Sound of Freedom film highlights child trafficking crisis: ‘God’s children are not for sale’

Sound of Freedom details the true story of how a federal agent quits his job and risks his life to journey into the jungles of Colombia in an effort to save a girl, the sister of a recently rescued 7-year-old boy, from sex slavery.

Jim Caviezel, perhaps best known for his role as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, plays Sound of Freedom's lead role of federal agent Tim Ballard. In the trailer released late Thursday, Caviezel's character said, “God's children are not for sale.”

The film also features Academy Award-winner Mira Sorvino from Mighty Aphrodite and Bill Camp from 12 Years a Slave. The film is directed by Alejandro Monteverde and produced by Eduardo Verastegui. 

Angel Studios, the film's distributor, announced Sound of Freedom's theatrical release comes more than five years after the film's completion.

“Initially made with [21st Century] Fox. After it was completed, Fox was acquired by Disney, who said, ‘We can't release this film,'” Angel Studios CEO and Co-Founder Neal Harmon explained to the Washington Examiner. “Eduardo spent over a year before [Disney] released the rights to the film. At that time, he tried to take it to theaters, but just as they were, COVID hit, and another three years passed.”

Harmon explained that the film resonated with Angel's crowdfunding investors earlier this year and helped make the film's release possible.

“We want to answer the prayers of children as soon as possible,” Harmon said, pointing out that it took courage to select July 4 after industry experts warned against a summer release due to blockbuster competition.

Both Caviezel and Harmon called for 2 million people to purchase tickets and attend the film's opening weekend to represent the 2 million trafficked children across the world.

“I am so proud to be a part of this impactful film,” Caviezel told Variety. “In fact, I'd say this is the second most important film I've done after The Passion of the Christ.”

“We have 1,200 theaters,” Harmon said. “The theaters are paying attention, and they'd like to lean into this film, but they need to see those seats filled.”

“What we need is for Sound of Freedom to be the No. 1 movie in the world on July 4,” Harmon added. “Because the world will not be able to ignore that message — that's what those children need.”

Tickets for the film may be purchased or paid forward using Angel Studios's “Pay It Forward” software, which allows people to purchase tickets on behalf of others.

Sound of Freedom follows the box-office shocker biblical film His Only Son as Angel Studios's next theatrical release and project to gift tickets in “Pay It Forward” fashion.