Dolly Parton, SAFETY, INFIDEL Win Big During Movieguide®’s Movies That Inspire
By Movieguide® Staff
Movieguide®’s Movies That Inspire celebrated five award winners during its broadcast on Easter Sunday on The REELZ Channel.
“Movieguide®’s Movies That Inspire shows audiences that inspirational content abounds, even in times of trouble,” says Movieguide® President Robert Baehr. “As a father of four, I’m always encouraged to see uplifting movies that contain redemptive elements that point to God’s love for us.”
Dolly Parton® won the Grace Prize® for Most Inspiring Performance for her role in DOLLY PARTON’S CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE.
“That’s been a big part of my whole life,” Parton says in the broadcast of creating content with faith and family elements. “I talk a lot about faith and family because my grandpa was a preacher, my mother was very, very spiritual, so I grew up very spiritual and I’m a spiritual person, myself. I really have a lot of faith, and I thank God every day everything good that happens to me, and I pray for guidance. When I do get recognized for things like this, it just makes me think, ‘Well, praise the Lord!’”
SAFETY was selected as the Best Movie for Families of 2020. GREYHOUND was selected as the Best Movie for Mature Audiences of 2020. INFIDEL won the Faith and Freedom® Award, and the Epiphany Prize® for Most Inspiring Movie of 2020 went to I STILL BELIEVE.
“I appreciate Movieguide® and everything that you do to help educate both Hollywood and and the general public on movies that uplift and inspire and and model a Christian worldview and and the transformational power of Christianity,” I STILL BELIEVE Director Jon Erwin says.
“I just think that there’s such power in the truth,” Erwin continues. “You just can’t argue with the transformation in someone’s life that Christianity brings, that the Gospel brings. I love it when someone watches the movies and says, ‘If that can happen to that person, maybe it can happen to me.’ In this case, if the person on the screen can achieve their dreams, maybe the person watching can, too. That’s why we love inspirational, true stories.”
Mark Ciardi, SAFETY producer, has won a few Movieguide® Awards before and understands the importance of including inspirational messages in his movies.
“I do I have a lot of Teddy Bears on my mantle, and that puts an imprint of how these movies are received out there,” Ciardi says. “I’m really proud of the films because they’re family films that I still get great compliments on today from people. A lot of them that I’ve made for Disney now sit on this Disney+ plus platform. It’s great, because Disney+ rebirth of being able to watch a movie at the touch of a button, and I love the movies that I’ve done there.”
INFIDEL Cyrus Nowrasteh has also won a Movieguide® Award and added the Faith and Freedom® Prize to his collection. INFIDEL presents the Truth in a powerful way in the midst of persecution that is occurring today.
“INFIDEL is inspired by a number of different true stories … Bob Levinson, that’s one of them. There’s Michael White, there was a Chinese American graduate student Zhu Wang, a guy named Robin Shahini,” Nowrasteh said. “All of them are held in prison in Iran for various charges and, you know, proselytizing, trying to spread Christianity is a standard charge for which they’ll round up people, including Iranian Christians. Persecution is rampant there.”
Nowrasteh says he highly values both the Movieguide® Awards and his relationship with Movieguide® Founder Dr. Ted Baehr. “[The Movieguide® Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry] was an important day in my life,” Nowrasteh said. “One of the amazing things was meeting Dr. Baehr that night, and it sparked a relationship of friendship. That’s very meaningful to me on so many different levels–in my faith, in my personal life, in my creative life, and it’s had a huge impact.”
The broadcast also celebrated other movies, including WAITING FOR ANYA, I AM PATRICK, THE CROODS, CREATED EQUAL: CLARENCE THOMAS IN HIS OWN WORDS, and NEWS OF THE WORLD, among others.
For the full list of movies and television shows selected as the best content of 2020, click here.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
