September 1st, 2018

NEWS RELEASE

CIFF RED CARPET SCREENINGS INCLUDE “UNBROKEN” AND “I CAN ONLY IMAGINE”
BOTH NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE

TORONTO - The 2nd annual Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival (CIFF) takes place at Innis College | University of Toronto September 14th-16th and is making its mark with an over the top group of nominated films from around the world. CIFF is thrilled to announce it’s nominations from: 177 submissions, 70 selections to 35 final nominations.

Categories included Features, Documentaries, Shorts, Revival Films, Family Films, Music Videos, Screenplays & New Media. Entries received were from 22 countries, including Canada, United States, China, Australia and Brazil and will comprise of Sunday night awards show to be streamed live and to be produced for syndication. The festival will conclude on Sunday with a Red Carpet Premiere of director’s Jon and Andrew Erwin’s “I Can Only Imagine” from Lions Gate/Mission Pictures featuring a stellar performance by Dennis Quaid who is up for best supporting actor. The inspiring true story behind MercyMe's beloved, chart topping song that brings ultimate hope to so many is a gripping reminder of the power of true forgiveness. Saturday’s red carpet night will be equally exciting with the Canadian premiere of “Unbroken: Path To Redemption” from Pure Flix/Universal, based on Laura Hillenbrand's bestselling book, this film begins where Unbroken ends of Olympian and World War II hero Louis Zamperini's powerful true story of forgiveness, redemption, and amazing grace.

The Saturday afternoon weekend panel open discussion include an all star faith film industry Q&A with Star Wars Academy Award winner Roger Christian, producer Cindy Bond of Mission Pictures International, director Christopher Bessette, TV executive Isaac Hernandez of UpLiftTV/Parables, producer and film historian Paul Burford and screenwriter John Patus of Left Behind.

Notable projects being screened include: Feature films “The Identical” with Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd, “Trade of Innocence” with Mira Sorvino and Dermot Mulroney, documentary “Genesis: Paradise Lost, France’s celebrated short film “Alice in the Sky with Comets” with Lionel Abelanski and Emma Bergeron, U.S. family award winning feature F.R.E.D.I. and a special presentation screening of Jason Barbeck’s and Rafael Kalamat’s Adams Testament.

Art Hindle will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Canadian film and television industry for over 45 years. The Faith Achievement Award will go to Cindy Bond for her contribution to the faith film industry. The 2018 CIFF festival will wrap up with a live awards show that includes fourteen “Tower of Faith” awards. Expect a wide variety of celebrity presenters and performances by Juno nominated singer Steph Carse and Nashville legend Wade “Elvis” Cummins.

Here are the nominees:

Best Picture

Indivisible

Unbroken: Path To Redemption

I Can Only Imagine

The Identical

The One I Wrote For You

Trade Of Innocents

Best Documentary
Sister Elizabeth: The Strength Of Faith

Genesis: Paradise Lost

Cowboy And The Preacher: The Life And Times Of Tri Robinson

Amazon Rising: Joy In The Jungle

The One Who Holds The Sovereignty Over Everything

The God Who Speaks

The Vatican Deception

Best Short Film

Resilience

Discovering Heaven

Alice In The Sky With Comets

Just A Prayer

What Is Human

Best Family Film
Adventures Of The Sea Kids

F.R.E.D.I.

Noah’s Park

The Passion: A Brick Film

The One I Wrote For You

Best Director

David G. Evans - Indivisible

Dustin Marcellino - The Identical

Harold Kronk - Unbroken: Path To Redemption

Christopher Bessette - Trade Of Innocents
Andrew Erwin and John Erwin - I Can Only Imagine

Best Lead Actor

Blake Rayne –The Identical

Frank Chiesurin – A Murder Of Innocence

Samuel Hunt – Unbroken: Path To Redemption

Justin Bruening – Indivisible

J. Michael Finley – I Can Only Imagine

Best Lead Actress

Emma Bergeron - Alice In the Sky With Comets

Rachel MacMillan - A Murder Of Innocence

Mira Sorvino - Trade Of Innocents

Sarah Drew - Indivisible
Justine Burgerey – Resilience

Faith Achievement Award

Cindy Bond

Best Supporting Actor

Ray Liotta – The Identical

Kevin Pollack – The One I Wrote For You

Trieu Tran – Trade Of Innocents

Dennis Quaid - I Can Only Imagine
Lionel Abelanski - Alice In the Sky With Comets

Best Supporting Actress

Ashley Judd – The Identical

Christine Woods – The One I Wrote For You

Merritt Patterson – Unbroken:Path To Redemption

Madeline Carroll - I Can Only Imagine
Casimere Jollette - F.R.E.D.I.

Best Screenplay

Preacher

The Latter Rain

Seraphina

The Apostle

A Father’s Revenge

Best Music Video

Prayer
Star Of The East

God With Me

Amazing Grace

The Parliament Of Souls

Best New Media

Restoring The Shack

Noah’s Park

The Passion: A Brick film

The Network: Pilot

Young Once

Lifetime Achievement Award

Art Hindle

Last year FOX News’ Sean Hannity announced CIFF’s best picture win for Kevin and Sam Sorbo's “Let There Be Light” on the 20th of September (Fox News is the most-watched network across cable news, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, FNC has now achieved this feat for 62 consecutive quarters). This year’s television broadcast media support coverage included 100Huntley Street, 700 Club Canada, JoyTV, Parables TV, UpLift TV, Vision Zoomer Television and Hope Channel. The CIFF awards show television broadcast date/s with YesTV in Canada and Parables/UpLift in the U.S. is TBA. The show will also be live on YouTube and FaceBook. Festival directors and co-founders Rafael Kalamat and Jason Barbeck noted that the feedback from the faith-based film industry indicated that “CIFF is the fastest growing film fest of it’s kind in the world, with a mandate to inspire and show stories of redemption and courage. We are changing the world one film at a time, as many of these films never get a chance at a theatrical release.” Faith media mogul Tore Stautland recently stated that “by year five, this festival may very well grow to be the biggest faith film festival.”

Social Media:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: @CIFFLIX

ABOUT CIFF

The Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable not-for-profit division of A.C.T. Canada & International (Artists in Christian Testimony). Their vision is ministry through media. They are well on their way to be an international leader in faith based film & music culture. CIFF projects include the annual Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival at Innis College Town Hall Theatre and Cinema Studies Institute which features two cinemas, classrooms, learning and conference facilities with an innovative national distribution program. The organization projects to generate an annual economic impact of $1 million CND in 2019. CIFF is generously supported by contributors including founding sponsor A.C.T. Canada & International (Artists in Christian Testimony), AFBS Actra Fraternal Benefits Society, CBS Canadian Bible Society and its founders Rafael Kalamat and Jason Barbeck. For more information, visit: www.cifflix.ca

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For more information contact the Communications Department at ciff.festival@gmail.com