2024 Crown Award Finalists

ICVM: 52nd Annual Crown Awards Finalists Announced!

The 52st Annual ICVM Crown Awards, honoring the best in indie Christian film and TV, announced the finalists during the ICVM Storytellers Conference in Herndon, VA. Five finalists were chosen in each of the 17 categories, which received entries from 22 countries around the world.

The finalists will vie for the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards at ICVM’s gala awards ceremony during NRB’s Christian Media Convention on February 24-27th, in Dallas, TX.

ICVM’s Storyteller Conference, a 4-day event which takes place each fall, also featured the first-ever Christian Film Market, where filmmakers with finished films made deals directly with distributors. It also featured a Script & Story Pitch-a-thon, educational seminars, networking events, forums and pre-release screenings. This year marked another special year where for the third time we welcomed Lion's Den DFW to present projects and investors to our ICVM family.

For 52 years the International Christian Visual Media Association (ICVM) has been helping educate, network, empower and inspire Christian filmmakers and distributors around the world.

The finalists, by category:

Best Comedy

Bedtime with the Sheeps Ep 104: John & Judy Grooters and John Hernandez, Producers 

Jason Earles – 7 Jokes I Couldn’t Tell at Church: Terri Earls & Derrick Jenkins, Producers 

Lucky Louie: Susan Mattes Bostian, Producer 

Maria and the Mennos: Orlando Braun, Producer 

Ordinary Things: Micah Caronna, Producer

Best Music /Worship Production Joyful Joyful & Hosanna /Worship from Israel: Nizar Francis, Producer 

Oceans ( Where Feet May Fail): Nizar Francis, Producer 

Only God Can Do It Music Video: Misti Owen, Producer 

This Cowboy’s Hat: Jeff Carter, Producer 

Wow to my Country: Eitan Kashtan, Producer

Best Children’s Program 

Burnett Detectives: Case of the Missing Boot: Sarah Burnett, Producer 

iBible” The Real Story of Jesus”: David Salas, Producer 

More to Explore with Mia and Ralfie: Sandra Martin Producer 

Torchlighters: The William Carey Story: Bill Curtis, Producer 

The Wingfeather Saga 2: Andrew Peterson, Producer

Best Documentary under $50,000 

Alert 30 Years: Sarah Burnett & Sam Winkler, Producers 

Front Lines of Hope: Daniel Hasel, Producer 

Return of the Kingdom Ep2 The Enemy at the Gate, and the Promised HOPE!: Wayne Wilson, Producer 

The Terrifying Delight of Losing Everything: Cullen Klassen, Producer 

Warfare: a GO Short Film: Shane McMullin, Producer

Best Documentary Over $50,000 

Miraculous Victories of Israel: Jeff Futers & Laura Delegarde, Producers 

Penn’s Seed: The Awakening: Bill Curtis, Producer 

Philipp Mickenbecker-REAL LIFE: Andrea di Meglio, Producer 

Unthinkable: Drew Martin, Producer 

Why Stand with Israel?: Brian Sanders & Amanda Gross, Producers

Best Foreign Production
Confession: Anna Varaksina Producer
Don’t Close Your Eyes: Bogdan Darev, Producer 

From Paul: Jeehoon Jeong, Producer

 Philipp Mickenbecker- REAL LIFE: Andrea di Meglio Producer 

Under Pressure: Henk-Jan van Maanen, Producer

Best Short Film
Forgiving the Nightmare: Henrique Franhani & Michael Babcock, Producers 

The Martinez Family: Colombia: John & Judy Grooters, Producers 

Passover and the Resurrection - Isaiah’s New Exodus: Greg Williams, Producer 

Poor Tom: Rob Speranza, Producer 

Vision: Jessica Ambuehl & Dan Parris, Producers

Best Series 

iBIBLE “The Real Story of Jesus”: David Salas, Producer

 Miraculous Victories of Israel: Jeff Futers & Laura Delegarde, Producers 

Multiplied: Christopher Paul Worthington, Producer 

These Stones Ep 105: Cheryl McKay, Christopher Price, Drew Waters & Erin Bethea, Producers 

Torchlighters: The William Carey Story: Bill Curtis, Producer

Vindication Series Season 3-Ep 8: Jarod O’Flaherty & Corey Cannon, Producers

Best Television Series 

Every Wreck Tells A Story: The Wild Brothers, Producers 

Revival with Harold Vaughan: Josh Pittman & Randy Melchert, Producers 

T.C. Stallings: The Story Behind the Run: T.C. Stallings, Producer 

The Fame of His Name: Kim Crabill, Producer 

Vindication Series Season 3-Ep 8: Jared O’Flaherty & Corey Cannon, Producers

Best Non-Theatrical Film
Advent-Pastor Sue Saves Christmas: Chris Johnson & Joy Villam Producers 

Grace by Night: Levi J. Anderson, Megan Leigh Leon & Nathan Leon, Producers

 Identity Crisis: Erin Mae Miller, Ben Howard, Alexandra Boylan & Andrea Polnaszek, Producers 

Rally Caps: Katherine Borda & Jodi Michelle Cutler, Producers 

12 Steps to Recovery: Ryan & Jaiden Watson, Producers

 Best Theatrical Release Film 

Cabrini: Leo Severino & Jonathan Sanger, Producers 

Between Borders: Isaac Norris, Jude Walko, Mark Freiburger & Ken Carpenter, Producers

 It’s Christmas Again: Isaac Alongi, Producer 

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot: Rebekah Weigel Producer 

Surprised By Oxford: Ken Carpenter & Jen Lewis, Producers

Best Evangelistic Film 

Break the Cycle: Prabhu Cyril, Producer 

Disciples in the Moonlight: Brett Varvel, Josh Strychalski, Van Lawson, Sharon Oliphant & Ryan Johnson Producers 

Jesus a Deaf Missions Film: Joseph D. Josselyn & Michael Davis, Producers 

The Hopeful: Kyle Portbury, Martin Thorne & Bin Li, Producers 

The Martinez Family: Colombia: John & Judy Grooters, Producers

Video Podcast 

Laugh Support Podcast: Kicking it with Ken Davis: Michele VanDusen & June Colson, Producers 

Faith on Film # 194: Isaac Hernandez & Holly McClure, Producers 

Set Life “Inspiring Stories of the Entertainment Industry”: Amber Butaud, Producer

 Tell Us a Good Story with Kevin & Steph: Kevin & Stephanie Mason, Producers 

Teen Talk with Kylee Levien: Kim Crabill, Producer

Christian Talk Show 

Addressing 21st Century Gender Roles in Church Leadership: Lola Guerrero Rivera, Producer 

Coffee with Kim: A TV Talk Show: Kim Crabill, Producer 

Creative Icons: The Garden: Anne K Miranda & Scott A Magie, Producers 

Grace Grace with Nina & Michelle Ep. 137: Nina Keegan & Michelle Humphreys, Producers 

POP Talk Television Show: Lisa Burkhardt-Worley, Producer

 Best Actor
Disciples in the Moonlight: Todd Terry as Jim Edwards 

David a Kings Calling: Steve Shermett as Samuel the Prophet 

Grace by Night: Antonio Sabato Jr as Jon Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot: Demetrius Grosse as Bishop Wilbert Martin 

Surprised by Oxford: Ruairi O'Connor as Kent Weber

Best Actress 

Between Borders: Elizabeth Tabish as Violette Petrosyan 

Out of Darkness: Erica Tan as Nakry Soun 

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot: Nika King as Donna Martin 

The First Step: Josmery Mulvahill as Alison 

These Stones Ep. 106: Charlene Amoia as Eliana

Best Student Film 

All Things New: Carolyne Paschal, Producer 

Beyond Silence: Thane Everitt Syswerda, Producer 

Blind Standards: William Wonders III, Producer 

Little One: Shea Ellerbrock, Director 

Observer: Bianca Yeh Producer

Best Soundtrack:

Disciples in the Moonlight: Zachary Horner, Composer

 I am Living Proof: Jonathan Maddux, Composer 

Miraculous Victories of Israel: Laura Delegarde, Composer 

Surprised by Oxford: Nick Box, Composer 

The Hopeful: Blake Robinson & Michael Price, Composers

Best Cinematography 

Disciples in the Moonlight: J.J. Bukowski, Director of Photography 

Penn’s Seed: The Awakening: David Peters, Director of Photography 

Surprised by Oxford: Edd Lukas, Director of Photography 

The Martinez Family: Columbia: Bryan Papierski, Director of Photography

 The Shroud: Face to Face: Robert Orlando, Director of Photography

Best Director
Between Borders: Mark Freiburger, Director
Disciples in the Moonlight: Brett Varvel, Director
Grace by Night: Nathan Leon, Director
Sound of Hope – The Story of Possum Trot: Joshua Weigel, Director
Surprised by Oxford: Ryan Whitaker Director

Best Editing
Between Borders: James K. Crouch, Editor 

Disciples in the Moonlight: Brett Varvel, Editor 

Eye of the Storm: Jerusalem’s Temple Mount: Paul Wittenberger, Editor 

Just like Joseph - The Most Rejected Savior of Israel: Greg Williams, Editor 

Surprised by Oxford: Zach Prichard, Editor 

The Hopeful: Bin Li, Editor

Best Screenplay 

Because of Charlie: Burke Sage, Screenwriter 

Deep Within: Scott Michael Branan, Screenwriter 

Ho Ho Hope: Angela Ruth Strong, Screenwriter 

Lazarus in New York: Wayne A Zeitner Screenwriter 

Montana Blue: Alan D Napier, Screenwriter 

Reach Deep: Scott Michael Branan, Screenwriter