Disney's Dick Cook and Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg to Read Winning Entries of New $50,000 Script Contest

Disney's Dick Cook and Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg to Read Winning Entries of New $50,000 Script Contest

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- First-time screenwriters with a religious message will have a chance to get their scripts noticed by top Hollywood executives -- including Disney's Dick Cook and Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg -- in the First Bi-Annual John Templeton Foundation Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays, as announced by the Templeton Foundation and the Christian Film & Television Commission(TM).

Co-sponsored by the Templeton Foundation and the Christian Film & Television Commission(TM), the top three winners not only will receive prizes totaling $50,000, their names and scripts will also be announced at the 14th Annual Movieguide(R) Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, attended by more than 200 top executives, filmmakers and celebrities.

Several of the top movie studios have already promised to give a first- look at the three winning scripts, said Dr. Ted Baehr, chairman of the Commission, who works with the Templeton Foundation every year in the awarding of their Epiphany Prize for inspirational films. Last year's winner was "The Passion of the Christ."

The Kairos Prize is designed to encourage aspiring screenwriters to create more movies with storylines that help to increase man's love for and understanding of God, similar to the criteria for the Epiphany Prize. The John Templeton Foundation Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays includes a $25,000 grand prize and runner-up awards of $15,000 and $10,000 each. First-time scribes need to submit their scripts right away to be considered for this inaugural edition of the prize, which will be awarded -- along with the annual Epiphany Prize -- at the Movieguide(R) Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry on March 2, 2006.

"We hope the establishment of the Kairos Prize will encourage talented young screenwriters with new ideas and a great respect for the biblical faith to move forward on that project they have in mind, and to inundate Hollywood with moral, inspirational movies," Dr. Jack Templeton, son of Sir John Templeton, said.

More information and submission guidelines are available online at http://www.kairosprize.com/ . The deadline for early entries is Nov. 25; the late deadline is Jan. 6. Quarter-finalists will be notified by February 1, 2006.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Melany Ethridge 972-267-1111 Melany@alarryross.com

Source: Templeton Foundation

CONTACT: Melany Ethridge, +1-972-267-1111, or Melany@alarryross.com , for Templeton Foundation

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