Wycliffe Hall welcomes Micheal Flaherty as Filmmaker in Residence

Wycliffe Hall is delighted to announce that Micheal Flaherty is joining us as Filmmaker in Residence. 

In the next academic year, he'll be helping us explore how Christian filmmakers can contribute towards fostering a new Renaissance of Christian scholarship, leadership and culture.

His residency begins with leading a pair of film-making seminars on Friday 21 November to which members of the wider University and general public are warmly invited.

Micheal Flaherty is an American educator and Co-Founder & former President of Walden Media – whose movie-making successes include The Chronicles of Narnia and the biopic of William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, among many others.

Flaherty is currently the CEO of Think Again Studios, which produces films and podcasts intended to challenge conventional wisdom and bridge the cultural divide. 

Flaherty enjoys inspiring creators even more than he enjoys creating movies. He looks forward to doing the same at Wycliffe and within the wider Oxford community. 

Revd Dr Michael Lloyd, Principal of Wycliffe Hall, says: 

"As the Japanese filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa, said, ‘Being an artist means never having to avert one’s eyes.’ Art is often thought of as being escapist, but in fact all good art forces us to face reality. The movement of good art, like good science and good religion, is towards reality."

"I am delighted that Micheal Flaherty is joining us as filmmaker in residence, to help us in that movement towards reality, and, therefore, ultimately, towards truth, goodness and beauty."

Revd Dr Jonathan Brant, Director of the New Renaissance Project, says:

“As we develop the New Renaissance Project – fostering transformational scholarship, leadership, culture and arts, born out of Christian community, and offering truth, goodness and beauty to the world – it would be hard to imagine anyone better equipped than Micheal Flaherty to help us in that endeavour.”

“It has been a pleasure to begin to get to know Micheal Flaherty over the past year. We’re absolutely delighted to be able to build on this by welcoming him to Wycliffe Hall as our first Filmmaker in Residence.”

“I have no doubt that his exceptional experience, his world-class creative expertise, and his irrepressible enthusiasm will be huge assets in developing a high-impact creative hub here at Wycliffe Hall.”

Micheal Flaherty says:

“When Jonathan Brant told me about the opportunity to become a part of the Wycliffe family, I felt like Lucy the first time that she opened Professor Kirk’s Wardrobe doors. I am entering hallowed ground at a time full of possibilities and unique opportunities.”

“2025 is the 100-year anniversary of C. S. Lewis beginning his teaching at Magdalen College. His writing and scholarship illuminated the transformational power of stories and myths; he forever changed people’s hearts and minds about Christianity, the one true myth. His work with Tolkien and other members of the Inklings made Oxford the epicentre for cultural renewal of Christianity for the last century.“

“I think that the New Renaissance Project has even greater potential to extend and embrace this vision for a wider population this century in new and engaging ways. And after spending just a few days with the students at Wycliffe, I have no doubt that it is producing the next generation of influential Christian leaders in scholarship, leadership and culture. Onward and upward!”