NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Million Dollar Prize for Faith Based Film
© NaimaLett.com/blog
Million Dollar Prize for Faith-Based Film
For the 3rd year, I’ve had the awesome privilege of being invited as a clergy judge for the 168 Film Festival in Los Angeles – a competition where filmmakers from all over the world receive 1 theme, 1 scripture verse and have 168 hours (aka 1 week) to make a fantastic film.
And this year, the final films were highly competitive and the judging was tight!
FIRST TIME
Why so tight?
Because for the first time, the top short film wins $1,000,000 towards making a feature!
The filmmakers pulled out all the stops!
You heard me! A wonderfully creative, faith-based filmmaker will win $1,000,000 from EchoLight Studios to make his/her full-length feature film. Truly exciting.
FIRST YEAR
At the same time, this will be the first year that I’m unable to make the final ceremony to see the top filmmaker. I’m currently in Maryland sharing at “In the Heart of Worship” conference, but I look forward to seeing the footage on YouTube when I get back to LaLa Land.
THE THEME
The festival organizers did not make winning $1,000,000 easy. This year’s theme is Atonement, and many of the scriptures randomly assigned were from Books like Leviticus and Romans. Yeah! It’s hard enough to preach Leviticus, much less make a film out of a verse. LOL! Kudos to the filmmakers for their creativity.
TRUE VISIONARY
John Ware is the true visionary who dreamed up this international film festival in 2003. Over the years, John and his fearless team of faith-filled mavericks have added all kinds of perks: red carpet, celebrity guests, networking events, industry parties, etc.
HOW DID YOU GET $1,000,000?
When I asked John how he secured the million dollar prize for some lucky filmmaker, he simply said, “I asked!”
I was reminded of the words of James 4:2 “You desire and do not have… You have not because you do not ask…”
John “has” because he asked. And some up-and-coming faith-based filmmaker will have because John asked and EchoLight said “Yes”.
This is a cause for a real celebration, Fam!
If you’re in the LaLa, go to the festival. http://www.168film.com/
If you’re around the world, pray that EchoLight and other sponsors come out the woodworks to provide more opportunities for faith-based films to shine.
Lots of love from the LaLa, by way of B’More this week!
Naima
Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®
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