2009 Beliefnet Film Awards

2009 BELIEFNET FILM AWARDS

Making an independent film is not for lightweights. The road is lonely, treacherous, unforgiving and long baby, long. With a film like Lord, Save Us From Your Followers, we are operating in an odd no-man’s land between the left and right, the blue and red, the church and Hollywood – of course it’s a place where most of us live, work and breathe but it’s not a place easily marketed to. The journey to find the proper distributor has been full of ups and downs. As an executive at Sony Entertainment once remarked, “This is what you get for doing something original, Dan.” And while we are hopeful we’ll be announcing something exciting soon, it’s the affirmation from audiences that has kept us going this far. From our theatrical tests, media reviews, feedback from college and church screenings to comments sent in to the website or on Facebook, the response to the work and the openness to the conversation have been a daily reminder that this is the mission I am supposed to be on. So thanks everybody.
One recent boost was the news that Beliefnet.com has nominated Lord, Save Us From Your Followers for Best Spiritual Documentary as part of the 2009 Beliefnet Film Awards. The voting just closed last night, but here are the details to this honor. I am thrilled and humbled to be included among Oscar nominated work and Bono in 3D.

Nominees: Best Spiritual Documentary
http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Movies/Beliefnet-Film-Awards-2009/Best-Spiritual-Documentary-of-2008.aspx

“U23D”
“Trouble the Water”
“Lord Save Us From Your Followers”
“Waltz With Bashir”
“At the Death House Door”

For the fourth year in a row, the Beliefnet Film Awards will recognize the films and filmmakers whose highest quality work reflects the most significant spiritual and inspirational themes in entertainment today—allowing Beliefnet viewers to acknowledge the most inspiring spiritual films and performances of the past year. Nominees are chosen in two categories, the People’s Award―given to the film receiving the most votes from visitors to the site, and the Judge’s Award, based on quality and spiritual impact of the films, performances, and documentaries of the year, as determined by Beliefnet editors and a panel of judges.

Please find links below where you can watch clips and vote for Best Spiritual Film, Best Spiritual Performance, and Best Spiritual Documentary. Voting begins Friday, February 6th and ends Monday, February 16th. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 18th for both the People’s Award and the Judge’s Award.