CFT Awards Presentation

Tiara Baughman’s Silent Witness Mime Team kicked off the 2002 CFT Excellence Awards ceremony performing to the music of Carman. Frankie Ryan Manriquez and Charlie Stewart, co-stars of the ABC hit comedy, Life with Bonnie, took the stage to entertain us with their rendition of the very unofficial ISECFT theme song.

Next came a celebration of one of the finest motion pictures ever made, 2001 Best Motion Picture Winner, Waterproof. The film’s writer & director, Barry Berman was on hand to to receive their award along with producer, Jon Cornick and the film editor, Hughes Winbourne. Ms. April Grace, who won her CFT Excellence Best Actress Award for her performance in Waterproof, shared that some of scenes in the movie held very personal significance for her spiritually.

Ken Wales, Executive Producer of “Christy”, read a letter written to the society by Mel Gibson followed by a clip of The Passion of Christ, currently in post production.

Actress, Jackie Blackwell, announced the new CFT Awards category for Best Coming of Age Film and presented the award to Craig Darian, Executive Producer of Extreme Days.

Touched by an Angel won the award for Best Television Series for 2002 and Roma Downey won for her role in the series. Actress Molly Chance accepted on behalf of Moon Water Productions. Telelious Pictures won the Best Television Spot for 2002 with “God’s Email.”

Miss. Janaya Stephens arrived in a gorgeous gown that made her look as if she could very well have just stepped down out of the heavens to accept her CFT Excellence Best Actress Award for the Cloud Ten production of Tribulation Force. Evelyn won Best Motion Picture of 2002. Accepting the award for Irish Dreamtime and First Look Media was Ms. Ildi Toth Davy.

Fr. Frank Desiderio, president of Paulist Productions accepted the award for Best Documentary for their eight-part documentary series, The Jesus Experience.

Comedian Robert G. Lee, Bobby Chance, head of Streetwise Ministry and producer Dave DeVos were among the award presenters for the evening. The event was produced by Joseph Costantino, assisted by Kevin Barnet and Tom Lenton of Lake Avenue Church.

Richard Thomas remarked in his acceptance speech for Best Actor in a Television Series that it was “bittersweet” to be receiving an award for a role that he loved so well, but was cancelled after only one season. Richard said of the character Hamilton Whitney in Just Cause, “I didn’t want to just play this guy; I wanted to be this guy!”

Before announcing the CFT award winners for 2002, emcee Ken Wales recognized last year’s winner for Best Motion Picture, “Waterproof,” a story of love, faith and spiritual awakening set in rural Louisiana. Writer and director Barry Berman, producer Jon Cornick, and film editor Hughes Windbourne accepted the award.

“I’m very proud of this film and I know that everyone who was involved with it is,” Cornick said. “We feel honored that you are presenting us with these awards tonight.”

April Grace, who was recognized with a CTF award for her acting in “Waterproof” said making the film was spiritually significant for her personally. Although “Waterproof” was recognized last year at the CFT Excellence Awards ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, presentation was delayed until this year. (article by Sue Sailhamer - CHRISTIAN EXAMINER)