Family Theater Productions

The Angelus Student Film Festival is a program administered by Family Theater Productions that seeks to encourage positive filmmaking. Mass media exercises significant influence on culture, and there is little question that the influence is not always beneficial. Family Theater Productions seeks to respond to this impact by encouraging  film directors in the formative stages of their careers to concern themselves with human values and positive moral direction. Family Theater Productions of Hollywood sponsors the Angelus Student Film Festival as part of its mission to entertain, educate and inspire families.  Film industry professionals comprise a Festival Jury who work throughout the year to review high quality film entries to select the very best of student films.  

Now in its 11th  year, the Angelus Student film festival cultivates and honors future filmmakers as they explore and create works that respect the dignity of the human person.  To signal its seriousness of purpose the first prize is the Excellence in Filmmaking Award in honor of Fr. Patrick, CSC of $10,000.  Films of high artistic caliber which explore the human condition with imagination, compassion, respect and truth will find a home at Family Theater and so will their makers. We seek to cultivate and honor future filmmakers as they explore and create works that respect the dignity of the human person.

The film festival is sponsored by a number of organizations and individuals. See below for a list of sponsors.

Sponsoring Organization - Industry
Final Draft - Screenwriting software
Mole-Richardson, Co. - Film industry lighting rentals
Crest National - Film laboratory for post production & duplications
Fuji Film - Film Industry
Screenplay Systems - Film Industry
Hollywood Creative Directory - Film Industry
Catholic Academy
Priddy Brothers Entertainment - Film Producers
Elio’s Fitness for Success - Fitness club
P.J.’s Flowers - Florist
Maryknoll Productions – Production Company
MovieMaker - Film magazine

Angelus Awards, Building on Success
Past Angelus Student Film Festival winners include Academy Award winner Barbara Schock (2000, Best Live Action Short); Sacrina Dhawan, screenwriter, “Monsoon Wedding;” and Tony Bui, the first filmmaker to capture both the 1999 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for “Three Seasons.” Bui was a 1999 Oscar nominee. He also produced and co-wrote “Green Dragon,” starring Patrick Swayze. First Angelus Student Film Festival winner Patricia Cardoso won the 2002 Sundance Audience Award for “Real Women Have Curves,” and 2001 Angelus winner Greg Marcks completed production on “11:14” starring Hilary Swank.

Donation Options

• "I want to influence Hollywood to create films that depict positive human values. I would like to donate to the film festival."
• Sponsor the Father Peyton Excellence in Filmmaking Award: "I want to help sponsor the grand prize, the Father Peyton Excellence in Filmmaking award for $10,000."
• Blue Ribbon Sponsor: "I want to participate by supporting the blue ribbon jurors in their work to select the best student films that depict positive human values and describe the human condition with creativity, compassion, and respect."