Gala Honors Family-Friendly Entertainment

(CNSNews.com) - It certainly doesn't get as much publicity as the Academy Awards do, but on March 2, three days before the Oscars are handed out, a much smaller awards ceremony will celebrate American values in Hollywood.

There aren't any "gay cowboy" movies in this competition.

The Ware Foundation, in partnership with Movieguide, is offering $50,000 prize for the individual or group that promotes wholesome, traditional values in the entertainment media.

"This prize is given to the person or organization that is leading the country in active and successful promotion of American culture to the rest of the world," said Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of Movieguide, and chairman of the Christian Film Television Commission.

The Ware Foundation Libertas Prize honors a movie or television show that displays a "positive, balanced view of Americans" and presents "the best of American values in an inspiring way," Baehr said.

The judges are looking for "moral, redemptive and humanitarian content," qualities that don't apply to most of what modern-day Hollywood churns out, critics say.

The Ware Foundation Libertas Prize nominees for 2005 include 7th Heaven (WB television series); Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (TV series); Little House on the Prairie; Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (TV series); and NBC's Three Wishes TV series.

The 2005 Libertas Prize will be awarded at the 14th annual MovieGuide Faith and Values Awards Gala on March 2 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

The gala also will honor the best films for families and the best films for mature audiences, as well as the most inspirational movie, television program, screenplay, and performances in movies and television.

Baehr's Christian Film Television Commission has done studies showing that family-friendly films consistently translate into box office success.

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