A film capturing the burning desire to share the gospel has taken out the Golden Sparky at this year's national Ignite Christian film competition.
A Great Light, written and directed by Bendigo school teacher Craig Barker, well captures the urgency and wonder associated with God's greatest gift.
“Watching the other films was fantastic,” Mr Barker recalls. “I was so impressed with the quality and content and thought that we would not be a chance for any of the awards.”
“It came as an absolute shock to hear my name called out! I congratulate all the other film makers and people involved for their terrific efforts.”
The five-minute film, set in the streets and surrounds of Victoria's capital, also won the award for Best Cinematography.
“I really love the whole process involved in making films from concept to final product,” he says.
“The tricky thing is finding the time to do it in between raising an eleven-month-old, full-time teaching, and
music commitments at church.”
This year's winner has been selected by a panel of industry professionals to receive $2,500 from the Mary Bladon Christian Fellowship.
Mr Barker's film will feature in the annual Ignite television special, to be screened nationally on the Seven Network on Christmas Day.
The special will also include several category winners as well as a number of films singled out for special mention by Ignite organisers.
Talent to rival professionals
Ignite judge, Play School regular and noted Australian actress Karen Pang says Ignite continues to unearth some amazing talent.
"Everyone was reaching to the very best of the level they were at," she says, considering the breadth of styles the competition embraced.
"Those who were acting for the first time were clearly challenging themselves to the limit " things even I'd raise an eyebrow at as a professional. I was very impressed and encouraged to see people giving it a shot."
Sell-out crowds attended both the afternoon screening sessions to cast their votes for the "People's Choice' award.
This year the accolade has been awarded to the feature Illumina by Dan Karas, earning its director a video projector. (See fact box for other winners)
More films, more messages
Competition organisers have used the awards night to announce that the popular Christian festival will be returning in 2008, this time with the theme of "stone or rock'.
Allan Dowthwaite, CEO of key sponsors Anglican Media, says Ignite trains filmmakers to think theologically and theologians to think creatively.
"The filmmakers are forced to think carefully about what the Bible verse or passage is saying " what are the key ideas " and how that can be put across in a clear and engaging way," Mr Dowthwaite says.
"And of course, the DVD of each year's films provides a resource that churches can use."
This year's competition DVD has also gone on sale through the Ignite web site, joining those from the competition's previous three years, which are already doing service in Christian organisations around Australia.
Ignite 2008 entry forms will be released via the competition website soon, with submissions closing in July next year.
