Best Picture Award: “Counted,” directed by Deborah Franco
(L-R) Taji Coleman (Producer), Annette M. Lesure (Best Actress 2024), John David Ware (Emcee)
Photo: Mo Toure
Fairburn, GA - Sept. 13th to Sept. 14th marked the 21st annual 168 Film Festival at New City Church in Fairburn, Georgia, sponsored by Advent Media, Inc., Level 77 Music, Hollyland and Angel Studios, which provided the pre-release, Film, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.”
Filmmakers honed their skills in the 168 Speed Film competition, producing films based on scripture verses inspired by the 2024 theme, “Money.”
The Best Film award was claimed by “Counted,” directed by Deborah Franco, and produced by Deborah Franco, Taji Coleman, Alicia Schudt-Schechter and Jeremy Scott Glenn.
It is a bittersweet victory for Franco who has been battling cancer for two years and could not attend the 168 Film Festival. “'Counted' is all God," she said, “I pray this story points hearts to the unwavering truth that we count every moment and (our) every intention counts to God.”
“Counted” notched four award wins, including Best Director, Deborah Franco; Best Screenplay, Deborah Franco; Best Actress, Annette M. Lesure as Naomi; and Best Supporting Actress, Lynne Conner as Esther.
Franco “counted” the lion's share of the Peter Glenville Prize for Best Film, as well as “Best Director Cash” for a total of $4,500 and a $1,500 gift certificate for products from 168 sponsor, Hollyland.
Best Film Runner-Up and Best Speed Film went to “Rags,” a post-apocalyptic survival film, produced by Ben Orr and directed by Ty Orr & Caleb Orr, Runner-up Best Directors. For their “Rags-to-Riches” story, the Orr’s snagged seven awards for: Best Supporting Actor, Steven Fitchpatrick as Hugh; Best Cinematography, Joshua Jacobsen; Best Editing, Caleb Orr, Joshua Jacobsen, Ben Orr; Best Making of 168/Behind the Scenes, Ty Orr; Best Sound Design, Caleb Orr, Joshua Jacobsen, Ben Orr; Best Musical Score, Conrad Ure and Best Production Design, Joshua Jacobsen, Ben Orr.
Best Actor went to pre-teen actor, Beket Esayas as Biruk in “The Coin,” directed by Aser Seifu and Deborah Brown. “The Coin,” from Ethiopia, won Best International Film and Scriptural Integration (SI) for writers, Deborah Brown & Hanna Liknaw. The SI award goes to the story that best fits its foundational Bible verse.
The Evangelista Award, went to “A Heart for Slaughter,” produced by Susan Shearer, Geoffrey Bamulanzeki and Laura Mae Poore. The award is given to the best tool for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Slaughter” won Best Student Speed Film.
The Best Alumni Film went to Actor-Producer Abbey Moe for “Baker’s Dozen.” The Best Documentary was “Root of Resilience” by Aser Seifu. The Best Open Film was “Forgiving the Nightmare,” directed by Henrique Franhani.
The Best Write of Passage Film award went to “Voices,” by power duo, director John Lockmer and producer Justin Manntai. Voices was written and executive produced by James Lee Beeler.
The Angel Studios Guild invitations, for potential funding and distribution as features or TV, will be announced on the 168film.com website.
The Audience Favorite awards went to “Three Old Biddies” by Tom and Linda Jennings and “Forgiving the Nightmare” by Henrique Franhani.
The list of all nominees and winners can be found HERE.
"Counted" and more of the Best Films of 2024 can now be viewed on Channel 168 with the "Pay It Forward" option.
2024 Award Presenters:
Todd Komarnicki is the Writer-Director and Producer of Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. He is known for his work as a writer on Sully with Tom Hanks (2016), The Professor and the Madman (2019), and Perfect Stranger (2007), and as a Producer on Elf with Will Ferrell (2003) and Meet Dave (2008).
Ted Barba is a stuntman & actor. He doubled Jon Voight on Francis Ford Coppola’s, Megalopolis.
Christopher Cibelli & Tatia Cibelli are Film & TV Editors who have worked with Francis Ford Coppola, Jerry Bruckheimer and Frank Marshall. They edited Panama, directed by Mark Neveldine, starring Mel Gibson, hit series The Mentalist and the Peabody Award winning Rectify for the Sundance Channel.
Diego Delfino is a Composer and Producer. His clients include Electronic Arts & Microsoft Studios. His music for Uncle Ivan recently won best score at the Rome International Film Festival in Italy. He has pledged to continue scoring and producing films that praise the Lord.
Katie Eischen, Stunt Double: Bourne Legacy, Date Night, SuperGirl, Jessie; Actress: House of Hope.
Alicia Kelley is an acting coach focusing on youth, and an actress: The Carpenter's Prayer.
Gilbert Kelly, Sr. Pastor New City Church.
Wes Llewellyn: Director/Producer, The Moment After I & II, It’s Supernatural with Sid Roth & The Farmer and the Belle and multiple 168 Best Film awards.
Amanda Llewellyn: Producer/Writer, The Moment After I & II, It’s Supernatural with Sid Roth and multiple 168 Best Film awards.
Krista O’Connor is a writer-director producer. Her upcoming film Soul to Keep stars Academy Award Winner, Lou Gossett Jr. and Marvel’s Rob Mars. Her mission is to tell stories that bring the lost back to God.
Shawn Joseph Passwaters, Actor Doctor Howie Young on Netflix Sweet Magnolias, Magnum P.I., NCIS Hawaii, and Dynasty.
Steve Puffenberger: Award Winning Producer, technologist and 168 Board Member.
Jilon VanOver is a director and actor, known for Better Call Saul, Hatfields & McCoys, and the World War II action film, Murder Company, with Kelsey Grammer.
John David Ware: Director, Unbridled; Producer, Final Frequency; Founder and Director, 168 Film.
Sponsors: Advent Media, Inc., Level 77 Music, Hollyland, Angel Studios
###