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CHRISTIAN FILM FESTIVAL TO GIVE LARGEST CA$H AWARD

3/24/2008

Allie Martin – OneNewsNow, March 19, 2008
The largest cash prize for any film festival -- faith-based or secular -- will be handed out next year during a special ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.

The 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival will feature a grand prize totaling $101,000. The cash prize will be given to the winner of the "Best of Festival" Jubilee Award -- presented to the filmmaker who is best able to communicate a Christian worldview with artistic excellence.

Festival founder Doug Phillips remarks that many recent Christian films have set new standards in quality. He cites movies such as Facing the Giants, a 2006 release with a production budget of $100,000 and a box office receipt of $20 million. "[A]nd I think that the monopolistic stranglehold that Hollywood has had for so long on filmmaking is breaking down," Phillips continues, "[b]ecause the technical opportunities are available to filmmakers, as [are] the distribution mechanisms."

Philips believes it is vital that Christian films also carry a strong message that is not watered down. He says the goal is not only to remove the nudity and profanity prevalent in Hollywood's products, but to produce films that are theologically and biblically sound.

The film festival is scheduled to take place in January 2009.

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