2020-21 Winner of the 15th Annual Kairos Prizes®

Date:  Friday,  February 26th, 2021

Hollywood, Calif. – Dr. Ted Baehr, founder of Movieguide®:  The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment, announced today the winner of The Fifteenth Annual Kairos Prize® for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays.

This years winner:

Prodigal, by Gerald Hanks.

Chosen by the contests industry judges Prodigals themes of forgiveness and redemption perfectly exemplify the purpose of the Kairos prize in an engaging and culturally relevant way.

This years 1st Runner Up:

Mulenga by Karen Aaker

This Years 2nd Runner Up:

The Bridge by Shelia Watson

Unfortunately for the first time, Movieguide was forced to cancel its 29th Annual Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry due to California state restrictions on public gatherings. After attempts to reschedule this event, at this time there is no plan to hold this years event.

The Kairos Prize® is presented annually by Movieguide®, and awards $15,000 to the winning screenplay whose message “greatly increases man’s love or understanding of God.”

 

This year’s finalists Were (in alphabetical order):

Escape To Love 
Jackie Macgirvin
A free spirited woman’s simple life collides with the complicated hidden life of a millionaire philanthropist.
Mulenga (1st Runner Up)
Karen Aaker
A young African pastor and the con artist who deceives him end up serving time in the same squalid Tanzanian prison. An inspiring true story of faith and love in the midst of injustice.
Prodigal (20-21 Winner)
Gerald Hanks
In an Atlanta church, the new pastor, Ethan, struggles to keep his job when the scheming associate pastor, Marcus, uncovers a troubling secret from Ethan’s youth.
The Bridge (2nd Runner Up)
Shelia Watson
A church shooting reopens old wounds for a family – and it takes the community coming together to heal them.
Unexpecting
Kenneth McClintock
Shattered by a devastating loss, a first-time father struggles to embrace the healing power of love before he drives away everyone and everything he once held dear.
When No One Else Believed
Ron Tripodo
When all odds are stacked against him only God’s promise gives a flawed man the unparalleled faith to persevere.

 

The finalist Judges for this years contest were:

Bob Norton

Animator and Producer (HAPPY FEET, LEGO MOVIE, LEGO BATMAN MOVIE, PETER RABBIT)

David Outten

Former Disney artist turned scriptwriter. His screenplay (I BELIEVE) was released 2017 and others are currently optioned.

DeVon Franklin

Producer and Actor (BREAKTHROUGH, THE STAR, WOODLAWN)

Pablo De Rosso

Vice President, Content Strategy & Analysis Netflix

Paul Sirmons

Producer Director(TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS, THE WAY BACK HOME)

Rich Peluso

Senior Vice President Affirm Films, Sony Pictures

Rob Hudnut 

Producer (SCREECHERS WILD!, BATTLE CLAW, MAX STEEL TEAM TURBO)

Trey Reynolds

Vice President Production Provident Films

 

 

 

 

Since 2006, the Kairos Prizes® have championed the brightest new voices emerging from the world of screenwriting.

In addition to the Kairos Prizes®, the highlight of the MOVIEGUIDE® Awards each year is the presentation of the two Epiphany Prizes® for Inspiring Movies & TV. The Epiphany Prizes® honor the best, most inspiring movie and television program of the previous year.