place, New Orleans, LA
(11/19 – 11/22)
Robinson Film Center, Shreveport, LA
(One Day Only: 12/2)
Capitol Theater of Burlington Iowa, Burlington, IA
(12/3 – 12/5)
Diana Theatre, Tipton, IN
(12/14 & 12/15)
ABCinema, Inc, Decatur, IN
(12/13 & 12/14)
Pickwick Theater, Park Ridge, Il
(Dec.. 10 – 17)
