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John Lyden is the Liberal Arts core director at Grand View University, but he is also the editor-in-chief for an online academic journal, “The Journal of Religion and Film.” The journal originated at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. This was a field Lyden was already interested in, after having written many books and articles about this subject. He has also edited books in this field, so the journal was perfectly suited for Lyden.

Lyden contributed to the journal for many years before becoming the editor-in-chief in 2012. This opportunity has opened many doors for Lyden, including being able to attend the Sundance Film Festival as the member of the press. The journal has had access to the festival for the past 15 years, and Lyden has been able to go for the past three years. He writes reviews on films about religion and films that help answer questions about the meaning of life.

The Sundance Film Festival is a 10-day event that shines a light on independent cinema. It takes place in Park City, Utah, with over 46,000 attendants in 2016.

The event attracts attention from people all around the world. Those who attend include celebrities, film buyers, critics, magazine writers and the general public. Many celebrities got their start at Sundance, including Quentin Taratino and Jennifer Lawrence.

At the latest festival, Lyden got a sneak peak of some of the movies that will be coming out in the near future. They include documentaries, short stories, animated films, narratives and movies. These movies also give a voice to independent filmmakers who don’t have the resources or money to promote their movie.

“This gives the underdog a jump-start into the mainstream,” Lyden said.

There were a few movies that really caught his eye. One of those movies was called “Before I Fall,” which will be coming to Des Moines theaters.

“Before I Fall” is based on a book that has a “Groundhog Day”-type premise, which shows a girl reliving every day after her death. This movie takes the viewers through the meaning of life and the meaning of death. It asks the viewer religious questions about how they will deal with their life and deal with the hardships.

Because “Groundhog Day” is Lyden’s favorite movie, he is really looking forward to “Before I Fall.” This stood out to him because it narrarates her death and lets her relive her days surrounding it, which allows her to uncover questions she has had.