The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Film Showcase
The Center for Religion and Spirituality at LMU Extension and the Archdiocesan Office for Religious Education invite you to the 2012 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Film Showcase in Anaheim, California.
As a society, we have come to recognize the great catechetical power that modern Cinema and media has in forming the Catholic conscience. One local minister put it best: “up until 50 years ago, people learned values, ethics, morals, and spirituality through their sacred texts and clergy. Today, much of our culture learns about these things through the movies.” Thus, the Congress Film Showcase was established in 2007 to highlight cinematic work rooted thematically in the Christian narrative tradition, Catholic social teaching, justice and spirituality. The Showcase honors a
nd exhibits excerpts from narrative feature lengths, shorts, documentaries, experimental and animation films with an international audience of educators, ministers, artists and fellow filmmakers from both the Hollywood and independent communities.
About the Congress
The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in its entirety is the largest event of its kind in the United States. It has continued its original objective of offering in-service education and spiritual formation to those in catechetical and related ministries. Though the Religious Education Congress continues to serve religious educators, today it is so much more. Congress now draws in excess of 40,000 participants during this internationally acclaimed four-day event and offers more than 280 workshops covering a vast range of topics. The work of over 200 companies and organizations will be exhibited – ranging from religious art and music, to publishing houses and educational institutions.
Attendance
The Congress Film Showcase is an evening event at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. To register for the Congress, visit www.recongress.org. You may register onsite at the Anaheim Convention Center the day of the Showcase.
Reception
Attendees have an opportunity to meet with featured filmmakers and documentarians at a pre-Showcase reception beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Convention Center. Light refreshments will be served. The Showcase promptly begins at 8:00 p.m. following the reception.
The Magis Award
Derived from the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the term Magis (pronounced "màh-gis") is a Jesuit term meaning "the more." Intended as an expression of aspiration and inspiration, Magis refers to the philosophy of doing more for God, and therefore for others. With support from Loyola Marymount, the Archdiocese and local production companies, the Magis Award was inaugurated in 2009 to recognize the contributions of artists and supporters of socially conscious filmmaking. The award is presented by the Showcase supporters at the beginning of evening program.
The Showcase program is a “recognition of cinematic work;” exhibiting excerpts only, similar to an award show format. Thus, entry into the Showcase does not disqualify filmmakers from future film festivals and other exhibition opportunities. Student submissions are highly encouraged. Because only a limited number of narrative and documentary films can be exhibited, a Jury screens and selects only a few films for exhibition. Films, feature length or short, are selected from four categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental/Performance, and Animation. Please review the submission requirements and download the submission form:
PAST SHOWCASE PROGRAMS
Beginning with a Call for Submissions in the fall, the Showcase receives a large number of entries from filmmakers from across country. Films, feature length or short, are selected from four categories: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental/Performance, and Animation.
The Showcase was pleased to honor Sister Rose Pacatte, FSP, award-winning author and columnist, media literacy specialist, scholar and local icon of radio and television, with the 2011 Magis Award for her contributions to socially conscious filmmaking. Academy Award-winning producer Lawrence Bender (“An Inconvenient Truth”) presented the award.