On June 24, 1981, the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to a group of children near Medjugorje, then a small village in communist Yugoslavia. Now, exactly 36 years later—on June 24, 2017—an award-winning documentary investigating the claims was released on DVD.

Since premiering last year, APPARITION HILL has consistently filled cinemas in the USA and beyond. It also earned recognition in several film festivals and was among the 145 documentaries to qualify for the 2017 Oscars. The film sought to answer a difficult question:

Does Medjugorje represent a miracle of Biblical proportions, or an epic hoax?

The children, now adults, claim that Mary continues to appear, in part to entrust them with secrets about the world’s future. The alleged miracles have drawn millions of people and propelled Medjugorje into one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. According to a report published on May 14, 2017, the Vatican commission investigating the phenomena concluded that the first seven apparitions, at the very least, were “supernatural.” On the other hand, some remain skeptical about Medjugorje.

Apparition Hill began in February, 2015, when director Sean Bloomfield announced an online contest inviting people of all beliefs and backgrounds to submit videos stating why they should win one of seven free trips to Medjugorje.

To keep the film objective, Bloomfield and co-filmmaker Cimela Kidonakis chose two atheists, a young mother with cancer, a struggling addict, a Catholic with doubts about Marian apparitions, a father with ALS, and a believer raising nine children by himself. Along with co-producer Jessi Hannapel, Bloomfield and Kidonakis interviewed the group members before, during, and after the two-week trip to Medjugorje.

Apparition Hill is part of a 2-Disc Collector’s Set which also features 30 bonus videos totaling 135 minutes and a 12-page behind-the-scenes booklet.