By Dexter T. Manglicmot
Eagle News Service
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Eagle News) — The Iglesia Ni Cristo recently held its Excellence in Visual Media Awards for the first time in the United States at the Samuel Johnson Junior Performing Arts Center in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The regional competition for the Excellence in Visual Media or EVM Awards came to a close here in its North America stop as people from all over the United States and Canada gathered to pay tribute to the work of independent film-makers.
What distinguishes these awards, as well as the films they recognize, is the focus on Christian values and lifestyles.
“The EVM Awards actually started because of the project INCinema,” Robert Polancos, event organizer and minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, explains. “INCinema was a project launched to all the members of the Church of Christ and it was an opportunity for them to produce films even though they are not professionals…of course promoting Christian values.”
Sarah Jane Hernandez of Canada, winner of the Best Script Award, echoed the importance of anchoring their film on Christian beliefs and values.
“The message that I wish that the audience would take home from watching this film and hearing the dialogue is that with our Lord God anything is possible,” Hernandez said. “That if you just put your faith and trust in Him anything you want in life, you’ll be able to achieve and even if you don’t get that, God has something better planned for you that you can’t even imagine for yourself.”
Aside from the Best in Promoting Christian Values Award, the usual awards were also given such as Best Film, Best Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Musical Score.
Fifteen categories were awarded and the winners of each category will now move on to the next level of competition.
“This is the last EVM Awards before we go to the International,” said Polancos. “Right now we’re recognizing all the entries from USA and Canada and after this we go Philippine Arena and now it’s international.”
The awards were not only viewed by the audience at the Samuel Johnson Junior Performing Arts Center but also by fans all over the world through live streaming through the Church’s website, INCMedia.org.
Both spectators and film cast and crew were moved not only by the event but also by the movies that were showcased.
“I’m ecstatic, super-blessed, that’s the word to describe it,” exclaimed Jennesh Agagas who took home Best Actress. “All of us, we’re human, we go through these trials and tribulations and it’s God who reminds us that we must stay faithful and that we must acknowledge that yes it gets hard at times but at the end it’s the journey and not the destination that we should value the most.”
Brother Ramil Regino, the Coordinator for the Iglesia Ni Cristo West Office of the United States summed up the feeling of many in attendance:
“(The EVM Awards) uplifted the brethren with all the different talents that they have, they want to use it for the glory of God and to please Him and to be of help in promoting Christian values and Christian lifestyle,” Brother Regino said. “We’re so happy that we’re a part of this.”
The organizer of this event are now well underway in their preparations for the International EVM awards to be held in the INC Tabernacle.