Hitch receives a Christopher!
This is a wonderful honor from the Christopher Awards, now in its 57th
year of
recognizing films, television and cable programs and books that affirm the highest values of the
human spirit.
First presented in 1949, The Christophers salute media that
remind audiences and readers, of all ages and faiths and of no particular faith,
of their worth, individuality and power to positively impact and shape our
world. The 2006 awards were presented at a gala in New York City on
March 16.
"The Christopher Awards recognize stories about those
who surmount challenges with persistence and an unshakable belief," said
Dennis W. Heaney, president and CEO of The Christophers. "All
exemplify The Christopher credo, 'It's better to light one candle than to curse
the darkness.'"
The 2006 Christopher Award winners are:
Feature films Mad Hot Ballroom; directed by Marilyn
Agrelo; The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, directed by Judy Irving; Good Night, and Good
Luck, directed by George Clooney; Millions, directed by Danny Boyle; and
An Unfinished Life, directed by Lasse Hallström.
TV & Cable productions 1.4 Hours, directed by
Gregg Champion; Lackawanna
Blues, directed by George C. Wolfe; Paper Clips, directed by Elliot
Berlin and Joe Fab; P.O.V.: The Hobart Shakespeareans, directed by Mel
Stuart; The
Power of Good, directed by Matej Miná; and Slavery and the Making of America
miniseries, directors/screenwriters/producers Dante J. James, Gail Pellett,
Chana Gazit and Leslie D. Farrell.
Books for Adults The Death of Innocents: An
Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Sister Helen Prejean; The
Glass Castle: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls; One Soldier's Story: A Memoir,
by Bob Dole; The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia's Journey from Beverly Hills to
a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail, by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan; and They
Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan,
by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, with Judy A. Bernstein.
Books for Young People Am I a Color Too? by
Heidi Cole and Nancy Vogl, ill. by Gerald Purnell (preschool); I Could Do
That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote, by Linda Arms White, ill. by Nancy
Carpenter (ages 6-8); Game Day, by Tiki Barber and Ronde Barber with
Robert Burleigh, ill. by Barry Root (ages 8-10); Friendship According to
Humphrey, by Betty G. Birney (ages 10-12); and Hitch, by Jeanette
Ingold (young adult).
Additionally, Dave Brubeck received the 2006 Christopher Life Achievement Award; a 2006 Special Christopher Award
went to American Experience; and Jeanne Davis Glynn received the
2006 Christopher Spirit Award.
To learn more about The Christophers, and the New York gala
where they were presented, go to
http:/www.christophers.org/06winnerpr.html
and
for photos of this year's winners, go to
http://www.christophers.org/awardphotos06.html
