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| Samuel Felinton | |
|---|---|
 Samuel Felinton in 2022. | |
| Born | Samuel Felinton 2004 (age 20–21) Huntington, West Virginia, United States |
| Education | West Virginia University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
| Years active | 2023 - Present |
| Notable work | T-130 |
Samuel Felinton is an American filmmaker and religious freedom advocate.
Early life
Samuel Felinton was born in 2004 in Huntington, West Virginia, and bar mitzvahed at the B'Nai Sholom Congregation. Felinton began attending Huntington High School in 2019 and graduated in 2023. He currently attends West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Theatre Technology and Design.
Religious freedom advocacy
In 2022, while Felinton was a high school junior, he was forced to attend a Christian revival. He was obliged to stay and watch the assembly despite attempting to leave. This assembly would later make international news, by causing a multi-day walkout alongside Max Nibert and himself, including hundreds of their peers.
In 2023, Felinton, alongside other parents, students, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, settled a lawsuit against the Cabell County Board of Education to implement a ban on teacher-run religious events being held within school hours on campus.
Career
In 2023, Felinton created an animated short Ho-Hum, to submit it into his state's Thespian Festival. Later in 2024, Felinton made T-130, an animated short on mental health, which has been recognized by the Appalachian Film Festival and MTN Craft Film Festival winning the MTN Craft award, making it the highest rated West Virginia Film in 2024.
Later in 2024, Felinton announced the productions of As the Sunflower Whispers, a documentary on Ukrainian refugee crisis in collaboration with MUkraine, and Project Butterfly: Flatwoods, a found footage movie on the Flatwoods Monster.
Filmography
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ho-Hum | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2024 | T-130 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2024 | Time Junction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | As the Sunflower Whispers | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 2025 | Project Butterfly: Flatwoods | Yes | Yes | No |
Other work
In 2022, Felinton wrote his first book, Teenager Business, on his entrepreneurship methods and journey through esports.
Personal life
Felinton and his two siblings, Charles and Elizabeth, are the children of Bethany and David Felinton.
Felinton is the great-grandson of Burl Stafford.
References
- ^ Pace, Fred (September 18, 2022). "Huntington High student achieving entrepreneurship dreams". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- Chambers, Bryan (January 15, 2008). "Felinton loses 30 pounds following Lap-Band surgery and excersize". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- Kaufman, Jane (February 17, 2022). "Christian revival has no place in school, ADL Cleveland says". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ Ellison, Hunter (January 4, 2024). "Huntington High Graduates Excel in W.Va. Film Industry". WSAZ. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- "Students walk out at West Virginia school after Christian revival". NPR. February 9, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- Ebrahimji, Alisha (February 10, 2022). "High school students stage a walkout after they say they were forced to attend a Christian revival assembly during school hours". CNN. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- "Students walk out in protest after public high school holds a Christian revival: 'Is this legal?'". Washington Post. February 10, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- Leah, Leah (February 9, 2022). "Christian revival at high school prompts student walkout in West Virginia". NBC News. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- Hanau, Shira (February 11, 2022). "Jewish student forced to attend Christian prayer assembly in West Virginia". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- "Judge: Families can sue over W.Va. religious revival". Freedom from Religion Foundation. February 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ McAuliffe, Merrily (May 16, 2024). "Huntington native's 'T-130' makes an impact at film festivals". WOWK. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "T-130 - MTN Craft Film Festival". MTN Craft Film Festival. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- "Appalachian Film Festival - Official Selections". Appalachian Film Festival. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Samuel Felinton - Film". Samuel Felinton. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- "Centrally Isolated Film Festival - Cornell University". Cornell University. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- Pittman, Caine (January 11, 2024). "WVU freshmen create film". WDTV. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- "End of Year Review and Appeal - Sunflower Seeds". Sunflower Seeds, Tristate Aid for Ukraine. 20 July 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- Lackritz, Matt (September 29, 2022). "Teenager writes book about how to succeed in business". WSAZ. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- Brown, Lee (February 10, 2022). "West Virginia high school students protest evangelical assembly". New York Post. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- "Lawsuit filed over Christian revival at high school". Columbus Jewish News. February 10, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- "July 2019 - Obituaries". Mingo Messanger. July 26, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2024.