Hollywood, California – “Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2006 CAMIES!” boomed the voice-over as Larry Bastian’s originally composed CAMIE theme gained in crescendo in Hollywood’s beautiful Leonard Goldenson Theatre, this all being an historic breakthrough.

Dr. Chris Barden and Glen Griffin pose with actor Jon Voight, who won big for his portrayal of Pope John Paul II.

March of the Penguins and The Chronicles of Narnia were among ten films announced as the 2006 CAMIE award winners at a Hollywood gala held at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre Saturday night. CAMIES are awarded for entertaining and uplifting motion pictures that provide positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity, and strengthening families. Individual solid bronze CAMIES are presented to those principally responsible for creating each winning film, which may include producers, directors, writers, and leading actors.

Actor John Schneider of Smallville, with Glen Griffin.

The CAMIE award-winning films of 2006 are:

Theatrical Releases

March of the Penguins
Dreamer
Chronicles of Narnia
The Greatest Game Ever Played
I am David

Made-for-Television
Love’s Long Journey (Hallmark Channel)
Pope John Paul II (CBS)
The Reading Room (Hallmark Channel)
The Magic of Ordinary Days (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
Pride and Prejudice

John Schneider (Smallville) and 1993 Miss America, Leanza Cornett (Tricks of the Trade) hosted the event. Jon Voight and other stars and filmmakers from the CAMIE award-winning films were present to receive their CAMIE awards at the event, which marked the ceremony’s fourth year since its first presentation in 2001.

John Schneider smiles for the camera with Robert Starling.

Repeatedly throughout the evening’s presentation of the 2006 CAMIE awards, winners expressed appreciation for being recognized for creating the uplifting and inspirational films that the CAMIES are all about. Jon Voight spoke about receiving a CAMIE for his performance in Pope John Paul II, saying, “For me this is a great honor.” Producer Stephen Davis thanked the CAMIES and the chairman of the board, Dr. Glen C. Griffin saying, “The work that you do is incomparable – we need more people like you to recognize the kind of things that producers like us try to do.

“Some may have wondered if what we are doing can make a difference,” Dr. Griffin observed, answering with examples of reactions of the CAMIE winners. The president and vice president of Hallmark Hall of Fame both commented on how the CAMIES have encouraged them and promised more great family movies. Producer Al Dickerson, III, said that receiving his CAMIE helped him make a career-changing decision to focus only on films suitable for families.

When accepting his CAMIE, Douglas Spain, who starred in The Reading Room with James Earl Jones, said, “During my career I have always been in independent films that are very gritty and dark, and so one of my relatives said ‘Why don’t you make a film for the whole family to watch?’  We do need more inspiring films out there. Life is gritty enough. We need something to take us out of the darkness and into the light.”

Charlie Nelson, vice president of Disney, accepts his statuette.

After the show, the young actor added some more thanks for his CAMIE, saying, “Thank you for a wonderful evening and for the beautiful award.  I will treasure it always.  I hope to continue to make films that inspire the soul as well as entertain.”

Child actress Gabby Soleil stood at a microphone way above her head and said, “I would like to thank the CAMIE committee for allowing me to have this award, which just happens to be my first statue.  One of the most important things I’m thankful for are my family and friends for supporting me.  Most importantly I’d like to thank God for allowing me to believe in myself and allowing me to follow my heart and my dreams.” 

Another young actor, Austin Noah Marques, clutched his CAMIE, saying, “I’m really excited about this. I really want to thank my mom and God for everything – everything that He has given me, and letting me use it in the right way.”

Beaming with his CAMIE, and commenting on his family in Georgia, Keith Robinson said, “I know they would say thank you to you because they would feel good to know that I’m down with people with character and morals because I am a long way from home right now.” He encouraged everyone present to, “Continue to promote positive [films], we need it, and there is a reason for us being here.”

As has been the case with every CAMIE awards ceremony, guests and CAMIE award winners lingered long after the close of the ceremony. This unique enthusiasm reflected Leanza’s comment at the close of the evening as she thanked those who made the CAMIE award winning films, saying, “You are changing the world by touching the hearts of everyone who watches your movies and wants to be a better person because of it. Thank you for using the art of filmmaking to create beautiful films that uplift and inspire.”

Standing here with Glen Griffin are Georg Standford Brown, his daughter Kathryne Dora Brown (also a CAMIE winning star), and Austin Noah Marques, the young boy who remembered to thank God in his acceptance speech.

The foundation began when Dr. Glen C. Griffin and other concerned parents created www.moviepicks.org to help families find uplifting entertainment.  The organization that is now known as the CAMIES was born with people from many faiths and cultures becoming involved.  Dr. Griffin said that thousands of hours of volunteer time was donated to make the 2006 CAMIES happen, including the original CAMIE musical score by composer Larry Bastian – who has done scores for many films including ones created by the Church. John Schneider, Leanza Cornett, Beth Polson, Sarah Drew, Victor Raider-Wexler, Charlie Robinson, producer Sam Barber, director Robert Starling, and executive directors Joe Lake and Jeffery Goddard, and many others including trustees, board and committee members, donated their time.

After the awards ceremony, the CAMIE winners pose with their trophies.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with the CAMIES or writing reviews for www.moviepicks.org can contact the CAMIES at in**@CA***.org.

CAMIE awards, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation with prominent advisory board members from many faiths and cultures, including Sean Hannity, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Alan Osmond, Michael Medved, Pat Funderburk Ware, Dr. Freda Bush, Father John Bonnici, Shepherd Smith, Megan Baer, The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqui, Xue Lian Duan, Edmund J. Bak, Congressman Chris Cannon, Dr. Rodger Dean Duncan, Marianne M. Jennings, and Susan Carlson.

2006 CAMIE Award Winners

I Am David 

• Phillip Anschutz
• Walden Media
• Andrea Borella, line-producer
• Paul Feig, director and screenplay writer
• Ben Tibber, as David
• Jim Caviezel, as Johannes
• Joan Plowright, as Sophia
• Viola Cariuci, as Maria

The Greatest Game Ever Played       

• Walt Disney Pictures
• Mark Frost, author of book, screenplay, and producer
• David Blocker, producer
• Larry Brezner, producer
• Bill Paxton, director
• Shia LaBeaouf, for playing Francis Ouimet
• Josh Flitter, for playing Eddie Lowery, the 10-year old caddie

The Magic of Ordinary Days                     

• Hallmark Hall of Fame
• Richard Welsh, producer
• Andrew Gottlieb, producer
• Brent Shields, director
• Ann Howard Creel, author of the book
• Camille Thomasson, screenplay writer
• Keri Russell, for playing Livy
• Skeet Ulrich, for playing Ray
• Mare Winningham, for playing Martha

The Chronicles of Narnia:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

• Walt Disney Pictures, Charlie Nelson
• Brigham Taylor, Disney vice-president productions,
• Walden Media
• Mark Johnson, producer
• Philip Steuer, producer
• Douglas Gresham, co-producer and son of C.S. Lewis
• Andrew Adamson, director
• Ann Peacock, screenwriter
• Christopher Markus, screenwriter
• Stephen McFeely, screenwriter
• Georgia Henley, as Lucy
• William Moseley, as Peter
• Skandar Keynes, as Edmund
• Anna Popplewell, as Susan

Pride and Prejudice

• Working Title Films                               
• Joe Wright, director
• Keira Knightley,  playing Elizabeth Bennet
• Matthew McFadyen, playing Mr. Darcy
• Donald Sutherland, playing Mr. Bennet
• Brenda Blethyn, playing Mrs. Bennet

Love’s Long Journey                  

• The Hallmark Channel
• Hallmark Entertainment
• Larry Levinson, executive producer
• Brian Gordon, producer
• Erik Olson, producer
• Michael Landon, Jr. , director & screenwriter
• Cindy Kelley, screenwriter
• Janette Oke, author of the book
• Erin Cottrell, playing Missy
• Logan Bartholomew, as Willie

Dreamer                    

• DreamWorks
• Michael Tollin, producer
• Brian Robbins, producer
• John Gatins, director and screenwriter
• Kurt Russell, as Ben
• Dakota Fanning, as Cale

March of the Penguins       

• Warner Independent Pictures
• National Geographic
• Bonne Pioche Productions: Yves Darondeau, Christophe Lioud, Emmanuel Priou , producers
• Luc Jacquet, writer and director
• Morgan Freeman, narrator
• Laurent Chalet, cinematographer
• Jerome Maison, cinematographer

The Reading Room       

• The Hallmark Channel
• Hallmark Entertainment
• Albert T. Dickerson, III, producer
• Jeff Kloss, producer
• Randy Feldman, screenwriter
• Georg Stanford Brown, director & played Rev. Rahim
• James Earl Jones, for playing William Campbell
• Gabby Soleil, for playing Majoli
• Austin Noah Marques, for playing Edgar
• Monique Coleman, for playing Leesha
• Douglas Spain, for playing Javier
• Kathryne Dora Brown, for playing Jillian
• Keith Robinson, for playing Darrel

Pope John Paul II 

• CBS
• Lux Vide Productions, Luca Bernabei, Matilda Bernabei
• John Kent Harrison, director and screenwriter
• Stephen Davis, producer
• Cary Elwes, young Karol Wojtyla
• Jon Voight, Pope John Paul II/Karol Wojtyla