First poster for ’90 Minutes in Heaven,’ still set for release on 9/11
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN—the stirring story of Don Piper, who died in a highway accident, experienced heaven and returned to face severe physical, emotional and spiritual challenges—has landed a distribution deal with Samuel Goldwyn Films. The faith film is based on Piper’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name with more than 7 million copies sold; the film premieres in 800 theaters across the country on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN is presented by Giving Films. It stars Hayden Christensen (STAR WARS) and Kate Bosworth (SUPERMAN RETURNS) as Don and Eva Piper. Michael Polish (THE ASTRONAUT FARMER) directs.
“We formed Giving Films to tell quality faith-friendly stories with top production values,” said Giving Films founder Rick Jackson, one of the movie’s producers. “Samuel Goldwyn Films on distribution is a welcome extension of our drive for quality.”
Besides producing quality faith films, Giving Films funnels 100 percent of profits to charities.
Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major independent producer and distributor of theatrical films and documentaries. Its extensive catalogue includes such faith favorites as FIREPROOF, OCTOBER BABY and AMAZING GRACE.
(L to R:) Hudson Meek (Chris Piper), Bobby Baston (Joe Piper), Elizabeth Hunter (Nicole Piper), David Clyde Carr (Eva’s Dad), Kate Bosworth (Eva Piper), Hayden Christensen (Don Piper) and Catherine Carlen (Eva’s Mom), welcome Don home from his 13-month hospital stay in a scene from 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, from Giving Films, LLC. Based on the inspiring best-selling book of the same name, 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN tells Don’s incredible and true story, and opens in theaters nationwide this fall. (Photo credit: Quantrell Colbert)
“90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN is the story of a man holding on to what he knows to be true in the midst of great physical and emotional trials,” Meyer Gottlieb, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, said. “This is exactly the type of story Goldwyn wants to help tell.”
SYNOPSIS
Don Piper died Jan. 18, 1989 when a semi-tractor truck crushed his car. Declared dead by the first rescue workers to arrive on the scene, Don’s body lay under a tarp for the next 90 minutes. Don’s soul, meanwhile, experienced love, joy and life as he’d never known before. Don was in Heaven.
When another pastor’s prayers helped bring Don back to life, he became a living miracle. Yet this is one miracle Don wished never happened. Heaven’s bliss was replaced by excruciating pain and emotional turmoil. With the support and prayers of his beloved Eva, their three kids and friends near and far, Don clung to his faith in God and fought to regain a semblance of his previous life. The Piper family’s incredible true story of perseverance and overcoming the challenges of life—and death—brings hope and encouragement to all who see it.
The film also stars Hudson Meek, Bobby Batson, Elizabeth Hunter, David Clyde Carr, Catherine Carlen, Michael W Smith and Dwight Yoakam.
Michael Polish wrote the screenplay based on the book by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey. Rick Jackson, Randall Emmett, Dawn Olmstead, Michael Polish and George Furla produced. Executive producers are Wayne Marc Godfrey, Ted Fox, Trevor Drinkwater and Jason Netter.
