(As published on The Christophers website)
NEW YORK, April 6, 2011 — A mother strives to improve the lives of autistic children; an African-American nun establishes greater racial equality within the Catholic Church; two brothers travel around the world to discover the commonality of the human experience. These are just a few of the powerful stories told in the books, films, and TV programs that make up the winners of the 62nd annual Christopher Awards. Seventeen feature films, TV/Cable programs, and books for adults and young people, along with their writers, illustrators, directors, producers and executive producers, will be honored at the gala in New York City on Thursday, May 19.
First presented in 1949, The Christopher Awards honor writers, producers, directors and illustrators in the publishing, film, TV and cable industries whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit. "This year's Christopher Award winners creatively demonstrate the transformative impact that faith, courage and action can have on people's lives," said Mary Ellen Robinson, vice president of The Christophers.
TV & Cable
Two of the four Christopher Award-winning TV & Cable programs come from HBO, including Making the Crooked Straight, director/producer Susan Rockefeller's uplifting documentary about Long Island, NY doctor Rick Hodes, whose mission to heal sick children in Ethiopia is founded on the Orthodox Jewish belief that "He who saves one life, saves an entire world." Also honored from HBO is A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism, about an Icelandic woman who travels to the United States to learn more about autism therapies that could potentially help her son. PBS introduces viewers to A Place Out Of Time: The Bordentown School, a fascinating look at the New Jersey school that served as an "educational utopia" for African-Americans for 70 years. Amish Grace from the Lifetime Movie Network dramatizes the 2006 school shootings in the peaceful Amish community of Nickel Mines, PA, and the community's heart-wrenching struggle to forgive the murderer and support his wife.
Feature Films
The Grassroots Films documentary The Human Experience follows two brothers as they live homeless on the streets of New York City, take care of disabled children in Peru, and visit lepers in Africa in order to affirm the inherent dignity of all people. From The Weinstein Company, The King's Speech presents the story of King George VI of England who overcame a debilitating stammer with the help of a speech therapist to rally his people at the start of World War Two. Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios' Toy Story 3 brings Woody, Buzz and the other toys full circle with a tale about friendship, growing up, and letting go. Also from Walt Disney Pictures is Secretariat about the Triple Crown winning horse and the woman who risked everything to make him a champion.
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