Since its inception in 2005, the Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays has given a voice to new and beginning screenwriters worldwide who endeavor to create stories that are compelling, entertaining and spiritually uplifting.

Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, MOVIEGUIDE® presented its first Kairos Prize in 2006 at the 14th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Awards in Beverly Hills, CA. Seeking to promote positive change in the motion picture industry, the primary purpose of the prize is to further the influence of moral and spiritual values within the entertainment industry as a whole. MOVIEGUIDE®: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment has been on the forefront for more than 30 years, advocating positive and redeeming values in Hollywood. The MOVIEGUIDE® Awards, now in its 20th year, recognizes the top films and television programs which reflect the best that the entertainment industry has to offer. While much attention has been granted those who are “in” the industry, Dr. Baehr, founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®, wanted to bring encouragement and hope to new voices that would one day be writing Hollywood’s blockbusters – hence the Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays.

Since its inaugural year, the Kairos Prize has helped to open doors for its winners as they have gone on to sign with top agencies and have their scripts optioned and produced. The 2006 Grand Prize winner, David M. Anthony, recently saw the release of his winning screenplay JOHNNY (originally titled JOHN, THE REVELATOR) through Pure Flix Entertainment and there are two others that are currently in development. The future of the Kairos Prize is bright as we continue in our efforts to bring scripts to Hollywood that result in a greater increase in either man’s love or understanding of God.

Dr. Ted Baehr

Dr. Baehr is chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission® (CFTVC) ministry and its family guide to movies, Movieguide® (www.movieguide.org). CFTVC and Movieguide® are an international non-profit ministry dedicated to “redeeming the values of the entertainment industry by influencing industry executives and by informing and equipping the public about the influence of the entertainment media.”religious belief. It also seeks to stimulate new thinking about wealth creation in the developing world, character education in schools and universities, and programs for cultivating the talents of gifted children.

The John Templeton Foundation

The John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org) serves as a philanthropic catalyst for research relating to what scientists and philosophers call the Big Questions. It supports work at the world's top universities in such fields as theoretical physics, cosmology, evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and social science relating to love, forgiveness, creativity, purpose, and the nature and origin of religious belief. It also seeks to stimulate new thinking about wealth creation in the developing world, character education in schools and universities, and programs for cultivating the talents of gifted children.