Season 4, Episode 5: Peter Iengo — Turning Grief into Purpose Through Faith and Film at Hard Faith Fest NYC

Award-winning filmmaker Peter Iengo joins the Hard Faith Podcast to share the deeply personal story behind his feature film One More Time, winner of Best Feature Film at the inaugural Hard Faith Film Festival NYC. Inspired by the loss of his father during the COVID-19 pandemic, Peter opens up about his journey through grief, how the GriefShare ministry helped restore his faith, and why he chose to transform his pain into a film that offers hope to others.

In this moving conversation, Peter reflects on more than two decades in filmmaking, from winning a Student Emmy and screening films at international festivals to teaching the next generation of filmmakers. He shares how his experiences with loss reshaped not only his personal faith, but also the direction of his career, leading him to create stories centered on grief, healing, and the power of Christ.

Together, Spencer and Peter discuss the importance of authentic storytelling, the healing process that comes through creating art, and why Christians should not shy away from difficult conversations about suffering. Peter also explains how GriefShare welcomes people from every background and denomination, offering practical encouragement for anyone walking through loss.

If you’ve experienced grief, wondered how faith intersects with suffering, or believe stories can change lives, this episode is an honest and hope-filled conversation you won’t want to miss.

Submit and attend Hard Faith Fest NYC at www.HardFaithFest.com

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, Spencer and McKenna Folmar give a full update on everything happening with Hard Faith, including the recent wrap of their newest feature film, The Days Are Evil, and the upcoming fourth annual Hard Faith Fest LA, taking place June 25–28, 2026 at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California.

Spencer opens the episode by sharing that The Days Are Evil has officially wrapped production after a demanding but deeply meaningful shoot in Central Pennsylvania. The film is the first installment in the upcoming Suicide Trilogy, with the same core cast continuing into the next two films. Spencer and McKenna reflect on the strength of the cast and crew, the emotional weight of the material, and the grace they felt throughout production. Spencer also shares that he has already begun editing and is excited about how the film is coming together.

The conversation then turns to Hard Faith Fest LA Year Four, which will be the largest Hard Faith Fest yet. This year marks the festival’s first four-day event, hosted by Lake Avenue Church, a venue Spencer and McKenna describe as beautiful, gracious, and ideal for the growing festival. They discuss the move to Pasadena, the convenience of nearby hotel room blocks, the walkability of the area, and the ability for guests to fly into Burbank as an easier alternative to LAX.

Spencer and McKenna emphasize that Hard Faith Fest is not simply a screening event, but a true gathering place for Christian artists, filmmakers, writers, actors, producers, and industry professionals who are trying to tell honest, redemptive stories. The festival will include screenings, screenplay presentations, panels, workshops, live musical performances, the Pitch Fest, afterparties, Sunday worship at Lake Avenue Church, and a closing time of prayer and encouragement.

This year’s festival theme is “Do Not Fear.” Spencer explains that the theme feels especially fitting for Christian artists who are called to create courageously, even when the path is uncertain. The episode frames the festival as a place of encouragement, community, and faith-driven creative boldness.

The heart of the episode is the official announcement of the Hard Faith Fest LA official selections and category nominations. The festival received its strongest and most competitive submissions yet, with hundreds of entries and more than fifty projects being screened or presented across the festival.

The official selections include:

Screenplays: At the Mercy of Faith, Blood or Communion, The Deplorable, Finding Hallie, Harvest Skies, Henry’s House, Indentured, Lower Than Angels, One Simple Thing, Paging Faith, The Portrait, Seasons Change, There Will Come a Day, Until We Climb, and Wonder Horse.

Short Films: Beyond the Shadows, The Conversation, Convicted, Defender, Died Twice, ECCE HOMO, The King and The Maiden, Onesimus, Satisfied in You (Psalm 42), and To Philemon.

Feature Films: Elijah Peel, The Hail Mary, Illusion of Faith, Jim vs the Future, Learning You, Miracle on the Precipice, The One, and Problem Attic.

Student Films: Altar, And, Light, Life and Death, Mourning Dove, Palette of Dreams, SOLO DEUS, Shelter of the Reeds, and Then I Heard.

Documentary Features: I Can Finally Breathe, Light of Cappadocia: Saints Arsenios & Paisios, MEARS: How One Woman Changed American Christianity, RESCUED - A Story of Redemption and Hope, and To The Ends.

Documentary Shorts: In the Shadow of Grace, Jordan: Blessing Arab, The Missionary, The Potter, and The Farthest We Fall.

The episode also announces selections in Best Original Song, Episodic / Television, and Animation, along with nominations for acting, directing, producing, writing, cinematography, editing, visual effects, costume design, makeup, casting, international film, composer, trailer, and additional festival awards.

Spencer and McKenna close by congratulating all official selections and nominees, while also encouraging those who were not selected to continue creating and submit again in the future. They make clear that the festival’s mission is not only to recognize excellent work, but to champion artists who are telling stories that liberate.

The episode ends with an invitation for listeners to buy tickets, attend all four days, take part in the full community experience, and join Hard Faith Fest LA in Pasadena for a festival rooted in faith, art, courage, and honest storytelling.

www.HardFaithFest.com

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, Spencer Folmar sits down with Los Angeles screenwriter Kimberly Jade Soliman to talk about her path into screenwriting, her long-standing connection to Hard Faith, and the grit it takes to build a career in film while staying grounded in faith. Spencer highlights Kimberly’s discipline, consistency, and practical approach to finding work, while Kimberly shares how God led her from a theater background into screenwriting and eventually to Los Angeles.

The episode is especially helpful for aspiring writers because it is not just inspirational — it is practical. Kimberly talks about the value of steady writing, learning the industry from the inside by working on set, going to conferences, building relationships over time, and refusing to let rejection knock her out of the game. She makes the case that perseverance matters just as much as talent, and that a real writing career is built through faithfulness over time.

At its heart, this conversation is about endurance, calling, and doing the work. It is an encouraging episode for screenwriters, filmmakers, and anyone trying to stay faithful to what God has put in front of them, even when the road is long.