'The Greatest Miracle' to be shown in Park City

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'The Greatest Miracle' movie is going to be presented during this year Park City Film Music Festival. The movie will be in Spanish with subtitles in English.

PARK CITY – An award-winning film about the crucifixion of Christ will be featured at this year’s Park City Film Music Festival.

"El Gran Milagro" ("The Greatest Miracle") is a Catholic-themed tale of love and redemption. The 3D animated film, which was directed by former Disney storyboard artist Bruce Morris and produced in Mexico, was released last October. It is in Spanish with English subtitles. Leslie Harlow, president of the Film Festival, said that the film first came to her attention on a list of 2011’s best sound tracks and then it just happened that the film was submitted for the festival.

"Because our festival is based on recognizing the contribution that music makes in a film and the film first came to my attention on a list of best soundtracks for 2011, it was a beautiful, beautiful sound. Now it is in the competition for best music impact in film," said Harlow.

Although festival entries aren’t required to have original music, in this particular case the music for "El Gran Milagro" is original. The composer is Mark McKenzie, who has also worked for movies like "Mr. & Ms. Smith" and "Spiderman."

The Great Miracle [El Gran Milagro] has a soaring, spiritually powerful score written for a full orchestra, full choir and boy soprano soloists, according to a press release. It’s a cartoon in 3D that follows three guardian angels who come to the aid of a young widow, a desperate bus driver and an elderly person living without hope.

The arrival of the angels allows the people in the film to see the terrible struggle between good and evil that occurs around them.

Harlow said she was able to enjoy the film even though she had to read the English subtitles, which is the way it is going to be presented in Park City.

The Park City Film Music Festival is an independent film festival, that includes a film music competition for both INDIE and studio-sponsored films, a performance showcase for composers with seminars for composers, musicians, songwriters and groups.

"This festival is the first film festival in the United States that is dedicated to the impact that music has in films," said Harlow.

The festival, which will be May 25-June 6, is open for all. The schedule and the film guide can be found at http://www.pcfmf.com; tickets are available at the door.

The Great Miracle will be shown May 26 - 27. The festival will be presenting over 150 films from different varieties, feature films, documentaries, music documentaries, short films, performance and experimental films.

"The films are from all over the world," said Harlow, who has been operating the Park City International Music Festival for 27 years.

A Juilliard graduate, she and her husband, festival director Russell Harlow, a former member of the Utah Symphony, are both classical instrumentalists prominent in their fields.