2025 KICFF LOOKS FORWARD TO AN ENERGETIC SECOND SEASON.

After a tremendously rewarding 2024 Inaugural Knoxville International Christian Film Festival, the 2025 Spring KICCF has been receiving fabulous submissions from across the globe. We have been blessed to have multiple award-winning showcases at RiseUP Con at the Music Road Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, between June 27 - 29.

The 2024 Inaugural KICFF concluded with an award-winning showcase as part of TN Film CommUnity’s faith-based event, Films4Him, on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the wonderous facilities at Pellissippi State Community College in Hardin Valley, Knoxville, TN. Guests at the event traveled from VA, TN, MO, AR, NC, KY, GA, AL, & FL. The Expo proved to be a first-class award-showcase and networking event.

Don’t miss out on Season 2, with the opportunity for your project to be seen at RiseUP Con, which is scheduled to feature some of faith-based entertainments finest actors, musicians, and more, including Kevin Sorbo, Sam Sorbo, Nikita Koloff, Sean Patrick Flannery, Kaya Jones, Tommy Blaze, Cameron Arnett, and John Schlitt. Tickets and further information available NOW at: Riseupcon.com

At KICFF, we believe that each of us, as God's children, have stories that not only matter, but that are invaluable. We understand that in the current state of the world, people are searching for hope, inspiration, and love, while simultaneously in need of a wonderful Godly pick-me-up. Whether you're a celebrity actor, a polished producer, or creating your very first faith-based film and/or TV project, the KICFF is designed with you in mind.

KICFF is aimed at showcasing Christian movies of various lengths and other related projects, and recognizing them for their excellence in honoring God, and encouraging others to create their own Christian works.

The KICFF provides an attractive outlet for your Godly works to be recognized in an array of film-related categories. Our Festival Director and reviewers have all achieved multi-award-winning status in their works to honor God. We look forward to being blessed to review your submission that encompasses "His Spirit of Excellence & Service."

Following what he believed was "a mighty nudge from God," Rob Ekno moved forward and began the KICFF. Ekno is a multi-award-winning screenwriter, author, and broadcaster, who called Hollywood, CA home for three decades. Rob has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1995, and most recently was a member of the 30th Annual SAG Awards Motion Picture Nominating Committee. He has also performed in various faith-based films starring talents such as Dean Cain and Eddie McClintock.

Ekno, and his writing partners Sarah Irvine and John Lynch, were honored with BEST WRITER and BEST SCREENPLAY for their faith-based script "Cruising Toward Heaven," at the 2024 Christian Film Festival in Newport News, VA. The script was inspired by Rob's second book, "Is It God Or Coincidence?...Coming To Grips With The Unexpected Wonders In Life," a FINALIST in the 2022 Best Book Awards.

"Cruising Toward Heaven...Navigating From Rough Seas To Miraculous Adventures," Ekno's third book, won the Gold Medal at the 2024 International Impact Book Awards in Phoenix, AZ in the "Addiction & Recovery" category. That memoir was the inspiration for the faith-based script "Beyond Addicted," which Ekno co-wrote with Irvine. The script received BEST SCRIPT recognition at the 2024 Christian Film Festival. Ekno's acceptance speech at the festival earned him distinction for BEST MESSAGE.

"Stepping Into Glory," the third faith-based script written by Ekno & Irvine, was named a Quarter-Finalist in the 2024 Faith in Film International Film Festival in Tucson, AZ. The script was inspired by Ekno's Gold Medal-winning book, "Cruising Toward Heaven...A Spiritual Odyssey Into Life-Saving Rescues."

In 2023, Ekno was awarded "Most Dedicated Speaker Of The Year,"by Thought Leader, after a nationwide competition. Rob's speech, "The Book You're Dying NOT To Write," is also the title of his current book, as well as the name of an inspirational documentary that is in pre-production.

Ekno has been blessed to experience numerous accolades during his lengthy broadcasting career which includes an award from the Associated Press for turning an antiquated newsroom into a prominent news outlet. Rob received another AP award for his diligent work as a reporter. Ekno was also a regional reporter for the CBS Radio Network and the Associated Press Radio Network. Additionally, he served as the executive producer and weekend host of the nationally syndicated, "The Sports Final," broadcasting from Boston. Rob also held the positions of Public/Media Relations Director for two professional sports teams.

Not long after arriving in Hollywood, Ekno began what became a nearly 15-year venture of producing and hosting live TV programs that aired across America; some globally. During that time, Rob served as the executive producer at two TV shopping networks. He was also seen weekly for four seasons on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio. Ekno was the only actor in addition to the regular cast to have a part on Phil Hartman's last show. Rob highlights his inspiring relationship with Phil in a chapter in this third book.

When it came time for Ekno to elevate his relationship with God, he used his spirited voice to host the faith-based podcast "In Your Face." It was listened to in 99 countries for roughly four years on the award-winning Indie 104.com. The theme of the hour-long podcast, which Ekno executive produced, was "to inspire, motivate, and challenge each of us to become the best we can be for ourselves, our country, and most importantly...God." Rob interviewed Hollywood celebrities, movie producers, and guests across the country who shared incredible stories of faith, survival, and life-changing transformations. Two-hundred-sixty-nine episodes of "In Your Face" are available on iHeart and Apple podcasts.

After a personal life-changing event, starting in the spring of 2014, Ekno found himself spending time between Hollywood's bright lights and Southeast Alaska's impeccable landscape, wondering what plans God had for his future. Once intimately having experienced Alaskas picturesque scenery and amazing wildlife, Rob quickly realized that the Lord was providing him the opportunity to truly build a deep and powerful bond with Him. Taking full advantage of this blessing, Ekno spent countless hours over the next ten years exploring unique and extraordinary areas of Alaska, encountering God's greatness in new and remarkable ways. This led Rob to write his fourth book, a Gold Medal winner, about his ever-evolving relationship with his creator.

In early 2024, feeling an extremely robust calling from God to make another dramatic change in his life, Ekno left Tinsel Town's neon lights and eventually landed in "God's Country" in East Tennessee. Soon after, while attending an out-of-state Red Carpet event, someone that Rob had just met, emphatically told him that he was to immediately return to Knoxville and open yet another much-needed avenue for creative Christians to showcase their works. Realizing the "improbable coincidence" of receiving that compelling message, Ekno quickly went into action as he began recollecting his life's path and how unknowingly to him, God had long been preparing him for this moment.

Ironically, only a week earlier, Ekno had asked a trusted friend why she thought that God had asked him to leave Hollywood for Knoxville. Her answer, "I believe that God is going to elevate you to new heights as a man that He's never taken you before."

Having had a quick flashback of his prior experiences, Ekno realized that it was no mistake that God had asked that "stranger" to deliver the news of his next assignment. So, with the Good Lord leading the way, along with the help of some tremendously talented and faithful colleagues, the 2024 Inaugural Knoxville International Christian Film Festival (ONLINE) has become a reality.

Headlining an online seminar in Hollywood, Ms. Darrien Gipson, Executive Director of SAGIndie, shared some very insightful and enlightening thoughts. She stated that during her fifteen years in the Indie Film business and attending film festivals, (approximately 60 per year) producers and filmmakers have claimed the hardest thing to accomplish when submitting to festivals was to get their first laurel.

Auntie D, as she's known, commented that receiving an "OFFICIAL SELECTION," even into the not-so-recognized festivals was a great accomplishment.

With that in mind, the KICFF began to provide creative Christians with a much needed outlet, having the opportunity to secure perhaps their first laurel, thus helping propel their projects into an elevated status as they continue their works to honor God.

Our laurel is colorful, gorgeous, and unique to KICFF. In addition to "Official Selection," honors, we will be awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals in all listed categories. Our printable award certificates are equally stunning, and truly reflect the time and creative efforts that you put into your project(s). Certificates were cleverly designed by Randa Blackey of Hey Randa Designs in Virgina. Entries are eligible for all listed awards in each category in which they are submitted.

Whether your creative works have allowed you to amass a handsome collection of laurels, or you're seeking your very first laurel, we're confident that should you submit an award-winning project(s) to the KICFF, you'll be honored to share our laurel(s) proudly with family, friends, and colleagues.

Each entry will be evaluated by the Festival Director and award-winning reviewers and recognized with KICFF honors based on its own merits. As in any good competition, not all submissions will be selected into the festival nor will they receive an award(s). All decisions by the Festival Director as to awards presented by the KICFF are final.

So, in "His Spirit of Excellence & Service," with all your creativity, we look forward to seeing how your work tells a needed story while simultaneously honoring God, and your fellow man.

The theme of the KICFF is, "To honor God with your "Spirit of Excellence & Service.” Therefore, we trust that you will adhere to the following guidelines when submitting your project(s):

If you own or have produced or are the rights holder to a Christian movie, short film, student film, educational film, documentary, advertisement, screenplay/script, animated cartoon, music video, YouTube video, Web Series, movie poster, song, soundtrack, or another project that fits one of KICFF's categories, you may submit your project(s) along with the corresponding fee.

Your project(s) can be new or have been created within the past five years if they’ve never been sold and/or distrbuted.

The number of submissions into each category will determine the Official Selection, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Bronze Medal Digital Award Laurels that will be presented. Medal winners will also receive an email that includes a brilliantly designed, 2025 award-winning certificate(s) that you may print and frame.

* KICFF reserves the right to reject any submissions.
* All submissions must be made by someone 18-years of age or older.
* All projects MUST exemplify Christian values and represent God in a positive manner.
* All projects must be family friendly while at the same time not being overly 'nice'.
* No nudity or sexually explicit scenes.
* No horror films.
* No offensive language - Use of the ‘F’ word or ‘GD’ is an instant disqualification.
* Reality is acceptable but NO unnecessary violence or language which is strictly prohibited. (EX: "Sound of Freedom” is a great example of reality without unnecessary violence.)
* Screenplays are just that and NOT a produced film.
* English subtitles MUST be used on all non-English speaking projects and must be large enough to read without the veiwer straining their eyes.
* Entries must meet all requirements for each category in which they are submitted.
* Should your film, video, song, or related Christian project be selected for an award,
you give KICFF full permission to download a digital copy of your work and play it
at our award showcases.
* NO REFUNDS if your project(s) is(are) not selected for an award.
* Awardees will be those that take the time to truly honor God, and your fellow man,
with your projects in "His Spirit of Excellence & Service."
* As God has created us in His best image, He deserves our best. Thus, if rules are
broken, we will unfortunately have to disqualify your project(s).
* We look forward to being blessed by your amazing Christian projects. Thank you!

NOTE: We do not need you to mail/send us a hard copy, CD, or DVD of your film before we announce the awards. Once the announcement is made on June, 2025, we will post a link to your trailer or project on our Website and Facebook Page.

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  • Here at Stay Lifted Films, we want to give thanks for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing us with an incredible Christian Film Ministry and paving the way to connect with an amazing organization in KICFF that provides an incredible platform for kingdom creatives and opportunities to network and fellowship.

    KICFF's commitment to provide a space where Kingdom creatives can submit their projects that lifts the gospel of Christ is crucial to the mission we all are called to in our hearts.

    We look forward to continuing support and spreading the word about this amazing festival and all the wonderful people in KICFF.

    February 2025
  • Richard Collins

    This is an awesome Christian film festival you should enter - I highly recommend it - you won't be disappointed - 5 stars all around! I am Rich Collins the creator of 'Raegan and RJ in Space' the family friendly space adventure, and the Director of the Christian Book Awards (CBAs), Christian Film Festival (CFF), and the Christian Online Film Festival (COLFF) all 10 years running! God Bless! Go R&RJiS!

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Richard, thank you for your wonderful review. We appreciate your submission of Raegan and RJ in Space: First to Mars. It’s a well done Children’s Animation that should be shown in schools across America. Best wishes for continued success. Merry Christmas.

  • James Tew

    We appreciate your encouragement and blessed to be part of your festival! We're so happy that you enjoyed the movie!

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    James, thank you for your thoughtful review. We truly appreciated your submission of CAROL the musical feature. Hoping that it continues to bring joy to audiences for years to come. Merry Christmas.

  • What an honor to be recognized for my screenplay, "Unforgivable", by the judges at Knoxville International Christian Film Festival! Their devotion to faith-based content is greatly needed in this world today. Congratulations to Rob Ekno and his staff for their successful inaugural event. May God grant them many more!

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Gregory, thank you for your wonderful review. You submitted such a powerful script. It was an honor to read and review. Best wishes for continued success. Merry Christmas.

  • Brad Roberts

    Thank you to KICFF and Rob Ekno for an uplifting Holy Spirit filled film festival. Thank you to Rob for following the Lord's prompting to create this festival. And thank you for selecting the Tennessee Valley Christian Filmmakers mini-short film 'You'll Remember Me' as a Gold Medal recipient as well as many individual Gold Medal awards for the cast and crew. And a special thank you for the Gold Medal award for my short faith-based screenplay 'The Christmas Miracle at the Dollar General'.

    I have no doubt the KICFF will soon become the Gold Standard for Christian film festivals in the years to come and that is because KICFF keeps God first in this festival. So, you can say Rob and the KICFF are boldly displaying the 'God Standard' for Christian films festival and doing Kingdom work for His glory.

    SOLI DEO GLORIA!

    Brad Roberts

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Brad, thank you for submitting two fabulous works: You’ll Remember Me - Mini-Film, and your Mini-Script - The Christmas Miracle at Dollar General. Both pieces most definitely fulfilled honoring God in “The Spirit of Service & Excellence.” It was a blessing to review both works.Thank you for your wonderful review of our festival. Best wishes for continued success. 2024 KICFF.