The 18^th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala (www.movieguideawards.com) is dedicated to awarding the best family-friendly films and the best films for mature audiences of the year.

Chuck & Gena Norris

Almost 30 awards were given to movies that held family values and positive messages.  The Grace Awards were given for Inspiring Acting in Movies and Television, and the Faith & Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values. The grace awards offers scholarshipsto aspiring artists and the Faith & Freedom award to individuals who exemplify leadership in civic duties. The Gala centers itself on film and television industries that provide  audiences with entertainment with messages of hope and positivity. This award show occurred recently at the Bevery Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Ca.  $300,000 in cash prizes, were given out, and the top 3 prizes  were sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. The John Templeton

Ally Mills & Orson Bean

foundation seeks to promote understanding of what it means to be human through philanthropic research. Many of the movie industries most considerable people attended.

$100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie – THE BLIND SIDE from Warner Bros. Pictures.

·         $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring TV Program – GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY, telecast by TNT and the Turner Entertainment Group.

·         $50,000 Kairos Prizes for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays by Beginning Screenwriters:

1.    “The Good Doctor,” written by Dwight Carlson and Gregory Carlson, $25,000

2.    “The Shoebox,” by Sherry Cook, $15,000

3.    “Lion of the North,” by Johnny Davis & “The Translator,” by Alan Sproles and Lizanne Southgate, $10,000

·         The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies – Albert Hall for NOT EASILY BROKEN

·         The Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Television – Kimberly Elise for GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY

·         Best Movie for Families – UP from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures

·         Best Movie for Mature Audiences – THE BLIND SIDE from Warner Bros. Pictures

·         The Faith and Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values:

·         Film – (Tie) STONING OF SAROYA M. and INVICTUS

·         TV – BEDFORD: THE TOWN THEY LEFT BEHIND