Norsk filminstitutt

The Countdown to Armageddon has begun. As biblical prophecy fuels political power, American Evangelicals threaten U.S. democracy and push for the Apocalypse in the Middle East.  

Praying for Armageddon is a political thriller that reveals the power and influence of U.S. fundamentalist Evangelicals, as they aim to fulfill the Armageddon prophecy. With close quarters journalism, this feature documentary embeds with American believers who prepare for The Holy war and exposes how powerful megachurch pastors call for the 'final battle' that they believe will trigger the Second Coming of Christ. A deep dive into power and policy, this film unveils how politicians driven by faith embrace Israel as the key to their prophetic vision for the end of days. At any cost.    

Praying for Armageddon investigates the dangerous consequences of the fusion between Evangelical Christianity and American politics. Stark and gripping in approach, this film not only reveals how structures of fundamentalism weaken the very fabric of American democracy, but also highlights the devastating impact religion wields on U.S. foreign policy. Praying for Armageddon uncovers how the Evangelicals fuel the volatile situation in Israel and Palestine - ultimately escalating the spirals of violence in the Middle East.    

From the grassroots to megachurch empires and the dark backrooms in Washington D.C., this film goes inside a movement that ultimately aims to destroy our civilization.  

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2023
Production country:
Norway
Co production country:
Sweden
Germany
Finland
Release date (international):
2023-03-20
Production company:
UpNorth Film AS
Co production company:
Auto Images AB
Ventana-Film GmbH
Making Movies OY
Producer:
Christian Aune Falch
Torstein Parelius
Ingrid Aune Falch
Co producer:
Ove Rishøj Jensen
Hans Robert Eisenhauer
Kaarle Aho
Sales agent:
DR Sales

Director

  • Tonje Hessen Schei

    Tonje Hessen Schei (b. 1971) is an award-winning documentary director whose films take on international issues that questions systems of power that shape our world. With political thrillers 

    Tonje has investigated the CIAs drone war, the artificial intelligence revolution, and the consequences of the influence of Evangelical fundamentalists in the US.  

    Tonje is the director of Praying for Armageddon, a political thriller on the fundamentalist U.S. Evangelical´s power and influence as they work to speed up the end times and fulfill the Armageddon prophecy. The film is to be released early 2023. 

    Tonje is the director of iHUMAN, a political thriller from the inside of the AI revolution, which premiered at IDFA 2019, with sold-out theaters and a Doc Talk with Edward Snowden. iHUMAN won Best Norwegian Documentary at HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival, 2020. The film had special high level panel debates at the Berlinale and Cannes 2019 and has screened at the UN and EU. iHUMAN has been selected for major international film festivals, including Black Nights Film Festival, CPH:DOX and HotDocs 2020. iHUMAN qualified for the Oscar run 2020. 

    Tonje directed Drone, a documentary on the secret CIA drone warfare. Drone received the award as Most Valuable Documentary of the Year at Cinema for Peace in Berlin. Drone won the Amanda award, the Norwegian Oscar equivalent, and Gullruten, the Norwegian Emmy, for Best Documentary 2015. Drone was on Netflix.  

    Tonje directed and produced Play Again and Independent Intervention, which both won several international awards. The films have been screened on all continents in over 100 countries and are used by schools and universities globally.  

    In Norway, Tonje worked for NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (2005-2006), and she  was the Festival Director of Human Rights Human Wrongs Film Festival (2011). Tonje did a TEDx on Gaming as War in 2016.  

    Tonje has been featured in national and international media. Including national television broadcast and national newspapers. Internationally media includes BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Vice, Wired, Al Jazeera, Democracy Now! and many more. Tonje is the recipient of The Chicken and Egg Award 2020.   

    Tonje Hessen Schei

Awards

2023:
Festival des Libertés
Secular Action Center Award 2023

Festivals

2023:
CPH:DOX
2023:
It's All True International Documentary Film Festival
2023:
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
2023:
Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival
2023:
Sheffield Doc/Fest - Sheffield International Documentary Festival
2023:
The Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund
2023:
Oslo Pix
2023:
Nordisk Panorama
2023:
Nordic/Docs
2023:
Hamptons International Film Festival
2023:
Adelaide Film Festival
2023:
BIFF - Bergen International Film Festival
2023:
Festival des Libertés
2023:
Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival
2023:
Windsor International Film Festival
2023:
Movies on War
2023:
Trondheim Documentary Festival
2024:
DocPoint Tallinn Documentary Film Festival
2024:
DocPoint - Helsinki Documentary Film Festival
2024:
One World - International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Prague

Crew

Director:
Tonje Hessen Schei
Screenplay:
Tonje Hessen Schei

Technical information

Format:
DCP 4k
Colour:
Colour
Length in min's:
94'
Language:
English
Arabic
Hebrew

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