'Give smarter' urges charitable foundation as skills exchange is launch
Only a radical overhaul in the way people give can save more than 300 small UK charities from closing, says a charitable foundation ...Lord David Puttnam to open Christian Resources Exhibition
Lord David Puttnam, producer of arguably the most successful sports-themed movie of all time, will open this year's Christian Resources Exhibition International (8-11 May at Sandown Park, Esher).
Lord Puttnam (right), who turned the story of athlete Eric Liddell into the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, will launch a 
special set of church and community resources created by the Damaris Trust to accompany a re-release of the digitally re-mastered film in cinemas across the country.
“In this unique year, with the London Games at the very top of the agenda, we are delighted to invite such a distinguished person to open the show,” said Paul Trott, head of marketing for CRE's parent company Bible Society.
“The story of Eric Liddell continues to inspire and challenge. We expect hundreds of UK churches to come to CRE and discover some great ways to communicate to their communities before and during the Games.”
Lord Puttnam's visit to Sandown Park coincides with the launch of the first-ever UK Christian Film Festival taking place at CRE. The festival will feature star-studded, high-profile productions such as Lion of Judah (Ernest Borgnine, Michael Madsen) and Jerusalem Countdown (Lee Majors, Randy Travis). Also screened will be movies from new, up-and-coming Christian filmmakers, among them the first Christian Bollywood offering, Anbirkk Alavillai.
Festival director Ray Horowitz said: “We are very excited about our partnership with CRE and Bible Society, enabling us to bring the best of Christian films to the largest audience possible.”
CRE is set to return to Manchester for the first time in nine years (10/11 Oct 2012). CRE North will be held at Event City, next door to the renowned Trafford Centre.