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Fifty Semi-Finalists Announced for $50,000 Kairos Prize Screenplay Competition – the largest faith-based competition in the U.S.

Fifty semi-finalists have been announced for the 5th Annual $50,000 Kairos Prizes for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by first-time and beginning screenwriters, funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and presented by MOVIEGUIDE®: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment.

“We are greatly encouraged to see a wealth of quality screenplays coming through our doors,” said Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®. “With the impending release of the first Kairos winner, “The Revelator,” we look forward to finding the next winner to bring wholesome, faith-filled entertainment to the mainstream.”

Finalists will be announced at the beginning of February with the top three winners being awarded at the 18th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 50 semi-finalists are:

A BRIDGE TO CROSS, by C. Douglas Cloud & Jim D. Brown; Searcy, AR

ABRAHAM’S TENT, by Gloria Blum; Kailua-Kona, HI

AD 70: WARRIORS OF THE LAST TEMPLE, by John Noe; Indianapolis, IN

AMAYA, by Iñigo Puente Bustindui; San Luis Potosi, MEXICO

AMAZING GRACE, by Jason Ryan Saylor; Richmond, IN

CONSTRUCTING ANNA CARMELA, by Anita Palacios Collins; Calabasas, CA

DESTINY’S CALLING, by Jayme Provost; Lititz, PA

ESTHER: A NIGHT OF DESTINY, by Douglas King; Murphy, TX

GIVE MY LOVE TO THE CHESTNUT TREES, by Beverly Varnado; Athens, GA

GIOVANNI, by Barbara Caver & David Levine; Jackson Heights, VIRGIN ISLANDS

HABIT FORMING, by Heather Hughes & Kate Wharton; Seattle, WA

HEART’S DESIRE, by Ann Ault; Burbank, CA

HERE FOR A REASON, by Charles William Coulter; Fairfax, VA

HILDY RIDES AGAIN, by Rusty Rhodes; Bakersfield, CA

HOME PLACE, by Deana Costner; Orlando, FL

INVITATION ONLY, by LaTina Emerson; Augusta, GA

IT IS WELL, by Patricia Mugure; Hayward, CA

JOURNEY TO RHIA, by Karen Patterson-Stewart; Royal Palm Beach, FL

LION OF THE NORTH, by Johnny Davis; Alexandria, VA

LOST AND FOUND, by Don Kirsch; Toronto, ONT, CANADA

MAN VERSUS LIFE, by Allen Wolf; Santa Monica, CA

MCCLESKEY, by Michael Albanese; Los Angeles, CA

MIRACLES FOR BRONZEVILLE, by Curtis Burdick; Elmwood Park, IL

MORE PRECIOUS. by LeAnn Morris; Henderson, TX

MY ANGEL RAPHAEL, by Amy Anne Gillman; Brooklyn, NY

NOTES FROM HEAVEN, by Shawn Dalton; San Ramon, CA

ONE SUCH CHILD, by James A. Stevens; Wake Forest, NC

PRETTY LIKE A BOOK, by Donna Murray; Avalon, CA

READING, PA, by Sarah Brockman; Rockland, MA

RESURRECTED, by Lori Bonacci; Prospect Heights, IL

SEVEN GOLDEN GUINEAS, by Sharon Leighton; Fredericton, NB, CANADA

TAPESTRY, by Kay Krasin & Thom Wilder; Bensenville, IL

THANK YOU LORD, by Beverly Garside; Odenton, MD

THE GOOD DOCTOR, by Dwight Carlson, MD & Gregory Carlson; Santa Barbara, CA

THE JOBY PROJECT, by Michael Long; Burke, VA

THE MEANING OF MICAH, by Amy Luciano; Tucson, AZ

THE MEASURE OF A MAN, by Robert A. (“Bob”) Johnson; Woodsboro, MD

THE MUSTARD SEEDS, by Karen Mueller Bryson; Florence, AZ

THE PRAY’ERS CLUB, by Shirelle Thorne; Owings Mills, MD

THE PRODIGAL SONS, by Andrew Lewis & Jennifer Lewis; Flowery Branch, GA

THE PROPOSITION & THE PROMISE, by Quientola Eicher, Las Vegas, NV

THE RIGHT TRACT, by Shawn Davis; San Antonio, AK

THE SHOE BOX, by Sherry Cook; Acworth, GA

THE TRANSLATOR, by Lizanne Southgate & Alan Sproles; Visalia, CA

TO KISS A COLD FISH, by Karen Aaker; Colton, CA

TOUR OF DESTINY, by Mary Lee Telles; Lexington, KY

TRUST AND CLARITY, by Sara Michelle Rogers; Sedona, AZ

U-TURN, by Gary E. Roberson; Juliette, GA

WHEN I FALL IN LOVE, by Clint Morey; Missoula, MT

WHITE LIGHT, by Brian Nelson; Birchwood, MN

In addition to the $50,000 in prize money, the largest of its kind in the United States, the top three winners will have their scripts read by top studio executives, including executives at The Walt Disney Company, Sony, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox. Writers in Hollywood can work for years without such an opportunity.

“The Kairos Prizes are a testament to the tremendous quality of innovative talent that is out there just waiting to be discovered,” Dr. Baehr, said. “At Movieguide®, we are deeply honored to have so many of the major players in the industry taking note.”

Initiated in 2005, the $50,000 Kairos Prize seeks to further the influence of moral and spiritual values with the film and television industries by inspiring first-time and beginning screenwriters to produce compelling, entertaining, spiritually uplifting scripts that result in a greater increase in either man’s love or understanding of God. To that end, many of the winners have been optioned or have been signed by major agencies. Along with the upcoming release of “The Revelator,” there are also several other winning scripts that are currently circling to go into production.

Sir John Templeton, who founded the John Templeton Foundation whose organization funds the Kairos grant, long believed that the media – and specifically the entertainment media – plays a role in how individuals form their ideas about faith and values.

More information is available online at www.kairosprize.com, or by calling (760) 494-0097.



A comprehensive understanding of the type of scripts the Kairos Prize will be awarding can be found in Dr. Ted Baehr’s book, So You Want to Be in Pictures, available online at www.movieguide.org. For more information about the 18th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, please visit movieguideawards.com.

The John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org) serves as a philanthropic catalyst for research relating to what scientists and philosophers call the Big Questions. It supports work at the world’s top universities in such fields as theoretical physics, cosmology, evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and social science relating to love, forgiveness, creativity, purpose, and the nature and origin of religious belief. It also seeks to stimulate new thinking about wealth creation in the developing world, character education in schools and universities, and programs for cultivating the talents of gifted children.

Movieguide® is a publication of Good News Communications, Inc. and the Christian Film & Television Commission® ministry. It is an international non-profit organization dedicated to “redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and by informing and equipping the public about the influence of the entertainment media.”


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.