T H A N K   Y O U ! 

We're incredibly grateful to have so many wonderful supporters who believe in our upcoming film, Cross Mountain.

We've already begun editing, and we will continue post-production and additional filming through the end of the year. We will announce our release date as soon as possible.

We want to keep you informed! To stay updated on the progress of the film, please be sure to like the following Facebook pages:

• Cross Mountain Facebook Page
• Stella Mar Films Facebook Page
• Apparition Hill Facebook Page
• Medjugorje Facebook Page
• CatholicShop Facebook Page

In addition, follow our Tweets through @MedjugorjeLive. Visit our Twitter page.

We also recommend that you visit the Cross Mountain website and bookmark it or save the URL so you can visit often.

Due to the success of our crowdfunding campaign (thanks to you!), IndieGoGo allowed our campaign to be "InDemand." This means that our campaign will stay open for additional donations as we forge ahead.

If we can raise about $7,000 more soon, then we'll be able to film on-location in Rwanda with Immaculee. Why there? Because we want Cross Mountain to show a comparative look at the Vatican-approved apparitions in Kibeho, Rwanda, which began in 1981, the same year that Medjugorje started.

So, if anyone missed their chance, it's not too late to claim some of our amazing perks such as the pre-release Cross Mountain DVD, rosaries and bracelets from Medjugorje, official T-shirts, credit in the film, and more. Just browse the perk levels and choose a perk when you make a donation.

Or, to make a tax-free donation for the film, checks can be sent to our non-profit organization Queen of Peace Productions at 317 Riveredge Blvd, Ste 102; Cocoa, FL 32922 USA.

One more thing... Did you know that our previous film, the award-winning documentary Apparition Hill, is now on DVD and Blu-Ray? We even offer bulk discounts if you want to give away multiple copies or resell them. Get yours at Catholic Shop.

Again, thank you for your support! We can't wait to share this story with you. Please keep us in your prayers as we work hard to finish the film.

God bless you,

Sean, Cimela, and Jessi

Stella Mar Films

Help CROSS MOUNTAIN change lives! 

We need your help to complete what we believe will be the most powerful film we've made yet.

Without your generous support, we might have never finished our previous film, Apparition Hill, and it certainly wouldn't have reached so many people around the world, nor would hosts have been able to raise over $250,000.00 for charities through screenings of the film.

But we have to be honest with you...

Before Apparition Hill came out on DVD and Blu-Ray recently, our first instinct was to take a long break from making movies. For our tiny crew, these two years have been the most exhausting of our lives... but also the most blessed! 

As we reflect on all those blessings, we now feel a strong, undeniable call to complete our next feature-length documentary, Cross Mountain. 

Most of the filming is complete, and the stories and miracles we've captured deserve to be shared. They must be shared. But we cannot do it without your support. Please consider helping.

First, we'll give you a glimpse of what you will see in Cross Mountain...

THE BIG STORY

Every August, roughly 50,000 young people from all over the world converge on the village of Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, for the annual Youth Fest.

What draws them there? And what do they experience? That's what we hoped to document.

So, in 2015, we invited people ages 18 to 30 to enter a video contest for the chance to win one of five free trips to Medjugorje. We received numerous entries, making it nearly impossible to narrow them down to just five winners.

So, with the help of supporters, we awarded eight free trips instead of five.

The winners included Alex, a college student and aspiring musician...

Christopher, a young Midwesterner battling drug addiction... 

Ellie, a college student intent on living her faith...

John, a young man with no belief in God and who saw life on earth as the only hell...

Robert, a Ugandan seminarian studying in Rome...

Madison, a recent high school graduate trying to cope with heavy family issues...

Cassidy, a self-described "complete skeptic with no faith"...

And Cassidy's BFF, Emily, who hoped that a trip to Medjugorje might restore her faith.

See their original contest entry videos

Our film follows this diverse group as they experience Medjugorje and scour the rugged slopes of Cross Mountain in search of something greater than themselves, in turn discovering the widespread fruits of one of the most prolific shrines in the world.

Watch this video update from two of the cast members:

THE OTHER STORIES

Throughout the past two years, we've returned to Medjugorje multiple times, both to lead pilgrimages and to film additional segments for Cross Mountain. The stories we've been following uphold the youthful theme of the film and highlight the profound miracles and fruits of Medjugorje, such as:

Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow, whose experiences in Medjugorje inspired him to start Mary's Meals, a charity that now feeds over a million children in schools every day.

Craig Lodge in the Scottish highlands, which Magnus' family ran as a hunting and fishing lodge until their experiences in Medjugorje inspired them to convert it to a House of Prayer.

Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and best-selling author, whose frequent visits to Medjugorje continue to deepen her faith.

Darren, an Irish boy suffering from an incurable disease that robbed him of his mobility, but who began walking miraculously after his mother brought him to an apparition.

Mirjana Soldo, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, who as a teenager suffered intense persecution by the communist Yugoslav government because of her claims, and who continues to experience apparitions.

During their time in Medjugorje, the eight contest winners met and spoke with Magnus and Immaculee, who were guest speakers at the Youth Fest. They were also present when Mirjana experienced an apparition on August 2nd, 2015.

Mirjana reported that, during the apparition, Our Lady said, "I, as a mother who loves her children, see how difficult the time in which you live is. I see your suffering, but you need to know that you are not alone. My Son is with you...He is the light which illuminates your soul and gives you peace.”

We captured all of this on camera, and much more. In fact, we already have over 300 hours of footage to draw from when we start editing Cross Mountain.

With your help, we can start soon.

ONGOING FILMING

First of all, we want to complete follow-ups with the eight contest winners. Two years have passed since their journey, and we can tell from speaking with some of them recently that the trip left a lasting impression. We can't wait to catch up with them in person and document how Medjugorje has shaped their paths.

We also plan to film more for the additional segments that we're following in an effort to make the entire film as immersive, inspiring, and entertaining as possible.

Hear why the filmmakers are so passionate about this project:

OUR SITUATION

As a small, independent production company, Stella Mar Films needs your support to complete Cross Mountain. We have wonderful gifts (perks) for every donor!

It may seem like we're aiming for a high number, but when it comes to a feature-length documentary film, this is considered a very low budget and still won't cover all of our costs. Being independent, however, has forced us to learn how to do many things ourselves in order to save money. We edit every video ourselves, build and manage our own websites, do a lot of the design and marketing, and try to live frugally while knowing that our efforts and sacrifices are making a difference in peoples' lives.

It may seem that the success of Apparition Hill would have given us a bigger budget to use for Cross Mountain, but so far it has not been as profitable as one might imagine. We've been able to make ends meet, but not without additional work besides the film. Regardless, making a profit is not why we pour our hearts into such projects.

We do it out of love.

To us, there's no better reward than receiving a message from someone who has been touched by our work, and we've received countless such messages related to Apparition Hill. That's why we want to continue. Based on the stories we've captured for Cross Mountain, we're confident that this movie will have an even greater impact.

WHAT WE NEED

We crunched the numbers to figure out the bare minimum we would need to complete Cross Mountain, and we made this snazzy pie chart to help you see where your donation will go.

Here's a breakdown of the budget:

• $30,000 - Post Production, Editing, DCP Conversion
• $17,000 - Musical Score and Music Licensing
• $19,000 - Marketing and Promotion
• $12,500 - Professional Fees, Legal, MPAA Rating
• $8,000 - Additional Filming and Follow-ups
• $7,500 - Equipment, Technology, and Software

Again, this was the minimum we needed, and we're incredibly grateful for your support. But we know that we can make a much better movie with a higher budget, and we have learned to expect many other unforseen costs when making a film, so we are still accepting donations for this film. If we can raise more funding, we can:

• Produce a high-quality film with a compelling storyline
• Use the latest software and hardware for editing
• License mainstream music for more of the film's soundtrack to appeal to the youth
• Compete theatrically with films by the large studios and have a wider release
• Release the film for hosts to screen it in theaters and raise funds for charities
• Bring the film to DVD, Blu-Ray, and online streaming much faster than Apparition Hill 

Whether we hit our goal or surpass it, we know that we can produce a film with the power to change lives, and that's what matters to us most.

NOTE: Donations over $10,000 can be made as tax-deductible charitable gifts through the non-profit ministry Queen of Peace Productions, our production partner for Cross Mountain. For more information, contact us.

WHAT YOU GET

We're incredibly grateful for your help, and we want to show our gratitude by giving some truly unique "perks" at different donation levels. Check 'em out...

We brought the medals and rosaries to one of the apparitions experienced by Mirjana on the second of the month, and afterwards she reported that Our Lady had blessed all the religious objects present.

For those who have the means, we'll put your name in the movie credits if you donate at one of the highest levels. Our top perk, in fact, is an Executive Producer credit.

Browse through all the perks and donation levels to decide which one is best for you, or you can choose to donate any amount... any donation big or small helps us towards our goal.

THE IMPACT

We feel strongly that this is the perfect time to release this film.

We were in Medjugorje when Archbishop Hoser, the papal envoy, was there to assess the pastoral situation, and we filmed his beautiful homily during which he praised the good fruits he had witnessed.

He said in part, "As I have learned here, I have heard these words, non-believers are those who have not yet experienced the love of God...There are pilgrims coming from 80 different countries throughout the world. This calling has been spread to the ends of the world, just as Jesus said to the Apostles, sending them into the world. You are witnesses of the love of Christ and the love of His Mother and the love of the Church."

Perhaps more importantly, the Vatican commission on Medjugorje made a momentous conclusion recently: at the very least, they decided, the first seven days of apparitions are supernatural and worthy of belief.

That is big news!

Their hesitation on the later apparitions no doubt stems from the fact that the phenomena is still ongoing; no one expects the Church to give full approval to apparitions that have yet to conclude. Perhaps that will come in the future during the time of the ten secrets... but that's another movie altogether!

For now, we intend to focus on spreading Our Lady's message of peace to as many people as we can. And that's the beauty of a documentary; we aren't aiming to convince people one way or another about Medjugorje's authenticity. We simply want to show the world the amazing things that are happening there by producing a realistic film.

In the words of Archbishop Hoser, let us join together as "witnesses of the love of Christ" in this common mission. Please donate to help us finish Cross Mountain , and share our campaign with as many people as possible.

And if you pray, please include this project in your prayers. 

Thank you for your love and support.

- Sean, Cimela, Jessi, and the Cross Mountain team

GET CONNECTED!

Like the Cross Mountain Facebook page for updates

Join the Queen of Peace Productions email list to receive Medjugorje news

Read Mirjana Soldo's autobiography, My Heart Will Triumph

Get our film Apparition Hill on DVD or Blu-Ray

Follow MedjugorjeLive on Twitter

Enter to win a free Medjugorje pilgrimage with the filmmakers