Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 04/04/25

And the Christopher Awards go to…Moral courage, reaching your potential, and finding purpose in loving God and neighbor are some of the themes reflected in the 21 films, TV programs, and books for adults and young people honored with Christopher Awards in the program’s 76th year. Winners include…

Feature Films
Cabrini (Angel Studios) – The biopic tells the story of Mother Frances Cabrini—the first American to be canonized a saint—who faced down fierce anti-immigrant prejudice and political opposition to serve New York’s orphans and Italian immigrants living in poverty in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.
Heart of a Servant (Spirit Juice Studios) – The documentary profiles the late Boys Town founder Father Edward Flanagan who defied racist laws to protect abandoned and orphaned youths of all colors and creeds from the Great Depression through the aftermath of World War II and beyond.
Out of My Mind (Disney Plus) – The film, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Sharon M. Draper, tells the story of an intelligent but isolated nonverbal sixth grader with cerebral palsy who takes the opportunity to pursue her untapped potential in mainstream education while also seeking friendships and using a new communication tool.
Sing Sing (A24) – Featuring several actors who were formerly incarcerated, the dramatic film looks at the ways that the maximum-security prison’s theater program—based on its real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program—allows inmates to connect with each other, develop their humanity and emerge as better people.
White Bird (Lionsgate) – In the fictional movie, a Jewish grandmother reveals to her grandson her story of surviving the Holocaust thanks to the kindness, courage, and sacrifices of her disabled classmate and his family who hid her from the Nazis in occupied France during World War II.
Young Woman and the Sea (Walt Disney Studios) – The dramatic film chronicles the real-life quest of Trudy Ederle to become the first woman to swim the treacherous 21-mile English Channel in 1926.
TV, Cable, & Streaming
Bridging Divides: Sharing Heartbeats (PBS) – The documentary highlights six organizations whose members are of different races, religions and/or contrasting ideologies but are united in their desire to engage with each other in a spirit of kindness and understanding.
A Dance in the Snow (Hallmark Mystery) – The story of a mother and her teenage daughter who has high-functioning autism and a desire to attend college across the country while also navigating the challenges of planning a sensory-friendly high school dance that all students can enjoy.
A Man on the Inside: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (Netflix) – A retired professor (Ted Danson) who has taken on an undercover assignment in a retirement home culminates in the Season 1 finale of the series that explores the loneliness that seniors encounter, the ways they can fill their lives with meaningful pursuits and the necessity of forming bonds of friendship at any age.
Books for Adults
American Mother by Colum McCann with Diane Foley (Etruscan Press) – A chronicle of the life and moral courage of Foley’s son, journalist James Foley, who was murdered by terrorists in Syria and how the author’s own faith led her to work to free other American hostages overseas and demonstrate amazing grace to one of her son’s killers.
The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller (Doubleday/Penguin Random House) – The inspiring true story of how high school football players at the California School of the Deaf turned their so-called “disability” to their advantage on their road to winning the state championship.
Grieving Room by Leanne Friesen (Broadleaf Books/1517 Media) – Grounded in the wisdom and spiritual insight she gained following her sister’s death from cancer, the author presents an honest exploration of loss and the ways we can move through mourning to find new life.
I Can Fix This by Kristina Kuzmič (Viking/Penguin Random House) – The author recounts how her teenage son’s struggle with both mental illness and  addiction led her to seek transformative new approaches to coping with the situation.
Tears of Gold  by Hannah Rose Thomas (Plough Publishing House) – The author interviews women who have fled war and violence.
Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg (Post Hill Press/Simon & Schuster) – The veteran actor shares his journey as a caregiver for his father, Stan, who suffered from kidney failure while also looking back in gratitude at the ways his dad kept him grounded, humble, and feeling loved throughout his life.
Books for Young People
Manoli the Greek Mouse by George Psomas, illustrated by Penny Serrano (Preschool and up, Mascot Books) – A charming mouse who fears he does not have unique talents like his siblings embarks on an adventure through the Greek village in which he lives.
Small Things Mended by Casey W. Robinson, illustrated by Nancy Whitesides (Kindergarten and up, Rocky Pond Books/Penguin Young Readers) –  The story centers on a lonely widower who begins fixing broken items for local children and their parents, thereby finding comfort and healing in community and intergenerational friendships.
Grace Heard a Whisper by Kathy Izard, illustrated by Aniella Ernández (ages 6 and up, Grace Press) – In a culture full of noises and distractions, the two-time Christopher Award winner spins a tale of a young girl who perceives God’s voice in her soul that encourages her to get people to pay attention to all the wonderful things in the world.
Dive Deep: 40 Days with God at Sea by Sister Orianne Pietra René Dyck, FSP, illustrated by Romi Caron (ages 8 and up, Pauline Books and Media) –  From Pharaoh’s connection with a porcupine fish to facing life’s storms with faith, the sister engagingly and humorously illuminates Scripture to help kids encounter God through nature.
Untangling Hope by Johnna Stein (young adult, Promise686) – After the trauma of personal loss and abuse in the foster care system, 11-year-old Hope finds a supportive foster mother who makes her feel loved while also being pulled towards a reality star relative who may not have her best interests at heart.
The Ballerina of Auschwitz  by Dr. Edith Eva Eger with Esmé Schwall (young adult, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing) –  The two-time Christopher Award winning psychologist and Holocaust survivor recalls her promising youth, the horrors she faced in the concentration camp and how she overcame survivor’s guilt in order to live and love again.

A nonprofit founded by Maryknoll Father James Keller in 1945, The Christophers is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity, illuminated by the ancient Chinese prover “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
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April Cultural Events
With Easter arriving on the 20th, there’s lots noteworthy stuff going on this month.
Today
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints (Francis of Assisi) streams on Fox Nation. The story of the 13th century young man who was born into wealth  but, after experiencing the horror of war, searches for new meaning which he finds in Jesus.
Integrity Music’s Aaron Williams releases Revive Us, the latest worship song from his forthcoming album Abide (due in May). 
Platinum-selling songwriter John Mark McMillan releases his first worship music in over eight years with his album Cosmic Supreme (Anotherland).
Worship leader and songwriter TAYA releases her sophomore album, The Reminder.
Wednesday, April 9
Rebound: A Year of Triumph and Tragedy at Yeshiva University Basketball streams on Fox Nation. The documentary, directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Pat Dimon, chronicles how the New York City-based Orthodox Jewish school basketball team the Maccabees navigated their season following the October 7^th terrorist attacks on Israel.
Friday, April 11
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints (Moses the Black) streams on Fox Nation. In 4th century Egypt, a bloodthirsty runaway slave named Moses makes a remarkable decision to cast aside his former life and give up violence.
The King of Kings arrives in theaters. The star-studded Angel film features the voices of  Kenneth Branaugh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Mark Hamill, Roman Griffith Davis, Forrest Whitaker, Ben Kingsley and Oscar Isaac in an animated retelling of the greatest story ever told.
Tuesday, April 15
The Museum of the Bible hosts a reception and screening of The First Hymn. The event celebrating the earliest-known Christian hymn features a special performance by Christian artists Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding.
Thursday, April 17
Also at the Museum of the Bible, Nashville singer-songwriter and Wingfeather Saga author Andrew Peterson performs songs from his Resurrection Letters album series.
Friday, April 18 (Good Friday)
Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints (Mary Magdalene) streams on Fox Nation. After Jesus cures her of seven demons, Mary becomes one of his closest followers.
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Angel Studios’ 2025 Theatrical Slate
Looking beyond the aforementioned April 11 release of King of Kings, at CinemaCon the fast-growing film & TV platform unveiled some big projects heading for movie theaters this year, including…

Friday, May 23
The Last Rodeo – A retired rodeo legend (Neal McDonough) risks it all to save his grandson as, facing his own painful past and the fears of his family, he enters a high-stakes bull-riding competition becoming its oldest contestant ever.
Wednesday, August 6
Sketch – Still reeling from the unexpected loss of his wife, a single dad navigates uncharted territory when his daughter’s comically dark, scribbled drawings begin to come to life and wreak havoc on their small town.
Friday, October 17
Truth & Treason – Based on the true story of Helmuth Hübener, a heroic 16-year-old in Nazi Germany who fearlessly formed a resistance group after witnessing the arrest of his Jewish friend.
Friday, December 19
Zero A.D. – The ambitious telling of how the forces of darkness attempted to extinguish the light of the Baby Jesus is directed by Alejandro Monteverde (Sound of Freedom) and stars Sam Worthington, Ben Mendelsohn, Gael García Bernal and Jim Caviezel.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.