Congratulations to all our 2009 winners. Winning entries will be screened either at our official screening on Friday, October 16 or at the Grand Awards Ceremony on Saturday October 17, at 5:00 P.M. The following is a partial list of the 2009 Redemptive Storyteller Award Winners in our four categories: Student, Professional, Professional Low Budget and Distinctly Gospel. The following is the complete list of our 2009 winners. Please check back later this week for more summaries and pictures.
Lifetime AchievementDr. Paul Crouch, Founder and President of Trinity Broadcasting Network Dr. Paul Crouch was selected by the nominating committee because of his tireless efforts to tell the greatest redemptive story ever, primarily through Christian broadcasting, but also through his role as Executive Producer of several high quality films. TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeal to people in a wide variety of Protestant, Catholic and Messianic Jewish denominations. TBN is a recognized leader in the production of major Christian movies. TBN's cinematic achievements include: "The Revolutionary" and "The Revolutionary II," based on the life of Jesus; "The Emissary," a film on the life of the apostle Paul; "The Omega Code"; "Carman: The Champion"; "Megiddo"; and "Time Changer."
|
2009 Winners 2009 Winners
|
Student |
|
22 Weeks ( USA) - 28 mins Director; Producer Ángel Manuel Soto Ashley Shuck, Writer A film about decisions, their effects and the echos they leave behind. Based on the shocking World Net Daily article by Ron Strom, on post abortion testimonies, and real 911 calls about one of the most controversial subjects of our time, "22weeks" achieves to confront both sides of the spectrum and their perspective to the on going question: "what would you do... |
 |
Among Wolves (USA) - 23 mins Becky Bauer After a series of strange occurrences on his isolated ranch, Frank must face a mysterious threat from within the woods and risk surrendering his solitude. |
 |
Best Wishes! Love Adele (USA) - 19 mins Jacob Schwarz, Producer; Whitney Donald, Director When Harold was younger he worked in the movies with his celebrity crush Adele Beaumont, who was in love with Rich Karnicak. Living in a retirement |
 |
Broken Road (Australia) - 14 mins Producer Lynsey Urquhart, Director, Writer Brodie Rocca Broken Road is the story of a family's journey deep into the Australian outback. After he is abandoned by his wife, David sets out on a camping trip with his two young daughters, Marnie and Karla. When the car blows a flat tyre and they become stranded in the desert, David is forced to confront the tensions that lie between them. |
 |
Hazelnut (USA) - 18 mins Producer, Director Joseph Rohrs How can Max possibly hope to win Hazel's affection, when Harold is a lifeguard? |
 |
King of the Waves (Ireland) - 12 mins Producer, Director Luke Leslie Writer Bill King In 1969, Bill King, a retired WWII submarine commander, set out to circumnavigate the globe, alone. |
 |
Pretty (USA) - 9 mins Jin Yoo-Kim - Director; Producer, Writer Jane has no idea what she's in for when she's thrown into a room with Sarah, the pretty girl. Snubbed by Sarah and with no way out, Jane finds an object that unlocks the secret to their liberation and a pathway to a possible friendship. |
 |
Scarecrow (USA) - 17 mins JR Burningham, Producer; Patrick Knipe Producer; Director Jack Wren, a newly recruited Confederate soldier, has grown up on the tales of heroism of the battlefield. But in the midst of his first battle the bloody realities of war engulf him and he deserts. He runs from the violence and his own cowardice until he encounters two runaway slaves in route to the North and freedom. In them he witnesses a different source of courage and discovers a battle worth fighting. |
 |
Solace (USA) - 19 mins Sarah Nevius, Director A moving documentary on grief. It tells the story of four individuals who lost loved ones and their struggle with trusting God through it all. |
 |
Suicide and Goldfish (USA) - 5 mins Director- Jesse Doland |
|
Tagged - (Australia, Canada) - 5 mins Co-Director Andrew Gust Jason Engler Writer Jason Engler Tagged is a short film about finding freedom from distorted identities. |
|
Transposition (USA) Director Joshua Overbay, Producer April Campion Scientists have 'perfected' the art of the consciousness transplant. 'If one were able to remove the consciousness, or the soul, from a body, and then place that consciousness into a distinctly different body, one would end up with a new individual. This theory implies that the soul contains 'residue' from the previous body and that the new body contains 'residue' from its previous soul. Because of this, anytime one has a body transplant, the essence of the individual is changed, which in turn creates a new individual. |
 |
Warrior Queen (Ghana/USA) - 22 mins Producer David Harrison, Director Hezekiah Lewis 'Warrior Queen' tells the true story of an African Queen named Nana Yaa Asantewaa and the events that led her to rise up in arms against the British in the early 1900s. |
 |
Professional |
|
Beyond the Dream: The Joey Buran Story (USA) - 58 mins. Producer - Joey Buran, Director – Matt Katsolis The inspiring documentary of legendary professional surfer Joey Buran following his rise to fame, fall to obscurity, amazing comeback and his ultimate discovery for purpose in his life. |
 |
Click Clack Jack (USA - 54 mins Brian Ging, Producer; Ryan Bodie; Director Chris Easterly, Writer A family film about an 1870s rail engineer, Click Clack Jack, who uses biblical principles to try and save Potters Gap from the evil Baron Snodgrass who seeks to destroy the town to further his own ambition and look for Gold beneath it. |
 |
Dia de Luz/Day of Light (USA) - 63 mins Brad Corrigan Producer Matt Katsolis Director) Entering what appears to be a war-zone, La Chureca, is actually a trash dump in Nicaragua home to over 1,500 people. Walk alongside musician Braddigan from sunrise to sunset as he is joined by hundreds of students, artists, athletes, and musicians as they break down emotional, physical, and cultural barriers, while reawakening the dreams, imagination, and hope of the people who live there. |
 |
Down the Road (USA) - 52 mins This is a film about the unimaginable result of three young men's quest for adventure. Two passionate visionaries, very inexperienced in the art of film, steal away with an aspiring film student for a three month journey through Latin America. Their goal was to get so lost that they would eventually find a story. They found much more than that... |
 |
The Flowers of Madison (USA) - 58 mins Amelah Resnik, Director; Producer An empowering feature-length documentary film about three culturally diverse women facing and overcoming life's greatest obstacles. |
 |
Franz Jaegerstaetter: A Man of Conscience (USA) - 24 mins Director; Producer Jason A. Schmidt Director; Producer Ron Schmidt, S.J.
|
 |
Hearing Everett: The Rancho Sordo Mudo Story (USA) 68 mins James Kirk-Johnson, Producer; Executive Producer; Thomas Johnstone Director, Thomas Johnstone, Writer A neon sign builder and father of 7, Ed Everett was an average man in search of his purpose. During a short term mission trip to Mexico, his life would change forever. Little did he know his own son was preparing him for this very moment.... |
 |
Just Add Water (USA) - 30 mins Jeffrey Mead, Director; Producer, Writer Imagine the temperature is 120 degrees. You walk hours to get enough water to live. This is daily life for millions of people in Southern Sudan. They collect water from ponds, ditches, and hand dug wells. It is often contaminated with parasites like guinea worm and Cholera bacteria. Salva Dut, one of Sudan’s Lost Boys, returns home to supply fresh water to his people – drilling boreholes, installing pumps and transforming lives. This is his story.
|
 |
Mercy Medical Airlift: Compassion Takes Flight (USA) - 59 mins Where do you get help when you're sick and spent down, when medical treatment is far from home? The gift of flight is the subject of this inspiring documentary that showcases a small office in Virginia whose motto is, "No patient left behind." Veterans, children, cancer patients, burn victims-all these and more find hope and healing. |
 |
The
Path of the Wind (USA)
- 103 mins After serving a ten year prison sentence, all Lee Ferguson wanted was to return to the small town where he was raised. Looking to lead a quiet life, Lee takes a job at the local grocery store in order to maintain a sense of routine. When Lee saves Katie from an assault, his plans for a quiet life are altered. When a mysterious stranger knocks on his door, Lee is suddenly confronted with the choices he made long ago. He must now decide to what length he is willing to go to seek redemption. “The Path of the Wind” is a compelling story of love, vengence, and forgiveness. |
 |
Real Hope, Real Truth, Real Answers (USA) - 49 mins Thomas Coy - Director (1st Project); Producer 'Real Hope, Real Truth, Real Answers' captures the essence of the Christian ex-gay movement, and offers insights on issues involving homosexuality. This little known about movement draws its power from its identity in Jesus Christ. From that identity comes accountability, compassion, and transformation. |
 |
Saving Face (USA) - 81 mins Director H. James Gilmore, Executive Producer James Kern In seventh grade, Matt Kern went from an A student and MVP in three sports to flunking out and stealing cars. One night in April 1988, Matt and two friends were out stealing a car when one of the friends shot and killed the driver. Matt was sent to prison for 60 years. He was the youngest male amongst 1,100 men. Surprisingly, Matt thrived in prison, continuing a life of crime. In his sixth year of incarceration, Matt was sent to 'Solitary' for thirteen months. For the first time in his life, Matt experienced guilt. Thus began a true story of redemption."
|
 |
Test of Faith (UK/USA) - 90 mins Director Mark Brickman, Executive Producer Today atheist scientists maintain God is a delusion. But scientists who believe in God say truth can be found in both the cathedral and the lab. Is this valid - or just beyond belief? |
|
|
|
Professional Low Budget (below $20,000) |
|
Abanunule (The Redeemed) (Ugunda) - 90 mins Alex Fournier - Producer, Director, writer Set on the streets of Kampala, Uganda, 'Abanunule' follows the fall and redemption of Freddy, a former street orphan, as he turns away from his positive life at a Boys' Home to return to drugs and violence on the streets. |
 |
And What Remains (USA) - 10 mins Marc Havener Director What defines a father is what he leaves behind. A universal story of regret, of reconciliation, and of hope, And What Remains explores the complexity of a father’s relationship with his son within the simplicity and beauty of Eastern Kansas. Combining panoramic cinematography with a picture-in-picture visual composition, it pushes the edge of traditional filmmaking while blending documentary and narrative techniques to present what is best described as a cinematic personal essay. |
 |
Coyote County Loser (USA) - 96 mins Producer Jacob Roebuck; Director Jason Naumann A rising radio personality from Los Angeles reluctantly drives through the hot desert toward Coyote County. Lauren star of K-RAP with her “Heart Smart”, is less than thrilled about the big-city hotshot coming to try and fix their problems. Before this romantic battle-of-the-sexes is over, Jack and Lauren will learn what being a winner and loser really means, and more importantly, realize that true love is selfless love. |
|
The Dark White Horse (USA) 23 mins He was a junkie. His only thought was his next fix. He tried lock down facilities, rehab programs, and even methadone. Nothing worked. It seemed he was destined to ride the dark white horse of heroin straight to hell. This short documentary tells the remarkable true story of his life, and how the power of the gospel brought him true hope. |
 |
Friends for Life (USA) 90 mins Producers: Joseph Meier, McKay Daines, Michael Flynn. Joseph Meier, Writer Jim thought his life was over, until four wolves showed him what life is all about. Unlikely friends found each other, and together they discovered hope. A new family friendly movie about wolves from Grizzly Adams Family Entertainment.
|
 |
HAG: The Story of the Hassidic Actors Guild (USA) - 90 mins This is serico-comic hybrid of fact and fiction about the life of Yisrael 'Izzi' Lifschutz who has served as an actor and/or consultant on numerous Hollywood films, including The Chosen, Stranger among Us, A Price Above Rubies and the now indie classic PI, for which he also served as on of the producers.
Invariably, however, Izzi's involvment invariably leads to conflict and controversy both in the entertainment industry and the Jewish community--leading to his excommunication... |
 |
My Name is Orphan (India/USA) - 20 mins My Name Is Orphan shows the plight of street kids and orphans in Mumbai, India and how Mission for Orphans joins the efforts of Vision Rescue to make a difference in the lives of these abandoned children. |
 |
Real Sobriety (USA) - 42 mins Jill Heinerth - Director (1st Feature); Producer Robert McClellan - Producer (1st Project,1st Feature) Real Sobriety: From the darkness of alcoholism and addiction to the light of recovery, remarkable people share their stories of recovery and hope. |
 |
Poet of Poverty (USA) 52 mins Freke Vuijst, Sean Dougherty and Tana Ross Co- Directors, Producers Father Michael Doyle is our Poet of Poverty. Using Father Doyle's monthly letters as its subject, the film bears witness to a horrendous crime: the total neglect of America's poorest city, Camden, New Jersey. |
 |
Searching For Church ...A Journey Through Time and Place (USA) - 29 mins Gary T. Smith - Producer; Director, Writer Join Gary T. Smith as he travels from America to Europe, across Europe to the edge of Asia, and back to America, in search of an answer to the question “What makes up a New Testament type of church?” His journey (through both time and place) leads to discoveries that might surprise you. From ancient Israel to modern day America, you’ll hear how the church got started, how it changed from its simple beginnings, and you’ll find out what’s happening to help it return to a simpler form of church meeting. |
 |
St. Benedict’s Rule (USA) - 79 mins Jay Kanzler, Director; Producer; Executive Producer The monks of Conception Abbey express many different reasons for embracing monastic life: the prayer, the silence, the community life, and finding God. But none of the monks embracing this life-long search for God could have imagined that one day a disturbed man would enter their monastery and open fire upon the monks. 'St. Benedict's Rule' examines how monastic life prepared this community for such a tragedy. |
 |
|
|
Distinctly Gospel |
|
70 x 7: The Forgiveness Equation (USA) - 36 mins Co-Director; Co-Producer, Jacqui Lofaro Victor Teich 70 x 7: The Forgiveness Equation tells uncommon and compelling stories that challenge our rock-hard beliefs in revenge, retribution and forgiveness. |
 |
Abel's Wheels (USA) - 7 mins Rebekah Score - Director; Producer, Writer Sara Messer - Producer Obsessed with a crazy plan to make his family 'perfect,' eleven-year-old Drew may be missing something important... His intentions are good, his scheming is brilliant, but try as he might, he can't teach his dad to be suave. |
 |
At Jesus’ Side (USA) -82 mins Patrick Wells, Producer; William Kowalchuk Director; Co-Producer; Ken Reiner Writer At Jesus’ Side brings the teachings of Jesus to life for today’s families through the story of five misfit animals on a journey toward love and forgiveness. Our hero Jericho is a vagabond street dog who befriends Jesus and follows him through the last week of his human life. After Jesus’ arrest at Gethsemane, Jericho rallies a epic charge of animal friends to try to save Jesus from his fate. No one was there to see it. So of course, the story has never been told. |
 |
The Heart of Texas (USA) 60mins Blake Pilgreen, Producer; Director; Writer Mitchell Wright When heartbreak strikes a small community on the tranquil plains of south Texas, one man chooses an extraordinary and far-reaching path of forgiveness that the world has never seen. To many, this contemporary story will seem like fiction, but every amazing detail... is completely true. |
 |
I’m Not Invisible (USA) - 4 mins Director, Jeffrey A. Dear; Producer, Julia Hunt Children can be cruel; everyone should learn to care. |
 |
Forgive Me (USA) 30 mins Clayton Miller Director; Producer Chris Vander Kaay, Writer Battling with schizophrenia, Chris slowly realizes he has killed his best friend and struggles with finding forgiveness and redemption. |
 |
In Search of the Divine, Program 2 (USA) - 30 mins Sister Virginia Webb, CSJ, executive producer; Ann L. Thompson, writer/producer; Mickey Larson, director of photography and editor. This video series that looks at where and how people experience the Divine. Program #2 features 95 year-old Sister Mary Mark Mahoney who writes to inmates on death row; maximum security prison warden Frank Wood explains how faith and the Beatitudes impacted how he treated inmates and inmate Kelly talks about forgiveness.
|
 |
Jericho: The Promise Fulfilled (USA) 28 mins Producer, Wendy Rondina ; Director Anthony Rondina Two spies are sent into an impenetrable fortress and are rescued by the hands of a beautiful women who alone realizes the city's pending destruction. |
 |
One Nation Under God (USA) - 91 mins Production Will Bakke |
 |
Voices Inside (United Kingdom) Writer Elisabeth Charbonneau Jesus is black, and he's bad and he's mad living in a nut house, and Devon lives in his own hell and their room mates. Do they find salvation? What is salvation? A spiritual holiday sold by religion? Or is it something you feel when you take Devon's journey. |
|
The Widow’s Might (USA) - 102 mins John Moore - Director; Producer, Writer The Widow's Might is a film set in modern day America, following the struggles of several Christian families to keep a widow from losing her home due to tax foreclosure. Written, directed, and produced by teenagers, filled with musical western scenes and non-stop family adventure make this film a delightful first feature from HeuMoore productions. |
 |
|
