Hard Faith Podcast

Author: Hard Faith

Join us at Hard Faith Welcoming honest, gritty, redemptive stories Hard Faith is a media production company established for the purpose of bringing compelling stories about the human condition to a film going audience in a way that artistically and speaks truth to this present generation in a fresh and powerful way. The world needs quality entertainment and art that speaks truth boldly. We need stories that are set in real-world settings with characters that talk about the ultimate truth. We accomplish this with realistic, real world scenarios and real life characters. Hollywood has been the masters of compelling storytelling for generations. These artists of dramatic cinema have produced some of the worlds greatest existential films dealing with human existence. Our desire is to make hard hitting, thought provoking secular art with characters who are portrayed as real life, flawed people who still find hope.
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Language: en

Genres: Arts, Religion & Spirituality, Visual Arts

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S4 - Ep2 Sean P. Malone "Grand Canyon"
Episode 2
Monday, 9 February, 2026

In this episode of the Hard Faith Podcast, host Spencer Folmar sits down with filmmaker and cinematographer Sean Malone, whose striking black-and-white short film Grand Canyon won second place at this year’s Hard Faith Film Festival in Hollywood. Sean shares the deeply personal inspiration behind Grand Canyon, a film born out of the isolation, grief, and spiritual weight many experienced during the COVID era. Framed like a psalm of lament, the film follows a widowed minister struggling to hold onto faith amid darkness, division, and despair — ultimately becoming a cinematic prayer and cry out to God. The conversation expands into Sean’s love of cinema, his influences ranging from Spielberg to Lawrence of Arabia, and his journey as an artist who wants filmmaking to carry real spiritual substance. Sean and Spencer reflect on the importance of theology in storytelling — not making films that feel preachy, but honest stories that still center Christian hope. Sean also speaks candidly about his own faith journey, including seasons of depression, suffering, and slow spiritual growth — emphasizing that Christians may walk through valleys, but never without hope. Together, Spencer and Sean explore how hardship shapes character, how faith matures over time, and why art should ultimately point beyond ourselves to Christ. Finally, Sean reflects on the unique spirit of Hard Faith Fest: a community marked not by transaction, but by love, dignity, and the belief that artists are made in the image of God. He shares plans for a possible Grand Canyon sequel and encourages listeners to keep creating meaningful work rooted in truth and redemption.