A locally-produced movie premiering nationwide next week will benefit disabled veterans by providing a percentage of profits to the Disabled American Veterans.
“God Bless the Broken Road,” produced and filmed in West Michigan, will premiere September 7 at over 1,000 theaters across the country, including locally at Celebration Cinema. The movie was produced by Manistee-based 10 West Studios; Varnum attorney Steve Afendoulis served as executive producer for the project.
“God Bless the Broken Road” tells the story of a young mother who loses her husband in Afghanistan and struggles to raise their young daughter in his absence. The film combines elements of faith, country music and stock car racing while paying tribute to those who serve in the United States military. Local moviegoers may recognize locations such as Berlin Raceway and Rosie’s Diner, among others.
In addition to the national premiere, a special showing will be held in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, September 5 at Celebration Cinema North. With support from Varnum, Afendoulis arranged to provide 75 tickets for veterans to attend the local premiere. All proceeds from the local premiere will benefit the local DAV. Tickets for this special showing are available online at celebrationcinema.com
Those who would like to sponsor a veteran to attend the movie and a dinner may do so with a $25 donation at blessavet.com. Contributors will also receive a $25 gift certificate to restaurant.com.
“The Grand Rapids premiere is a way for me to do something special for my home town,” Afendoulis said. An attorney at Varnum for more than 30 years, Afendoulis has spent the past several years pursuing a variety of “passion projects,” one of which is making faith-based and family entertainment films. “God Bless the Broken Road” is his first theatrically-released film.