An Exclusive GospelRhythms Interview with ERIN MIRACLE 10 THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT HER AND THE VISION GOD GIFTED HER TO BRING TO THE FILM INDUSTRY
Erin Miracle is a filmmaker, producer, founder and festival director whose creative leadership is rooted in faith, service and purpose. As the founder and director of Miracle Makers International Film Festival, she is creating space for filmmakers, artists and storytellers whose work inspires, uplifts and brings meaningful stories into culture.
Her vision reflects the call to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” in Matthew 5:13–16. In this exclusive GospelRhythms interview, Erin shares the story behind Miracle Makers, the meaning of being a “Miracle Maker,” and her hope for an ecosystem where faith, creativity, opportunity and community can flourish together.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
For our GospelRhythms readers meeting you for the first time, who is Erin Miracle? Before the filmmaker, producer, founder and festival director titles, what would you most want people to know about the woman behind the work?
A , Erin Miracle:
I grew up as a ballerina and performer, and over time my creative journey expanded into writing, directing and producing. Today, I work primarily as a film producer and as the founder and festival director of Miracle Makers International Film Festival.
I also attended seminary, and my faith is at the heart of everything I do. Whether it is expressed very directly or indirectly, I want my work to reflect, inspire and foster faith.
But beyond any title, I think what I would most want people to know is that my greatest joy comes from God and serving others. Whether that is through using my gifts in the entertainment industry, volunteering in my community or helping someone else move closer to their purpose, this is what gives life all of it’s meaning for me.
Miracle Makers has become a beautiful way for me to celebrate and serve fellow “makers,” nonprofit organizations and people from many different walks of life. My hope is to continue growing the festival, producing eternally impactful films and contributing to my community in ways that have a lasting effect.
ERIN IS A GIFTD AND ACCOMPLISHED DANCER AND ARTIST
- Q , GospelRhythms:
What was the original spark behind Miracle Makers International Film Festival? Was there a particular experience, need or gap you saw in the entertainment industry that made you believe this festival needed to exist?
A , Erin Miracle:
The original spark came when I starred in an independent feature film that was accepted into a long running film festival. Instead of simply attending my own screening, I decided I was going to attend everything. I went every day, attended every event I could and made an effort to meet as many people as possible.
Through that experience, I made an impression on the festival director. He ultimately took me under his wing, mentored me and gave me the opportunity to have a festival of my own.
When that opportunity presented itself, suddenly so much of my life made sense. It felt like I had found something I had been looking for without even knowing I was looking for it. A film festival allowed me to combine creativity with something I love even more: celebrating other people, serving them and creating tangible opportunities that can actually change careers.
Through that same festival, I made connections that led to my being hired as a producer, and one opportunity began to snowball into another. I experienced firsthand the power a film festival can have in someone’s life and career. Ever since, I have wanted Miracle Makers to provide that same kind of opportunity for others.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
The name “Miracle Makers” is powerful all by itself. What does being a Miracle Maker mean to you personally?
A , Erin Miracle:
Miracle is my God given last name, and I take it very seriously.
I believe I am called to experience the miraculous firsthand and then share the witness and testimony of what God has done. I want to encourage other people to believe in miracles and to experience them for themselves, over and over again.
Of course, we aren’t technically the ones making the miracles. Only God can do that. But because we are made in His image and He is the Creator, we are creators too. I believe we are invited into partnership and participation with God and His creative work.
To me, that is what it means to be a Miracle Maker. Through faith, we get to be makers alongside Him, participating in what He is doing and witnessing what can happen when we say yes, and I believe, despite fears, doubts, and the unknown.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
What separates Miracle Makers International Film Festival from the many other film festivals already available to filmmakers and content creators? What experience did you intentionally want to create that people might not find elsewhere?
A , Erin Miracle:
There are many things that make Miracle Makers unique. One of the most important is that we have both Faith & Family Friendly categories and Open categories.
We never wanted to create something that was simply Christians making films for Christians or believers speaking only to other believers. We want to invite people in. We also recognize that many believers working in entertainment aren’t necessarily creating explicitly faith based films or entertainment, and that’s a good thing, We want to celebrate all kinds of media that inspires, uplifts and contributes something uplifting to the world.
Our Newport Beach location also puts us in a unique position. We are close enough to Los Angeles and the entertainment industry to provide meaningful industry access, while being far enough away to create a true destination experience. At the same time, we aren’t simply a festival for industry insiders. We want families and audiences who may know nothing about filmmaking but simply enjoy great, wholesome entertainment to feel equally welcome.
Another important distinction is our nonprofit partnerships. We work with organizations such as Kids in the Spotlight, which empowers foster youth to write, direct and produce their own films; Merging Vets and Players, founded by former NFL player and decorated Green Beret Nate Boyer; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and Hollywood Prayer Network.
When we find a film that speaks to a particular cause, we want to connect that story with organizations already doing meaningful work in that area. In that way, we can extend the impact of both the film and the nonprofit and hopefully create real, measurable community impact.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
Faith, purpose and uplifting storytelling have an important place within Miracle Makers. Why was it important to create space for those voices within the entertainment industry?
A , Erin Miracle:
Personally, I desire entertainment that inspires me, uplifts me and encourages faith, and I know I’m not alone. There is an audience around the world longing for edifying entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
We are also seeing tremendous changes in how people create and consume media. There is greater access to creative tools, platforms and audiences than ever before. That creates opportunities for makers who may not have had access to the resources that were once necessary to reach an audience.
It is also allowing audiences to demonstrate that stories once considered too niche or not commercially viable actually have tremendous demand. We are seeing just how hungry people are for meaningful, uplifting entertainment.
We want more of that, and we want to help facilitate real career opportunities for the makers creating it so that they can be successful and reach larger audiences.
For me, it is also important because we are called to be salt and light. Salt preserves what is good, and light has the power to transform darkness. Entertainment has tremendous influence over culture, and I believe there should always be space for stories that bring hope, truth, beauty, faith and purpose into that culture.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
Miracle Makers embraces more than traditional film. You also recognize television, digital media, music, podcasts and other forms of creativity. Why was it important for the festival to reflect the way storytelling is evolving today?
A , Erin Miracle:
It is so clear that people are embracing these new forms of media, and they have tremendous influence and impact. Podcasts, music, television, streaming, digital media and emerging platforms are all part of how we experience stories and ideas today.
They have also made creative expression much more accessible. Someone doesn’t necessarily need the resources traditionally required to make a feature film in order to create something powerful and reach an enormous audience.
We personally enjoy all of these different forms of entertainment, and we recognize how much creativity, dedication and work goes into producing them. We want to celebrate these nontraditional makers too.
Ultimately, Miracle Makers is about makers, not simply one medium. If someone is creating something meaningful that moves, inspires, entertains or uplifts people, we want to create space to recognize that work.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
For someone considering attending Miracle Makers for the first time, what can they expect to experience during the festival beyond simply watching films?
A , Erin Miracle:
I would tell them to expect miracles, and I mean that.
This festival has become so much bigger than myself or any one person. There is no way to logically explain how all of the pieces ultimately come together. It has become incredibly clear to me, and to many of the people involved, that God’s hand is on it.
People come together from different parts of the world, different cultures, backgrounds, perspectives and areas of the entertainment industry, and suddenly they are in one place sharing stories, ideas, creativity, faith and life with one another.
One of the few things we take with us after this life is our relationships. Miracle Makers is a place to build those relationships while being inspired and challenged by one another.
We have watched partnerships, friendships, collaborations and career opportunities emerge simply because the right people met each other. Some of those relationships may last a lifetime.
That is what we hope to facilitate. Come for the films, but expect something much bigger to happen through the people you meet.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
Independent filmmakers and emerging creatives often struggle with visibility, access and meaningful industry relationships. How does Miracle Makers help creators move from simply having talent to actually being seen and connected?
A , Erin Miracle:
I don’t think the importance of genuine, in person connection can be emphasized enough, especially because it is becoming increasingly rare.
There is tremendous value in having your film shown on the big screen in front of a real audience, in a beautiful theater and destination, alongside the work of other accomplished filmmakers. We are as good as the company we keep, and when talented people come together and genuinely celebrate one another, it elevates everyone.
Every filmmaker, artist, executive, organization and audience member also brings their own community and platform with them. When we come together and share in the celebration of one another, everyone’s reach has the potential to expand.
We are also intentionally creating opportunities that go far beyond screenings. We are hosting yacht interviews, inviting podcasts and press, creating red carpet opportunities, facilitating Q&As, panels, pitch opportunities and direct connections with established industry professionals.
All of this gives our makers additional ways to be seen and professional content they can share through their own platforms, helping communicate the significance of what they have accomplished.
And our support doesn’t finish when the festival ends. Our intention is to continue promoting, supporting and platforming our makers throughout the year.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
Why should audiences, businesses, sponsors and supporters invest their time, resources or attention into Miracle Makers International Film Festival? What does that support ultimately help make possible?
A , Erin Miracle:
Media and entertainment are among the most powerful tools of influence known to humanity, and their reach is global. That power can be abused, or it can be used to bless, encourage, inspire and transform lives.
When audiences, businesses, sponsors and supporters invest in Miracle Makers, they are helping determine which stories and voices have the opportunity to be heard. If you want to contribute to increasing the light in this world, one powerful way to do that is by supporting the people creating the media and messages that go out into it.
That support allows us to create opportunities for independent makers, connect them with audiences and industry professionals, reduce financial barriers and expand the reach of stories that have something positive to contribute.
It also allows us to connect entertainment with tangible community impact through our nonprofit partnerships. A film can move someone emotionally, but when we connect that film with an organization already doing meaningful work around the same issue, its impact can extend far beyond the screen.
We are also fiscally sponsored by Grateful Film Fund, which allows us to accept tax deductible donations and pursue grant opportunities. We want to reduce financial barriers wherever we can and make these opportunities accessible to makers and audiences who might otherwise not be able to participate.
We simply cannot do that without support. Every person or organization that invests in Miracle Makers becomes part of making those opportunities possible.
- Q , GospelRhythms:
We’re saving some of your deeper personal story for your September GospelRhythms Magazine feature, but give us a little preview: what is the larger vision you carry for Miracle Makers, and what do you believe is still ahead?
A , Erin Miracle:
The larger vision is to continue growing Miracle Makers so that we can provide more opportunities to more makers while removing as many barriers as possible.
I would love to eventually see Miracle Makers happen more frequently than once a year and potentially expand into multiple destinations, bringing makers and audiences together in different communities.
I also want the festival to become an increasingly meaningful bridge between discovering great work and actually helping that work move forward. That could mean producing films that are discovered through scripts or pitches presented at the festival, helping filmmakers access financing, expanding distribution opportunities, connecting makers with executives and collaborators, and developing resources that continue serving them long after the festival is over.
Ultimately, I want Miracle Makers to become an ecosystem of opportunity. Not simply a place where someone’s work is screened or awarded, but a place where relationships begin, careers move forward, films find homes, important causes gain visibility, faith is strengthened and people discover that something they thought was impossible might actually be possible.
I believe there is so much more ahead, and that we are only beginning to see what Miracle Makers can become.
Learn More About Erin Miracle and Miracle Makers International Film Festival
Erin Miracle
CEO and Director of Miracle Makers International Film Festival
Producer, Festival Founder/Director, Performing Artist
818-235-6165
www.imdb.me/erinmiracle
www.miraclemakersiff.com
Thank you to Erin Miracle for sharing her story, faith and vision with GospelRhythms.
Explore more faith, entertainment and culture coverage through the GospelRhythms Magazine entertainment section and discover more video-centered features through GospelRhythms GR TV.
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Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gifts You place in Your people. Give every filmmaker, artist and creative courage to use those gifts with wisdom, excellence and purpose. Help stories of hope, truth, beauty and faith reach the people who need them. Strengthen Erin Miracle and every maker serving through entertainment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Reflection Question
What creative gift, story or opportunity has God placed in your hands: and how can you use it to serve others and bring more light into the world?
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“Ultimately, I want Miracle Makers to become an ecosystem of opportunity.”
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