About
Douglas James Vail
Executive Director | Filmmaker
Douglas James Vail is an American filmmaker whose vision is grounded in light—both cinematic and spiritual. As founder of FaithWorks Pictures, he uses light to reflect God’s presence and the triumph of good. His films honor true heroes—those who stand for truth, show courage, and resist evil.
Blending craft with purpose, Douglas captures the American spirit and the journey of faith, offering stories that shine with authenticity and invite viewers to see God’s glory through film.
Notable Accomplishments
Debut Feature – 40: The Temptation of Christ (2020): Shot with a team of just twelve, using natural desert landscapes and purposeful light design to express profound spiritual themes.
Microbudget Breakthrough: Produced for under $100,000—on a scale even smaller than The Blair Witch Project—and secured North America distribution through a deal with Gravitas Ventures, at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
Streaming Success: Ranked #3 on Amazon Prime’s “Most Watched Movies in the USA” during Ash Wednesday weekend in 2025.
Worldwide Reach: Distributed across Europe and translated into 15 languages, extending its message far beyond its original scope
YouVersion Bible App Feature: Selected for inclusion in the world’s most-downloaded Bible app, giving the film spiritual reach on a global scale.
These early achievements paved the way for Douglas’s second feature film:
Peace River (2022) Production Growth: Leveraging the momentum from his debut, his team secured a production budget over 10x larger—allowing for an expanded crew of under 40 and a significantly broader creative scope.
Nationwide Theatrical Release: Secured theatrical distribution across 500+ theaters nationwide, from Hawaii to Rhode Island, including regional expansions through Cinemark in high-performing states.
Music Collaboration with a Legend: Featured a Sony-distributed track, How 'Bout Them Cowgirls, written and performed by George Strait, the "King of Country," granted at no cost specifically due to the film’s message and mission.
Supporting Veterans: The film's debut helped promote veteran-focused initiatives, including housing support for wounded soldiers through charitable programs championed by George Strait himself.
Our Films
Peace River (2022)
Peace River follows the journey of Casey Shane, a fifth-generation New Mexico rancher forged in grit, faith, and tradition. Raised by his grandfather Bo Shane—a tough, tender WWII veteran—Casey grows up learning the Cowboy Way, riding bulls and chasing sunsets alongside his childhood friend and first love, Maria Martinez.
When tragedy strikes America on 9/11, Casey answers the call and joins the elite U.S. Special Forces. Deployed to Afghanistan, he rides into war with the same courage he once brought to the rodeo arena. But the battlefield leaves scars deeper than wounds, and when Casey returns home—broken by war and personal loss—he must rediscover his identity, his faith in Christ, and the love he left behind.
A sweeping story of honor, heartbreak, and redemption, Peace River is a modern American parable about healing through faith, and the quiet strength of a man who remembers who he is… and who he belongs to.
CONTACT INFO
FAITHWORKS PICTURES
C/O DOUGLAS JAMES VAIL
TECHNICAL INFO
ORIGINAL CUT
TRT: 2HOUR 15 MINUTES
EXHIBITION FORMAT: DVD, BLU-RAY, 4KUHD
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
SHOOTING FORMAT: HD, UHD
COLOR, ENGLISH, SUBTITLES AVAILABLE
40: The Temptation of Christ (2020)
In the wilderness of Judea, far from the crowds and comforts of the world, Jesus Christ—the Son of God—prepares for His divine mission to redeem humanity. Led by the Holy Spirit, He enters a season of solitude, fasting, and deep communion with the Father, knowing the cross awaits.
After 40 days without food, physically weakened but spiritually focused, Christ is confronted by Satan himself. With cunning and cruelty, the Adversary seeks to derail the Savior’s path—whispering lies, invoking fear, and even taking on the familiar faces of Jesus' earthly parents. As the weight of future agony looms, Jesus battles not only Satan’s temptations, but the haunting knowledge of the suffering to come.
40: The Temptation of Christ is a powerful, intimate portrayal of Jesus’ spiritual warfare in the desert—a cinematic meditation on obedience, identity, and the unbreakable resolve of divine love.
CONTACT INFO
FAITHWORKS PICTURES
C/O DOUGLAS JAMES VAIL
TECHNICAL INFO
ORIGINAL CUT
TRT: 1 HOUR 38 MINUTES
EXHIBITION FORMAT: DVD, BLU-RAY, 4KUHD
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
SHOOTING FORMAT: HD, UHD
COLOR, ENGLISH, SUBTITLES AVAILABLE
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
40: The Temptation
of Christ
4.2 stars out 5
"This movie is an incredible depiction of Christ's 40 days in the desert. I would definitely recommend this flick to anyone because its beautifully filmed, well produced, incredibly well acted and completely thought provoking. I can only imagine how this production team would have done if they had a big studio film budget instead of this being a passion project funded by their own wallets. Its overwhelming what they were able to do with the little amount they had to work with."
Peace River
4.6 stars out 5
"This movie so demonstrates what soldiers go through in war and for the rest of their lives. It demonstrates how pain and horrible events can help us to grow in God and make us better people in the end through the pain and sorrow of events. This is an awesome movie and it affected our hearts. I'd give it 10 stars if I could."