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Samuel Felinton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samuel Felinton
Samuel Felinton in 2022.
Born
Samuel Felinton

2004 (age 20–21)[1]
EducationWest Virginia University (BFA)
OccupationFilmmaker
Years active2023 - Present

Samuel Felinton is an American filmmaker and religious freedom advocate.

Early life

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Samuel Felinton was born in 2004 in Huntington, West Virginia,[2] and bar mitzvahed at the B'Nai Sholom Congregation.[3] Felinton began attending Huntington High School in 2019 and graduated in 2023. While in highschool, Felinton played Football alongside Gavin Lochow.[4] He currently attends West Virginia University pursuing a degree in Theatre Technology and Design.[5]

Religious freedom advocacy

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In 2022, while Felinton was a high school junior, he was forced to attend a Christian revival.[6] He was obliged to stay and watch the assembly despite attempting to leave.[7][8][9] This assembly would later make international news, by causing a multi-day walkout alongside Max Nibert and himself, including hundreds of their peers.[10]

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.[11]

Career

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In 2024, Felinton announced the production of As the Sunflower Whispers, a documentary on Ukrainian refugee crisis in collaboration with MUkraine, the film was later premiered at the Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington, West Virginia.[12]

On February 12, 2025, Felinton released The Death of Film, an experimental film with a runtime of 856 hours (35 days, 16 hours),[13] making it the second-longest film of all time and the longest animated film of all time.

Filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Producer Ref(s)
2025 As the Sunflower Whispers Yes Yes No [14][15]
2025 The Death of Film Yes Yes Yes [13]
2025 Project Butterfly: Flatwoods Yes Yes No [15]

Other work

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In 2022, Felinton wrote his first book, Teenager Business, on his entrepreneurship methods and journey through esports.[16][1]

Personal life

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Felinton and his two siblings, Charles and Elizabeth, are the children of Bethany and David Felinton.[17][18]

Felinton is the great-grandson of Burl Stafford.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b Pace, Fred (September 18, 2022). "Huntington High student achieving entrepreneurship dreams". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Chambers, Bryan (January 15, 2008). "Felinton loses 30 pounds following Lap-Band surgery and excersize". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Jane (February 17, 2022). "Christian revival has no place in school, ADL Cleveland says". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Inactive Players". Huntington High School Football. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Ellison, Hunter (January 4, 2024). "Huntington High Graduates Excel in W.Va. Film Industry". WSAZ. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "Students walk out at West Virginia school after Christian revival". NPR. February 9, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Leah, Leah (February 9, 2022). "Christian revival at high school prompts student walkout in West Virginia". NBC News. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Hanau, Shira (February 11, 2022). "Jewish student forced to attend Christian prayer assembly in West Virginia". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Judge: Families can sue over W.Va. religious revival". Freedom from Religion Foundation. February 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "As the Sunflowers - Red Carpet Premeire". Marshall University. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  13. ^ a b "First at 4 Forum: Samuel Felinton & Declan Mungovan". WDTV5. February 13, 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  14. ^ "End of Year Review and Appeal - Sunflower Seeds". Sunflower Seeds, Tristate Aid for Ukraine. 20 July 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Samuel Felinton Filmography". Samuel Felinton. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ^ Lackritz, Matt (September 29, 2022). "Teenager writes book about how to succeed in business". WSAZ. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  17. ^ Brown, Lee (February 10, 2022). "West Virginia high school students protest evangelical assembly". New York Post. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "Lawsuit filed over Christian revival at high school". Columbus Jewish News. February 10, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "July 2019 - Obituaries". Mingo Messanger. July 26, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
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