'The 13th Day' Film to Debut in Key Cities

The Message of Fatima is a relevant wake-up call to a culture torn apart by abortion, war, and injustice.

SAN FRANCISCO (Christian Newswire) - Based on the memoirs of Sister Maria Lucia de Jesus, and thousands of independent eyewitness accounts, The 13th Day is a dramatic retelling of the supernatural experiences of three shepherd children nearly a century ago. The events depicted in the film transpired between May 13, 1917 and October 13, 1917 in the Cova da Iria (Cove of Irene) region of Fatima, Portugal.

The 13th Day is the first major motion picture by directors Ian and Dominic Higgins. The filmmakers tell an accurate, relevant and artistic story about the Blessed Mother's appearances to Lucia Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto. Over six months, Our Lady gave incredible prophecies and warnings to the children that included a harrowing vision of hell, the timing of World War II, the spread of communism and the attempted assassination of a Pope, who later was revealed to be Pope John Paul II.

Ignatius Press is the North American distributor of the film. In cooperation with Catholic Dioceses and organizations, Ignatius will host pre-release screenings of The 13th Day to Catholic leadership on October 13, the anniversary of the final apparition. At release time, the following key cities were secured: Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Austin and Fort Worth, TX; Oakland, CA and Orlando, FL. If you are a Catholic leader, you can sign-up for a screening in your area by visiting www.CatholicScreenings.com.

Stylistically beautiful and technically innovative, the film uses state-of-the-art digital effects to create stunning images of the visions and the final miracle that have never before been fully realized on screen. Shot on location in Portugal and in the UK, the film has a cast of hundreds to re-create the scenes of the 70,000 strong crowds of witnesses, with three young Portuguese actors playing the iconic roles of Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

Says Anthony Ryan, Director of Marketing for Ignatius Press, "The 13th Day is an antidote film for our time. It is a reminder that a thin veil exists between our world and the next. The Message of Fatima is a relevant wake-up call to a culture torn apart by abortion, war, and injustice. Every Catholic, perhaps every person, should see this film."

Ignatius Press is a Catholic publishing house based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1978 by Father Joseph Fessio SJ, a Jesuit priest and former pupil of Pope Benedict XVI.