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FIREPROOF and CHRISTMAS CHOIR Win $100,000 Epiphany Prizes; Three New Scriptwriters Divide $50,000 in Kairos Prize Contest

Beverly Hills, Calif. – FIREPROOF, last year’s most successful truly independent movie, a story about faith and love healing a broken marriage, and THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR, an inspiring story about a group of homeless men turning their lives around by singing Christmas carols about Jesus, last night won the two $100,000 Epiphany Prizes for Inspiring Movies & TV, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org).

The prizes were presented last night to the people behind these projects at the 17th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, held before a packed crowd in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

The annual Epiphany Prizes go to the best movie and television program that result in a “great increase in man’s love or understanding of God.”

Meanwhile, three screenwriters from the South took home the $10,000, $15,000 and $25,000 Kairos Prizes for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by Beginning Screenwriters, also sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.

In other news from the Gala, Adriana Barraza of HENRY POOLE IS HERE received the Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance of 2008, for portraying “God’s grace to us as human beings.”

MOVIEGUIDE® named WALL-E the Best Family Movie of 2008 and IRON MAN the Best Movie for Mature Audiences of 2008.

The movie EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED won the Faith & Freedom Movie Award for Promoting Positive American Values. JOHN ADAMS and THE MEDAL tied for the Faith & Freedom Television Award for Promoting Positive American Values.

A complete list of winners and nominees follows.

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 encourages informed, open-minded dialogue between scientists and theologians as they apply themselves to the most profound issues in their particular disciplines. Finally, it 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 dedicated to redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and informing the public about the influence of the entertainment media. Call 1-800-899-6684 for more info.

17th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards Gala

Winners List

Sponsored by the Christian Film & Television Commission®

Winner of the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2008, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation – FIREPROOF from Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Other movie nominees: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN from Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures, GRAN TORINO from Warner Bros. Pictures, HENRY POOLE IS HERE from Overture Films of Starz Entertainment, THE LONGSHOTS from MGM, and TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS from Lionsgate Films.

The $100,000 movie prize is equally divided among the people in the following five categories – the director, the credited writer(s), the producer(s), the executive producer(s), and the senior motion picture studio executive responsible for production.

Winner of the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring TV Program of 2008 sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation – “The Christmas Choir,” telecast by The Hallmark Channel

Other TV nominees: The “For Warrick” episode of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION from CBS-TV, JOHN ADAMS from HBO and THE MEDAL: CELEBRATING OUR NATION’S HIGHEST HONOR from 45 North Communications.

The $100,000 TV prize is equally divided among the people in the following five categories – the director, the credited writer, the executive producer(s) or producer(s) responsible for the program, the senior television network executive responsible for broadcasting the program, and the production studio executive responsible for production.

The $50,000 Kairos Prizes for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by Beginning Screenwriters, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation:

1. “A Matter of Time” by Christina D. Denton of Martinsville, Va., $25,000

2. “Touched” by Rusty Whitener of Pulaski, Va., $15,000

3. “Moody Field” by Darcy Faylor of Greenville, S.C., $10,000

The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies or TV in 2008 – Adriana Barraza for HENRY POOLE IS HERE

Other acting nominees (alpha order): Kirk Cameron for FIREPROOF, Christopher Carley for GRAN TORINO, Clint Eastwood for GRAN TORINO, Armie Hammer for BILLY: THE EARLY YEARS, Garrett Morris for THE LONGSHOTS, and Alfre Woodard for TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS.

Best Movie for Families – “WALL-E from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures

** The Ten Best 2008 Movies for Families **

1. WALL-E

2. FIREPROOF

3. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN

4. BOLT

5. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D

6. NIM’S ISLAND

7. KUNG FU PANDA

8. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

9. MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA

10. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR

Best Movie for Mature Audiences – IRON MAN from Paramount Pictures

** The Ten Best 2007 Movies for Mature Audiences **

1. IRON MAN

2. GRAN TORINO

3. VALKYRIE

4. CHANGELING

5. THE LONGSHOTS

6. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

7. EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED

8. TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS

9. MARLEY & ME

10. HENRY POOLE IS HERE

The Faith and Freedom Award for Promoting Positive American Values in 2007

Winner for Movies – EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED from Rocky Mountain Pictures

Other movie nominees: IRON MAN from Paramount Pictures, THE LONGSHOTS from MGM, NIM’S ISLAND from 20th Century Fox, and VALKYRIE from United Artists/MGM.

Winner for TV – (Tie) JOHN ADAMS from HBO and THE MEDAL: CELEBRATING OUR NATION’S HIGHEST HONOR from 45 North Communications

Other TV nominees: THE CHRISTMAS CHOIR from The Hallmark Channel, FRONT OF THE CLASS from Hallmark Hall of Fame, and HERO SHIPS from The History Channel.

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.