ENCORE FILMS are delighted and amazed to have swept the board with such a delicious clutch of trophies for I’ll Walk with God in the American state where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson – and an amazing five other United States presidents – were born.

The Christian Film Festival in Virginia, known as “the birthplace of a nation”, is an extraordinary event where passion, merriment, enthusiasm and religiosity combine to create an intoxicating cocktail of fun for all.

It was in this compelling atmosphere that I’ll Walk with God went into a heady tailspin with awards for Best Short Film and the audience vote of Best Movie, along with the Best Actor gong for Norman Bowman’s multi-faceted portrayal of the Rev Jim Watson, above, and the Best Actress award going to Virginia Byron, above, for her incredibly moving account of the terminally-ill university lecturer Emma Crawford.

The Best Supporting Actress laurels go to Claire Heverin, above, who brought a winning youthful zest and a kaleidoscope of emotions to Jim’s actress daughter, Holly, running the gamut of gaiety to grief – not surprisingly, after the official awards were announced, the festival audience, having been given score cards to fill in, unanimously chose Claire for their award of Best Supporting Actress. Claire, an incredibly talented young lady, is destined for the heights.

In many ways the audience votes (called Fan Favourite on the laurel leaves), coming immediately after the regular, formal votes, were all the more sweet because the “people’s vote” is delivered straight from the heart.

And so, although Best Director and Best Producer votes which came from the jury and were gratefully received, it somehow seemed all the more powerful and personal when the audience marked their score cards and gave their own awards to I’ll Walk with God for Best Actress (Virginia Byron), above, and the Best Director and Best Producer awards to Ian Woodward, above.

It was also satisfying to see, in the jury awards, hair and make-up artist Caroline Peberdy being rewarded for her superb artistry, for Paul Richardson’s sound to have attracted the enthusiasm of the judges, and for the Encore Films Choir to have been presented with the festival’s special Inspire Award. A particular pleasure, above all, was when Encore Films were handed the Best Cast award.

And so, well done to Joyce Agbonson (below), Bogna Bargiel, Sheila Barqueiro, Norman Bowman (above), Virginia Byron (above), José Castano, Lara Cooper-Chadwick, Anastasia Drew, Aude Florentin, Elisa Hayrapetyan, Claire Heverin (above), Jason Holden, Helena Holmes, Aleida Izquierdo, Daria King, Jason King, Alexander Lloyd, Alex Macino, Jacqueline McCauley, Francesca Moran, Fiona Mulvaney, Laurence Nobes, Natalie Anne Owen, Ellie Quinn, Georgina Roberts, Laia Martinez Rubir, Paul Sawyers, Adam Sef, Shante Stephenson and Lottie Yinka.

Thanks to them and to Dave Blissett, Connor Brennan, Anna Carpozi, Sandra Martínez Yáñez, Jamie Montgomery, Don Shulman, Maisie Jo Wong, Stefanie Woodward and Zenka Woodward – thanks to one and all for their vital and dedicated input. Without them there would just have been a boring blank screen, with no end and no beginning.

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