A True Story of Survival, Faith & Redemption

The Rescue Bring This Powerful Story To The World

Help us reach

US$ 600,000

to green-light production

Reaching this milestone means we move into full production on the US$4M film.

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Hope deserves the big screen

The Rescue is a gripping drama based on the true story of Amy and Craig Helm, whose survival against all odds during a brutal Alaskan storm leads to a life-changing journey. As Amy confronts devastating loss and struggles to rebuild her life, the film explores powerful themes of faith, forgiveness, and the hope that emerges even in life’s darkest moments.

Highlights

Award Winning Studio

From the award winning creators of Mana Atua - The Power of God, this project continues a legacy of authentic, hope-filled storytelling that's reached audiences around the world.

Global Track Record

Fantail Studios has produced 14+ faith-based series and documentaries, reaching tens of thousands of viewers in over 20 countries worldwide.

Critically Recognized Story

The Rescue screenplay - inspired by the true survival of Amy and Craig Helm - has been internationally recognized and is a finalist for Best Screenplay at the ICVM Crown Awards.

World Class Team

Backed by an accomplished and experienced production team, The Rescue brings together award-winning creative leadership, respected casting expertise, and a track record of delivering compelling, commercially viable films for global audiences.

Story Overview

Amy’s testimony is already resonating - now it's time to bring it to the big screen.

Amy's original testimony, released through Angel Studios Torch Guild, has received a 4.3 out of 5 audience rating, with viewers describing it as honest, hope-filled, and deeply impactful.

Torch Guild is Angel Studios’ strategic audience testing platform, designed to measure real-world audience appeal and help validate projects for global distribution. The response to Amy’s testimony demonstrates early demand and confirms that this story resonates deeply with viewers.

Angel Studios Guild

4.3 / 5 Stars

I pray for more content like this on Angel Studios! Beautiful! Praise the Lord for saving Craig’s soul! - Sam

Wow! What can I say? Riveting. Powerful story! Intense! What a great story to tell! - Doug

Watch Amy Helm's Original Testimony:

Meet the Filmmakers

The Team Behind the Vision

Jared van Berkel - Co-Director & Producer

As the founder of Fantail Studios, Jared has a rich history of pioneering media projects and partnering with God for breakthroughs. Jared's work has been broadcast on multiple networks around the world. Jared is most known for "The Amazon Adventure" TV Series and "Mana Atua - The Power of God", a feature documentary exploring the love of God at work in some of New Zealand's gangs.

Darren Simmonds - Co-Director

Darren Simmonds is an award-winning director and the owner of White Horse Productions, a boutique film studio in New Zealand’s South Island. Known for his ability to elicit authentic performances, Darren brings a wealth of experience in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. He has worked with Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark and co-directed Mana Atua – The Power of God, a feature documentary showcasing the transformative power of faith in New Zealand’s gang communities. Darren’s dedication to impactful storytelling makes him an invaluable asset to The Rescue team.

James Heyward - Executive Producer

James Heyward is an award-winning New Zealand screen producer, writer, and director with decades of experience and a strong international reputation for delivering high-quality features, combining powerful storytelling with cinematic production values.

Orlando Braun - Producer

Orlando Braun is an award-winning producer whose films have played at numerous festivals around the globe and have garnered dozens of awards. In addition, Orlando has worked in New York and Los Angeles with industry professionals such as Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film, Manage-Ment (Garden State), Platinum Studios (Cowboys & Aliens) and Film Independent (Spirit Awards, LA Film Festival)

Dan Bosko - Executive Producer

Dan has been stage acting for the last 3 decades in various roles, most notably the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz and was the lead in The Christians by Lucas Hnath. The last few years he has entered the film world and while an organizational leader and networker at heart, transformative film making and acting has become a passion and he looks forward to bringing his experience and gifting to The Rescue.

Craig Helm - Technical Mountaineer Supervisor

With a lifetime of experience at some of the highest levels of mountaineering, Craig Helm is the perfect person to supervise not only the safety aspect of filming in mountainous locations but the correct technical portrayal of it on screen. Our heart is to bring this film to life as accurately as possible. There is no one better to have on set in the mountains than Craig himself.

From Vision to Reality

Big Stories About a Big God

The Rescue is moving toward production through partnership and support from people who believe in the power of this story. Supporters can participate in two ways:

Give - Support the Mission

Many supporters choose to give toward the greenlighting of production. Giving helps unlock the final phase of financing and supports the film’s journey from story to screen.

Gifts of any size play a meaningful role in helping The Rescue move forward and reach audiences globally.

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Invest - Partner in the Film

For those looking to participate at a deeper level, there is also an opportunity to invest in the project.

Investment participation begins at NZD $25,000 and is designed for partners who want to support the film while sharing in its potential success. This pathway is structured around industry-standard film financing models and is outlined in detail within our Financial Overview.

A detailed Financial Overview is available for prospective investors who wish to explore the full structure and opportunity.

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Sharing The Rescue

Taking the Story to a Global Audience

The Rescue has now entered the international marketplace with strong representation through Premiere Entertainment Group. Premiere is a respected worldwide sales agent specialising in placing films with distributors and platforms around the globe, creating real opportunities for strategic release across territories and formats.

This agreement marks a key milestone: The Rescue is not just being made, it’s being positioned for global reach from the outset. With sales representation in place, the film has a structured path toward theatrical, digital, and international distribution as production progresses.

Dive Deeper

The Journey Behind The Rescue

Dive deeper into the gripping journey of Amy and Craig Helm with the full synopsis.

Read The Full Story

How it all began

This journey began with a testimony and has grown into a powerful story of faith, resilience, and redemption that we can't wait to share with the world.

The Heart of the Story

Through Amy's pain and struggles, The Rescue reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is hope and a divine purpose waiting to unfold.

The Setup

As the storm approaches, Amy and Craig’s seemingly perfect life is about to face a trial they never imagined, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey of faith, survival, and resilience.

Key Characters

Meet the Heart of the Story

Amy Helm

Amy is a fiercely independent search-and-rescue mountaineer whose journey of survival and faith forms the emotional core of The Rescue.

Craig Helm

Craig is a skilled mountaineer and Amy’s devoted husband. Without a faith of his own, Craig is forced to wrestle with his own limitations and the ultimate question, is God real?

Jake Heuer

Jake is Amy’s older brother and a source of comfort for Amy. While planning his own wedding, Jake must help Amy fight for the future of her own marriage.

Kari Heuer

Kari is Amy’s sister and best friend. As a massage therapist, Kari’s resilience is put to the test as she works relentlessly to try and restore blood-flow to Amy’s rotting toes.

Pastor Daniel Self

Pastor Daniel is a close friend and spiritual mentor. While he doesn’t have all the answers, He journeys with Amy and Craig in the undying belief that God is a God of restoration

A Glimpse into the World of Survival and Faith

The Visual Language of The Rescue

Explore the striking imagery that defines The Rescue. From the vast, icy expanse of the Alaskan wilderness to the intense storms that test human endurance, each visual element is crafted to reflect the story’s themes of survival, faith, and hope.

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