David, the latest animated film released by the Christian distributor Saje, raises concerns about the direction of a cinema that increasingly accepts proselytism.
A few years ago, the arrival of a logo adorned with a white dove could make French cinema professionals smile. This symbol belongs to Saje Distribution, a company specializing in Christian films and their distribution in France. It is understandable to target a potentially lucrative niche with a catalog of pseudo-artistic films and faith-based movies aimed at the American audience.
However, it is noteworthy that Saje now has a voice that is heard, especially at the Deauville distributors’ conference, a major event for distributor line-ups, where the studio is now present. On March 18, 2026, the animated film David by Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham was released, depicting the story of King David with his most significant episodes (such as the battle against Goliath and persecution by King Saul).
With this film, the company is promoting it with over 350 copies and a significant advertising campaign. This marks a shift towards openly proselytizing releases, raising concerns about the enterprise of mass evangelization becoming increasingly complex.
Saje was founded in 2012 under the leadership of Hubert de Torcy, a former executive in the automotive industry and a member of the Community of Emmanuel, actively involved in evangelization. Torcy, with a background in communication, managed Emmanuel editions before venturing into audiovisuals. He attributes the launch of the distribution company to the TEPA law initiated by Nicolas Sarkozy, enabling wealthy individuals to invest part of their taxes in startups, with support from the “Community.”
It’s more about evangelization than artistic merit, using cinema as a medium to convey a message. Promoting religion in this manner is not illegal, given the prevalence of audiovisual media and the adaptation of Christianity to this platform. Additionally, it is essential to clarify that this article has no bias against beliefs, respecting the freedom of worship and the manifestation of religious convictions within the public order.
Since 2014, Saje surprised audiences with the film Cristeros, a western starring Andy Garcia, Oscar Isaac, Eva Longoria, and Peter O’Toole, which garnered around 80,000 admissions in France. The company’s other facet involves acquiring notorious American B movies for video releases, intentionally capitalizing on their negative reputation.
