by Catholic News Service
Catholics in Media Associates celebrates its 20th anniversary with a Mass and film and television awards ceremony April 14.
The Oscar-nominated film "Flight," the long-running police drama "Bones" and the hit television miniseries "The Bible" will receive honors at the event.
An open-air Mass will precede the luncheon and awards ceremony in Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.
"With CIMA celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, we wanted to do something special," said a March 12 statement by Nancy Norton Bevins, president of Catholics in Media Associates and executive producer of the event along with organization vice president John Kelly.
"The Bible," which has racked up top ratings on the History cable channel, was conceived by actress Roma Downey and her husband, reality-show producer Mark Burnett, after watching the classic film "The Ten Commandments" together for the first time since they were children. The miniseries was chosen to win the Catholics in Media Associates' Board of Directors Award.
In a joint statement, Downey and Burnett said, "We are honored to receive the 2013 CIMA Board of Directors Award for our miniseries 'The Bible.' We created this series to honor God and we hope it brings millions of people closer to his word. Thank you, CIMA for recognizing our efforts."
The 10-hour docudrama explores the Bible's most significant episodes, including Noah's journey in the ark, the Exodus and the life of Jesus.
"Flight" is receiving the group's Motion Picture Award. Denzel Washington, nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, plays a high-functioning alcoholic who lands a malfunctioning jet with minimal loss of life and injuries. John Gatins also was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar.
Washington's "portrayal gives hope to anyone who struggles with pride and addiction," CIMA said.
"Bones," a Fox network staple now in its eighth season, stars Emily Deschanel as forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan and David Boreanaz as FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth who seek to solve mysteries involving human remains.
"An important ongoing dynamic between Brennan and Booth is their disagreement about the roles of science and faith," CIMA said. "Where Brennan focuses on the physical evidence, Booth, a practicing Roman Catholic, looks for clues in human behavior and beliefs."
