2025 KICFF Fall of Faith ran thru November 30, 2025. Submissions were received from across America and the globe including: Spain, Japan, Iran, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Gaza and Malta. Awardees received beautifully designed KICFF Award Certificates. Select awardees had their projects showcased at our live showcase in Pigeon Forge, TN. Many awardees also had their projects selected for airing on an episode of our award-winning weekly TV Entertainment series "KICFF Presents," which airs on Watchmen Broadcasting's WBPI TV49, worldwide WBPI.org, Roku, and Abundant TV.
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.”
The Knoxville International Christian Film Festival (KICFF) was born out of a God-inspired vision in Knoxville, Tennessee, with one purpose at its heart — to honor God through the art of film and storytelling. Launched online on July 2, 2024, KICFF has quickly grown into a global destination for Christian filmmakers and audiences alike. In its inaugural season, the festival has already hosted two dynamic in-person award showcases (with a third on the way), launched a weekly television and YouTube series “KICFF Presents,” and made multiple appearances across TV and podcast platforms to share its mission of faith through film. From the beginning, it has been clear that KICFF is more than just a festival — it is a divinely appointed movement.
Guided by faith and driven by purpose, KICFF was founded by Rob Ekno — a multi-award-winning screenwriter, author, and broadcaster — following what he describes as “a mighty nudge from God.” With decades of experience in Hollywood and a deep passion for storytelling, Rob’s journey through the entertainment industry uniquely prepared him for this mission. A long-time Screen Actors Guild member, he has worked alongside industry talents such as Dean Cain, Phil Hartman, Joe Rogan, Maura Tierney and John Lovitz, and, together with writing partners Sarah Irvine and John Lynch, has earned national recognition for scripts like Cruising Toward Heaven, Beyond Addicted, and Stepping Into Glory. Each story reflects his testimony of faith, recovery, and redemption — themes that form the heart of KICFF’s vision.
After three decades in broadcasting and entertainment, Rob’s personal awakening led him to East Tennessee in 2024, where, through prayer and divine confirmation, God revealed His next assignment: to create a home for Christian creatives to share their gifts, grow their faith, and impact the world through film. With faith leading every step and a team of dedicated, Spirit-filled partners, the Knoxville International Christian Film Festival came to life — moving forward at God’s speed.
KICFF’s mission is simple yet powerful: to celebrate creativity, faith, and film for God’s glory. The festival exists to elevate Christian filmmakers from around the world, build a community of faith-driven storytellers, and inspire audiences through messages of hope, purpose, and redemption — all while shining the light of Christ through the power of cinema.
More than an event, KICFF is a movement — a growing community of believers using film to glorify God. Whether you are a filmmaker, screenwriter, supporter, or someone who simply believes in the power of faith-filled storytelling, there is a place for you here. Join us and be part of what God is doing through KICFF. Together, we’re not just making films — we’re making history for His glory.
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.
In addition to "Official Selection," honors, we will be awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals in all listed categories. Our printable award certificates are 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 and Ava Hawk Media in Greenville, South Carolina. 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 "The 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.
