Bold ‘IndoctriNation’ Film Wins Best Documentary Award

On February 25th, ‘IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America’ won the Jubilee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival among 25 semi-finalists. The ‘IndoctriNation’ film was also runner-up for the $101,000 Best of Festival Award, which went to ‘Courageous,’ recently the best-selling DVD in America.

Auditorium at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Awards

‘IndoctriNation’ directors Colin Gunn and Joaquin Fernandez and co-producer Scott Eash were present to receive one of the highest honors in the Christian filmmaking community in front of 2,100 attendees from 40 states and multiple foreign countries, awarded to them the night before the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood.

‘IndoctriNation’ Film

Colin Dunn, Joaquin & Monica Fernandez at SAICFF Awards Ceremony

‘IndoctriNation’ features the emotional testimony of Brian Rohrbough who lost his son during the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. “It may have taken a school shooting to wake us up, to see the danger,” Rohrbough says in the film, “but that’s a very small danger compared to all the other things that go on that can destroy our children.”

With saddening poignancy, less than 36 hours after the SAICFF closing ceremony, another tragic school shooting occurred. Thomas “TJ” Lane, a sophomore at Chardon High School, began a shooting rampage in the school cafeteria during breakfast on Monday, February 27. Of the five students who were shot, three have now died.

“Chardon and Columbine are not isolated incidents,” said Gunn. “During the research for our documentary, we discovered, to our horror, that 400 people have been victims of government school related violence since Columbine. But what a lot of Christian parents fail to realize is that their children are not only in danger physically, but they are in danger academically, morally and spiritually as well.”

Despite the plethora of Christian private schools and the increasingly popular option to homeschool, ‘IndoctriNation’ documents that the vast majority of Christian children still attend a public school. Gunn says, “The tragedy is that Christian parents still deceive themselves into thinking that these things can’t happen to their child, yet every week we hear of another violent act or sexual assault in the public schools.”

Gunn, a Scottish filmmaker and home school father of eight who lives in Waco, Texas, drove a yellow school bus with his family across America, asking questions about the origins and social impact of America’s public education system.

‘IndoctriNation’ features interviews with teachers including the legendary New York City and State Teacher of the Year John Taylor Gatto as well as public school administrators, students and parents. In addition, Colin provides critical biblical perspective through conversations with some of the finest Christian thinkers today including educator Samuel Blumenfeld, Col. John Eidsmoe, creationist Ken Ham, pastor Erwin Lutzer, visionary Doug Phillips, author Bruce Shortt, theologian R.C. Sproul, Jr., and radio talk show host Kevin Swanson.

Last December, Sonoma Christian Home had the privilege of interviewing Joaquin – Christian Filmmaker Joaquin Fernandez. We congratulate Joaquin and his partner Colin Gunn on their success and pray that millions of parents across America will watch this outstanding film.

For more details about IndoctriNation, check out the Christian Film Database.