FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vision Forum Flooded with Film Entries: The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Announces Semi-Finalist Winners

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — October 28, 2004 — Vision Forum Ministries is pleased to announce the semi-finalists for the first ever San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and Jubilee Awards to be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio on November 11-13. The “Best of Festival” winner will receive a beautiful Jubilee Award and a prize check worth $10,000.

Vision Forum’s office was inundated with film short submissions in the days leading up to the September 15 entry deadline. The 38 semi-finalists chosen were narrowed down from a field of over 120 entries, including submissions from professionals and first time filmmakers. More than 75% of the applicants came from individuals who were either home school parents or their students.

“We knew when we launched this costly and massive project that we were taking a big risk,” noted Doug Phillips, President of Vision Forum Ministries. “We knew that there would be many who would be uncomfortable with our criticisms of the negative influence of Hollywood on the American family and with our call to make films that reflect a distinctively Christian view of culture. Nonetheless, we believed in the mission and put our reputation and our money on the line to pursue this very special dream. The massive response gives us reason to believe that God has blessed this vision.”

The film shorts cover a broad range of themes. “We were inundated with narratives on subjects ranging in diversity from the meaning of boyhood to a time travel adventure back to the Garden of Eden,” Phillips stated. “We received creation films that examine worldviews, political films that address the presidential elections, and science films that address the influence of the theory of evolution on bio-ethics. We received at least two Gospel-oriented Civil War epics complete with battle scenes, and a noteworthy, gripping, original political film on the homosexual assault on the churches of San Francisco.”

Each semi-finalist will compete for the “best-of” award in one of the following four categories: Documentary, Narrative, Creation, and Political. In addition, each semi-finalist is eligible to win the “Best of Festival Award” — a $10,000 Grand Prize. To view all the semi-finalists, visit http://www.independentchristianfilms.com/program/.

The San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival aspires to offer a joyful vision of victory to both amateur and professional filmmakers who are committed to advancing the work of Jesus Christ through the medium of film. Festival passes are $125 for adults, $100 for students. Passes afford access to all the festival events. Space is limited. For more information on the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and Jubilee Awards, please visit the festival Web site at: www.independentchristianfilms.com.

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Press Contact:
Wesley Strackbein
Vision Forum Ministries
press@visionforum.org
www.independentchristianfilms.com