Hard-Hitting, Deeply Spiritual, Pathos-Filled Scripts Take Home Kairos Prizes®
By Movieguide® Staff
The 2020 Kairos Prize winners delivered two incredibly emotional stories that reached outside the traditional faith and family genre.
This year’s Kairos Prizes® were spectacular. One of the very top people in the entertainment industry, Sam Haskell, presented the two Prizes to our winners. Just a few years ago, he was described as the most powerful man in Hollywood.
The winners at this year’s Faith & Values Awards Gala & Report to the Entertainment Industry were not only delighted, but they are also now motivated to do more than ever to redeem the values of the mass media of entertainment.
Both stories ambitiously tackled complex difficult topics, and ultimately our industry judges were attracted to the depth of the stories they told.
The Kairos Prize for Most Spiritually Uplifting Screenplay by a First-Time or Beginning Screenwriters was awarded to SEARCHING FOR SHEIDA by Anne Cattaruzza and Kim Feeney. Their script told the story of a Canadian journalist who after hearing about the persecution of a Christian woman in Iran, traveled across the world to save her, never imagining they shared an incredible bond. The script hit the mark with regard to this contest as it delivered an uplifting spiritual message deeply set in a strongly evangelical context. Moreover, the story spoke directly to our times and the depth of faith embodied by those Christians fighting to survive in the Muslim world.
The Kairos Prize for Professional or established Screenwriters went to SOLD FOR ASHES by Glen Brown. His Screenplay described the heart wrenching journey of a little girl kidnapped from the mission field, and the plight of her missionary parents who would stop at nothing to get her back. This script addresses the moral issues concerning sex trafficking as the story presents a young girl of great faith who survives unimaginable horrors to fulfill a purpose in her life. The thematic focus throughout rests in matters of faith, perseverance, and assurance in God’s plan which thoroughly represent the purpose of this contest.
Both scripts were hard-hitting, deeply spiritual, and pathos-filled. The judges included some of the top people in Hollywood: Bob Norton, animator and producer (HAPPY FEET, LEGO MOVIE, LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, PETER RABBIT); Cary Solomon, writer and producer (GOD’S NOT DEAD,GOD’S NOT DEAD 2, UNPLANNED); Chuck Konzelman, writer and producer (GOD’S NOT DEAD,GOD’S NOT DEAD, UNPLANNED); DeVon Franklin, producer and actor (BREAKTHROUGH, THE STAR, WOODLAWN); Pablo De Rosso, vice president of Content Strategy & Analysis Netflix; Paul Sirmons, producer, director (TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS, THE WAY BACK HOME); Rich Peluso, executive vice president and head of AFFIRM Films/AFFIRM Television at Sony Pictures Entertainment; Rob Hudnut, producer (SCREECHERS WILD!, BATTLE CLAW, MAX STEEL TEAM TURBO); Trey Reynolds, vice president of Production Provident Films.
The finalists for the Kairos Prizes® are as follows:
Kairos Prize® for Beginning Screenwriters
CHANGING SCORE – Bridget McMahon
FAITH HOUSE – Victoria Dorshorn
SEARCHING FOR SHEIDA – Anne Cattaruzza, Kim Feeney (Top 3 Finalist)
THE PIANO GOSPEL – Tony Gonzalez (Top 3 Finalist)
THE ROAD TO YOU – Amy Molina, Kelli Cloud Barton (Top 3 Finalist)
THE VALLEY OF HOPE – Quientola Eicher
WESLEY JONAH – Mitchell Irion
Kairos Pro Prize® for Established Screenwriters
A MANGER MIRACLE – Jeanne Dukes (Top 3 Finalist)
DARK DAYS – Christina Denton
MURPHY’S CHRISTMAS – Jeff Peabody
SOLD FOR ASHES – Glenn Brown (Top 3 Finalist)
THE ALMIGHTY YES – Alexandra Boylan, John K.D. Graham (Top 3 Finalist)
To find out more about the Kairos Prize, click here.
