Miss any of the recaps, videos, or red carpet photos? We had the ultimate access, and the best of our 168 Film Festival 2015 coverage is right here!
The next generation of groundbreaking Christian filmmakers gets their start at the annual 168 Film Festival.
This industry-shaping festival brought together an international community of filmmakers in an event that was bigger and better than ever. Held at the state-of-the-art Regal Cinemas premiere venue at LA LIVE, the two-day film festival showcased an exclusive pre-screening of LD Entertainment’s epic Bible film Risen, starring Joseph Fiennes, and distributed by Sony Pictures in association with Affirm Films. Some of the 2015 premier sponsors who helped make the festival happen included Upliftv, Parables TV, and Roush Media. Sonoma Christian Home was proud to serve as a marketing partner with VIP filmmaker interviews, project sneak-peaks, and red carpet coverage.
With a Founder like Director John David Ware, and artistic minds like Chris Wiegand, Alan Tregoning, Daniel Furukawa, and Meredith Adams, the overall quality of the showcased films was astounding. Riva was honored with seven awards, including Best Film, at the 2015 Annual 168 Film Festival. Riva, produced by first timer, Meredith Adams, was awarded the 1st Place $5,000 cash prize.
Film genre winners included: Best Comedy, Jason Walter Vaile for Washed Up (also Sunday Audience Favorite and Best Screenplay – Comedy); Best International Film, Aaron Kamp for The Artifact; Best Write Of Passage Spotlight Film, Don Heap and Peter Xifo for PB&J (Saturday Audience Favorite); and Best Documentary, Greg Williams, Sarah Williams and Elias Nawawieh for Victory in Christ. A Special Merit Award was conferred on actor Jack Jovcic for his role in The Brotherhood.
168 Film Festival Winners 2015 – on the red carpet ‘Riva’ takes 7 top awards including Best Film – (L to R) Writer/Producer Alan Tregoning, Actress/Writer/Producer Meredith Adams, Director/Editor & Cinematographer Chris Wiegand – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – Bel Air Presbyterian Associate Pastor Clay Collier with Meredith Adams – winner Best Actress for her performance in ‘Riva’ – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“The people who are making 168 films today are the guys who are going to be making the Woodlawns, the War Rooms and the Fireproofs of tomorrow. 168 is an incubator for the next generation of great Christian filmmakers.”
–Alan Tregoning, Writer/Producer Riva
168 Film Festival Winners 2015 – ‘Ends’ nominated for 8 top awards including Best Film, Best Director & Best Screenplay –Cast & Crew – Director Victor Carrera, 2nd from left – Best Actress nominee Lynn Cruz- with Erica Galindo, Founder & Host Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – Actress Danielle Wheeler with Producer/Director Elias Nawawieh, Winner Best Documentary – Victory in Christ – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“Many people said this film would be impossible to make, but while it was really difficult in the beginning, and they wouldn’t allow crews in the borders and sent out all the cameras…God opened lots of doors for us. We believe if God wants you to do something, you should go out and do it.”
– Elias Nawawieh, Producer, Writer, Director Victory in Christ
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – Winner Best Comedy ‘Washed Up’ – Editor Mark Biltch, Actress Danielle Wheeler, Director Jason Walter Vaile and Producer Brandon Carmichael – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival 2015 ‘Washed Up’ Wins 3 top awards including: Best Comedy, Best Comedy Screenplay, and Audience Favorite – Producers Mark Blitch, Jason Walter Vaile, Danielle Wheeler, Brandon Carmichael – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“As all artists, we all get cases of self-doubt, but (winning this award) I think this is God’s way of telling us, in a not so subtle reminder, that that’s stupid. That’s just dumb.”
– Mark Biltch Writer, Washed Up
168 Film Festival The Brotherhood (L to R) Troy Coward, Jack Jovcic, Troy Latto, Andrew Thorn & Ethan Sinclair. Actor Jack Jovcic was awarded the Special Merit Award for his role as Shotty – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“It was most meaningful for us to hear that people understood and were moved by the message of our film. We didn’t just want high production value and great camera work, we wanted to challenge and encourage people.”
– Daniel Furukawa, Best Director Nominee, Wherever I’m With You.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – Best Actor Nominee Glen Turney for his role as Ray in ‘Red’ with his wife Leslie Turney – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – Best Supporting Actress Nominee Téa Mckay for her role as Meagan in ‘Red’, known for The Colonel’s Family (2012), Pass the Light (2015) and The Iceman (2012).
“I was really impressed by Scooter Downy’s film, Elixir. I was fortunate enough to get to know Scooter at the festival and pick his brain about the film. I love the deepness of the metaphor and story of his film. His vision, flexibility, and talent are made so evident in this powerful, well-shot, moving film. “
– Meredith Adams, Producer of Riva
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – Winner Best International Film ‘The Artifact’ Actor Michael Jepson, Producer Aaron Kamp and award-winning Actor Jack Jovcic – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival The Brotherhood (L to R) Troy Coward, Jack Jovcic, Troy Latto, Andrew Thorn & Ethan Sinclair. Actor Jack Jovcic was awarded the Special Merit Award for his role as Shotty – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“The most important lesson I learned from the 168 Film Competition is that if the Lord is leading you to do something, He will provide the means for you to accomplish it. God completely showed up at every step along the way, providing my fellow filmmakers, locations, wardrobe, actors, and even the weather we needed.”
– Meredith Adams, Producer of Riva
168 Film Festival Winner Best Kids Vid “True Freedom” & Winner Evangelista Award (best Gospel Presentation) – Young Actress/Writer Rachel Lowry with her father Tim Lowry & Erica Galindo, Founder & Host, Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Everything Will Be Alright’ Nominated for Best Kid Vid – L to R, Singer/Actress Taylor Leigh Nutt, Writer/Director Zulema Nall, and Actor Alec Mizerik – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival -Red Carpet 2015 – Erica Galindo has a heart to heart moment with one of the youngest fashionistas on the Red Carpet.
“At the end of the day all I can be is an example. I’m not their judge, all I can do is let God come through me, and from there, it’s up to them to make a decision.”
– Chrystee Pharris (on How can Christians stand for faith in Hollywood?)
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Mother’s Day’ (back row) Music Composer Joel Irwin, Writer/Director Mark Baird & 168 Makeup Artist, Dale Johnson; (front row) Actresses Avery & Mackenzie Clynes, Rahel Nall – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“Just be ready for God to reveal things that you never imagined that he would bring upon your life, just be ready for that, just be open, and be in constant prayer.”
– Makers of Birdie’s Song
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 ‘Birdie’s Song’ Nominated for 8 awards (L to R) Hair & Makeup Artist Maddie Hill, Actress Colleen Trusler, SCH Founder Erica Galindo and Best Actress Nominee, Marianne Haaland – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Birdie’s Song’ Nominated for 8 awards; Cast & Crew, Directed by Shari Rigby – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“For me personally, I learned a great deal about how to communicate with my crew. To tell a complete story in a short period of time and to encourage both cast and crew. 168 exposes our weaknesses and our strengths, while reminding us WE ARE THE BODY. It stretched me and gave me a new passion for filmmaking from behind the camera!”
– Shari Rigby, Actress/Writer/Director of Birdie’s Song
168 Film Festival – Peter Xiflo “PB & J” Award Winner 2015 Audience Favorite, and Winner Best Wright of Passage Spotlight – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – Producers Peter Xifo and Don Heap “PB & J” Winner Audience Favorite & Best Write of Passage Spotlight – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – 2015 Red Carpet – Left, Actress Carmi Fellwock – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“I think the 168 Film Project is probably the best place for up and coming filmmakers to be pushed and challenged, but at the same time feel the support and encouragement of the film community. It tests your ability and challenges you on every level but there is also this great group of people involved, from the staff to the judges and volunteers, that come along side you and make you want to keep going.”
– Daniel Furukawa, Director of Wherever I’m With You
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Moving Still’ – Nominated Best Actor Reggie McGuire with wife Lora – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Moving Still’ – Director/Producer/Editor Kindari O’Connor, Actress/Writer Dija Henry, with Best Actor Nominee & Executive Producer – Reginald McGuire & wife Lora – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“Our souls are hungry for light and salt. And I think that once Christian films were presented to the public, they gravitated towards the spirit of God. Because that’s what’s missing in mainstream media, and that’s what people are hungry for. I think people just didn’t know it until they saw it. There was such a swell of support and love for the films that are bringing light and talking about hard situations.”
– Dija Henry, Actress/Writer, Moving Still
168 Film Festival Alumni – Actress Susanna Velasquez Eaton, Actress Susan Silvestri & Producer Henry Wong – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival 2015 Best Documentary Nominee ‘City Impact’ Writer/Director Artie Delgado with Erica Galindo, Founder/Host – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
68 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – Nominated for Best Documentary ‘Finding Cleveland’, Baldwin Chiu & Larissa Lam – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“Especially today, since there is so much racism and division in our country, we felt it would be important to get a story out there that delivers the message of reconciliation. It was important to us to give people hope for the future.”
Isaac Hernandez, VP of Programming and Syndication was there to represent Parables & UpLift TV – one of the Gold Sponsors of the film festival, enjoying awards night with friend and co-sponsor Erica Galindo, Founder/Host Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival Red Carpet 2015 – ‘Die Trying’ Cast & Crew, Producer/Writer April Meanor (center) – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
168 Film Festival – Red Carpet 2015 – Nominated Best Documentary ‘The Nephilim Now’, Producers Anthony Coleman and Gwen McGee – Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“The Nephilim today in 2015 are the demons, see okay, what a Nephilim is, it is a son or daughter of a human women and a fallen angel. That creates Nephilim, and those guys in the first generation were like 30 feet tall and once we got into the days of Noah they were maybe 25 20 feet and this is why the flood happened. Because they have perforated genetics. Today they are still doing it, they are just doing it differently.”
Sonoma Christian Home Founder & Host, Erica Galindo with Actress Kelsay Scott of ’12 Years a Slave’
168 Film Festival Founder & Executive Director John David Ware with Erica Galindo, Founder & Host Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“I’m really encouraged by the direction of the industry. There are more opportunities for the talented 168 artists than ever before and they will be heard from soon.”
– John Dave Ware, Founder & Executive Director of 168 Film
168 Film Festival Red Carpet Awards – 2015 ‘Riva’ Dream Team – Writer/Producer Alan Tregonig, Actress/Producer Meredith Adams, Director/Editor/Cinematographer Chris Weigland with Erica Galindo, Host & Founder Sonoma Christian Home Magazine.
“Ultimately, our job here is just to please the Lord, and so hopefully he was pleased, and I’m just happy to be here.”
– Chris Wiegand, Riva
Don’t forget to check out more from 168 Film: 168 Film Best Actor Nominee Shawn Thomas on ‘Jubilee’168
Film Best Picture Nominee Scooter Downey on ‘Elixir’Interview with 168 Film Founder John David Ware:
Launching the Best in Filmmaking168 Film Festival: Filmmaker Daniel Furukawa’s ‘Wherever I’m With You’
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