Once again honoring the virtues of character, integrity and inspirational themes in contemporary film and television, the 2008 CAMIE AWARDS made a thrilling, star-studded splash at the beautiful 1,900 seat Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills on Saturday, May 3.

The audience responded with a unique support and enthusiasm as the CAMIEs not only honored the actors, writers, directors and producers of this year’s ten winning films but also brought back CAMIE AWARD winners from past years as presenters; among the luminaries giving out this year’s awards were Edward Asner and Peter Jason (winners for The Christmas Card who presented the award this year for The Note), as well as Academy Award winner Jon Voight, who made his third appearance at the CAMIEs.

The hosts for the 6th annual event were television personality Leanza Cornett and Entertainment Tonight co-host Mark Steines.

The musical entertainment was spectacular throughout the show, beginning with popular composer and pianist Jim Brickman performing his joyful instrumental “If You Believe” on a grand piano and inviting vocalist Anne Cochran to sing a song that exemplified the theme of many of the CAMIE winning films, “Simple Things.” Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. sang their trademark hit “You Don’t Have To Be A Star,” “You Are So Beautiful” and a powerful arrangement of “Amazing Grace” that captured the spirit of one of the evening’s winners, Amazing Grace, a film that told the story behind the beloved hymn. The two were recently on NBC’s Today Show talking about the CAMIEs, and NBC aired a clip of their performance.

In addition, Vegas based entertainer Clint Holmes sang three of his original inspirational compositions, including “If Not Now, When?”, “I Sing” and “Who Will Stand?” which he wrote as a tribute to our men and women in uniform for a documentary of the same name. Stefanie Cosman, VP of CAMIE AWARDS Productions and co-Executive Producer of the show, says, “We chose musical guests whose songs were thematic to our core message of uplifting family values and entertainment.”

CAMIE AWARDS are presented to entertaining and uplifting theatrical motion pictures and made-for-television films that provided positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity and strengthening families. The CAMIE AWARD winning theatrical films honored were Amazing Grace, Bridge to Terabithia, Miss Potter, Nancy Drew and The Ultimate Gift. The CAMIE recipients in the made-for-television category were Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness (Hallmark Hall of Fame), Love’s Unending Legacy (Hallmark Channel), The Note (Hallmark Channel), Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall of Fame) and Saving Sarah Cain (Believe Pictures).

During the show, film clips from this year’s winners were complemented by excerpts from films that had won in the past. Special moments during the evening included Alice Evans, a 2007 CAMIE winner for The Christmas Card, presenting an award to her husband Ioan Gruffudd, star of Amazing Grace; Lord Taylor from Great Britain’s House of Lords, who is in charge of the film rating system for the British Isles, presenting the award for Miss Potter; and some charming off-the-cuff humor from some of the child actors involved in the award winning productions.

Dean Cain, a CAMIE AWARD winner for his role as Bruce Murakami in Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness, was not in attendance but spoke in a videotaped message about his role in the powerful film. Murakami made a special speech discussing his overcoming of the real life tragedy that inspired the film and honored Cain for his distinct portrayal.

CAMIE AWARDS Productions will be putting the show up for syndication throughout North America this summer. Viewers are urged to check back at www.CAMIE.org for updates. Following its syndication, CAMIE AWARDS Productions’ parent company Starfish Television Network will also run the show multiple times in its ongoing effort to promote the CAMIE mission.

Speaking of this year’s CAMIE AWARDS, President of CAMIE AWARDS Productions and show co-Executive Producer Joe Lake said, “This could not have been a better year to launch the CAMIEs in Beverly Hills, with so many new participants and longtime attendees enjoying the ceremony at the first class Wilshire Theatre. We are looking forward to having more opportunities to showcase high quality family entertainment in the future.”

Can it be that Hollywood’s getting worn down by all the sex and violence and is ready to embrace wholesome and uplifting theatrical films and movies made for television? If the incredible demand for tickets to the upcoming star-studded CAMIE AWARDS (www.camie.org) ceremony from folks from every facet of the industry is any indication, the answer is a resounding “Yes”!

The 6th annual event honoring the virtues of character, integrity and inspirational themes in contemporary films is scheduled for May 3 at 8 p.m. at the beautiful, 1,900 seat Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills. Confirmed presenters (and previous CAMIE winners) include Ed Asner, Peter Jason, Olivia Hussey, Georg Stanford Brown and Jeff Hephner; the emcees are once again Leanza Cornett and Mark Steines; and musical guests Include Jim Brickman, Clint Holmes and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.

First ever recipients include Warner Bros. and legendary film producers Jerry Weintraub and The Weinstein Brothers. Also on hand will be Lord John Taylor from Great Britain’s House of Lords, who is in charge of the film rating system for the British Isles; he will be presenting the award for Miss Potter, which starred Renee Zellweger.

Despite the stellar lineup of films being honored and participating talent, Joseph Lake, President of CAMIE AWARDS Productions, and Stefanie Cosman, Vice President of Operations, the Executive Producers of the Show originally had their doubts about filling the new venue. When they announced the 2008 show, they would have been pleased with a 700-900 requests. Lake and Cosman were happily surprised and quickly overwhelmed by the incredible response of the show’s offer of free tickets to the public.

“They’ve been calling like gangbusters,” he says. “The interest level in the Hollywood community is higher than it’s ever been. No longer the best-kept secret in Hollywood, the CAMIEs are catching on as a cool, fun and progressive night that the industry is taking very seriously. Actors, producers, directors and people from major studios are all calling, thanking us for honoring these kinds of films.”

Starfish Television Network will be filming the CAMIE Show this year for airing in the summer. Even though both Starfish and CAMIE are both based in Utah, there is no political or religious agenda. Lake and Cosman said, “Our mission is simply to recognize and celebrate high quality, family oriented entertainment.”

This concept delights Leanza Cornett, a onetime Miss America, who appears regularly on The Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. Cornett, the mother of two young boys who is in her third year as a CAMIEs co-host, says, “The TV climate especially has changed so dramatically lately, and people are really clamoring for more shows and movies that reflect a clear set of standards and morals and are suitable for children to watch. The CAMIEs are not about promoting a specific religious agenda but simply about celebrating feel good programming that families can feel comfortable sharing together.

“On a secondary note,” she adds, “every other award show, from the Oscars to the SAG Awards, honors the same movies, but many of the CAMIE Awards go to films the average viewer hasn’t heard about—and that’s exciting. Viewers will be exposed to movies they are going to love just like I was. Across the board, it’s a very original awards show.”

The CAMIE AWARD winning theatrical films of 2008 are: Amazing Grace, Bridge to Terabithia, Miss Potter, Nancy Drew and The Ultimate Gift.

The CAMIE recipients in the made-for-television category are Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness (Hallmark Hall of Fame), Love’s Unending Legacy (Hallmark Channel), The Note (Hallmark Channel), Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall of Fame) and Saving Sarah Cain (Believe Pictures).

Individual solid bronze CAMIE statues will be presented to those principally responsible for creating each winning film, which may include producers, directors, writers and leading actors.

Since the inception of the CAMIE AWARDS, over forty outstanding inspirational films have been honored, including Charlotte’s Web, Pride & Prejudice, Akeelah and the Bee, March of the Penguins and Radio.

The global mission of CAMIE AWARDS, Inc. is to encourage the production and awareness of outstanding, uplifting and entertaining motion pictures with positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity, correcting unwise choices, strengthening families, living moral lives and solving life’s problems with integrity and perseverance.

To learn more about the CAMIE AWARDS, visit www.CAMIE.org or contact Stefanie Cosman at (801) 567-3187.

* * *

Confirmed Presenters (And Previous CAMIE Winners) Include Ed Asner,
Peter Jason, Olivia Hussey, Cary Elwes, Jeff Hephner and Jon Voight;
The Emcees Are John Schneider, Leanza Cornett And
Mark Steines; Musical Guests Include Jim Brickman,
Clint Holmes and Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.

Once again honoring the virtues of character, integrity and inspirational themes in contemporary films, the 2008 CAMIE AWARDS will be presented at a gala star-studded ceremony on Saturday , May 3 at 8 p.m . at the beautiful, 1,900 seat Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills . The theatre is located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd .

The awards show this year will be a celebration of ten outstanding films, bringing together everyone involved in these projects to be honored for their incredible work.

The emcees for the 6th annual event are Leanza Cornett , Mark Steines and John Schneider .

The awards are presented to entertaining and uplifting theatrical motion pictures and made-for-television films that provide positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity and strengthening families. The CAMIE AWARD winning theatrical films of 2008 are:  Amazing Grace , Bridge to Terabithia , Miss Potter , Nancy Drew and The Ultimate Gift .

The CAMIE recipients in the made-for-television category are Crossroads: A Story of Forgiveness (Hallmark Hall of Fame), Love’s Unending Legacy (Hallmark Channel), The Note (Hallmark Channel), Pictures of Hollis Woods (Hallmark Hall of Fame) and Saving Sarah Cain (Believe Pictures).

Individual solid bronze CAMIE statues will be presented to those principally responsible for creating each winning film, which may include producers, directors, writers and leading actors.

Most of the confirmed presenters at this year’s ceremony are previous CAMIE AWARD recipients: Ed Asner (“The Christmas Card”), Peter Jason (“The Christmas Card”), Olivia Hussey (“Mother Teresa”), Cary Elwes (“Pope John Paul II”), Dominic Scott Kay (“Charlotte’s Web”), John Newton (“The Christmas Card”), Logan Bartholomew (“Love’s Long Journey”) and pending scheduling, Jon Voight (“Pope John Paul II”) and Jeff Hephner (“The Water is Wide”), plus others. In addition, Ken Howard will be attending the show as a guest presenter.

The CAMIE AWARDS ceremony will include musical performances by best selling pop instrumental pianist Jim Brickman, R&B music legends Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. and Clint Holmes, one of the most popular entertainers in Las Vegas .

Since the inception of the CAMIE AWARDS, over forty outstanding inspirational films have been honored, including Charlotte’s Web , Pride & Prejudice , Akeelah and the Bee , March of the Penguins and Radio .

Celebrities and Hollywood insiders have continually expressed their appreciation for an awards show that recognizes the kind of values that CAMIE AWARD winning movies portray. Actress and previous CAMIE AWARD winner Shirley Jones said at the 2007 CAMIE AWARDS, “These kinds of films are so beautiful for me to watch … I am so proud to be a part of what I think we should have more of.”

The CAMIE AWARDS are being produced by the Starfish Television Network (www.starfishtv.org), the country’s only television network featuring inspirational stories and messages presented by America’s most outstanding not for profit organizations. The Executive Producers are Joseph Lake , President of the CAMIE AWARDS production division, and Vice President of Operations Stefanie Cosman.

The CAMIE AWARDS organization was founded by retired pediatrician Dr. Glen Griffin and other concerned parents who recognized the need for wholesome, uplifting entertainment. As they began working on the project, people from different faiths, cultures and backgrounds have become involved.

The global mission of CAMIE Awards, Inc. is to encourage the production and awareness of outstanding, uplifting and entertaining motion pictures with positive role models for building character, overcoming adversity, correcting unwise choices, strengthening families, living moral lives and solving life’s problems with integrity and perseverance.

Tickets to this event are free of charge and the public is more than welcome to attend. Doors open at 7 p.m. For tickets, please contact Stefanie Cosman at stef@camie.org .