‘Yehudah’ takes top award in Christian film festival

By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald

An 11-minute video about an ancestor of Jesus, produced by a Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace catechism teacher, starring amateur local actors, and partially shot at St. Stephen Diocesan Center, took the top award in its category at the International Christian Film Festival April 30 in Orlando, Florida.

“Yehudah,” the first ever video by cathedral parishioner Bonnie Moore, won “Best Short Film” and “Most Inspirational Short Film.”

It was the only one of dozens of entries to win two top awards, said Moore, a Honolulu lawyer who attended the festival with other Hawaii residents associated with the film.

“Yehudah” had also been picked to open the film festival, which claims to be the biggest event of its kind, on April 28.

Moore spoke enthusiastically about the event, which was attended by some 2,500 people in the worldwide Christian film industry, in an email to the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

“It was absolutely wonderful!” Moore said. “We had an amazing time.”

Five theaters played films morning to night over the course of three days, she said. “All the films we saw were great and of high quality.”

Moore talked to the opening night’s audience about the film after its debut screening. She was also interviewed by a Hong Kong TV station interested in showing her film in China.

“We met so many interesting people and they shared with us so many challenges they had been through and miracles they had received,” Moore said.

“Yehudah” tells the story of how Judah — the fourth son of Leah, the unloved first wife of the Jewish patriarch Jacob who had been tricked into marrying her — became the forefather of Jesus Christ the Messiah.

“Yehudah” is Hebrew for Judah and means “in praise.” Leah gave birth to Judah praising the Lord.

The international festival nominated “Yehudah” in five out of six award categories for short films, the most of any entry. Besides the short film categories of “best short film” and “most inspirational short film,” it was up for “best screenplay,” “best actress,” and “best director.”

Also attending the festival from Hawaii were Teresa Gochenouer, Anne Horner and Joelle DeVera, who played the part of Leah and was nominated for “best actress.” They all walked with Moore on the awards night red carpet.

Moore assembled the “Yehudah” cast from parishioners, friends, her religious education students and acquaintances from the cathedral parish. Deacon Modesto Cordero portrayed Leah’s father Laban. Alex Held played Jesus.

Her technical crew included award-winning TV and film director Tim Savage of Accelerator Films, whose last feature movie was “Under the Blood-Red Sun,” and Mainland computer animator Matthew Finley.

The video was filmed at St. Stephen Diocesan Center, Gunstock Ranch in Kahuku and a Honolulu warehouse.

The video was produced by Moore’s non-profit organization Marana tha Ministries, Inc. at a cost of about $90,000.

She hopes her film will become a vehicle for evangelization on the Internet and in other venues.

“I want it to be watched,” she said. “I want to make people see the Lord living close to them … trying to flood the world with his love.”