“Just Pray” Honored with Prestigious ARTIOS Award
11-1-2006

The Casting Society of America recognized the cast of Just Pray with a coveted Artios Award at its 22nd annual awards show in Los Angeles on November 1, 2006. The organization (www.castingsociety.com) presents yearly awards for outstanding achievement in casting based on originality, creativity and the contribution of casting to the overall quality of a project. The term Artios is from the ancient Greek word meaning “perfectly fitted” and in 1985, the Casting Society established the awards to recognize the significance of casting to the success of a movie, television or theatrical production. Bonnie Zane, who cast the film, accepted the award for the film and her agency.

“Just Pray” Qualifies for Official Oscar Nomination Consideration
8-1-2006

Selected for competition in the newly created “Actors Turned Filmmakers Showcase” at the 2006 Rhode Island International Film Festival, Just Pray will automatically qualify for official consideration in the Best Live Action Short Film category sponsored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences during the annual Academy Awards show.

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Just Pray Selected to Open Full Length Screening at Bahamas International Film Festival
10-15-2005

When the Bahamas International Film Festival kicks off on December 8th, “Just Pray” will add another kudo to its growing list of accolades. The film has been selected to screen before the presentation of the foreign film, “Discovery.” On Saturday, December 10th at the Galleria JFK at Paradise Island, the Thiessen-directed “Just Pray” is slotted to preview at 3:00 pm and “Discovery,” directed by Andres Faucher, will immediately follow. Because both films capture and explore diversity as it relates to the human spirit, the pairing seemed a natural fit. This is the fist time “Just Pray” has been honored to open a full length presentation.

In just its second year, the Bahamas International Film Festival is playing host to a powerful combination of industry professionals, filmmakers, celebrity guests, film enthusiasts and the local community. This year, world-renowned and award-winning director and actor, Spike Lee, will receive the inaugural Career Achievement Award. This noted commendation award will honor Mr. Lee’s innovative style and his profound effect on cinematic artistry. During BIFF the tribute to Spike Lee will open with an onstage interview with the director, during which we will present clips of his films. The Tribute Ceremony will be moderated by distinguished film critic and journalist, Karin Durbin.

Bahamas International Film Festival

Just Pray selected as first runner up for "Best Live Action"
9-30-2005

The 2005 Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films & Short Film Market (ShortFest), highly regarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and considered the largest short film festival and market in North America, celebrated their 11th year with a closing night ceremony and awards show in which a total of 22 festival awards in 13 categories and six audience favorites were announced. Among those receiving a coveted Jury commendation was “Just Pray.” Selected as the runner up to First Place finisher “Tama Tu,” of New Zealand in the Best Live Action over 15 minutes category, the announcement carried a nod of approval and high regard for the film as it was awarded by a Jury of very distinguished film and industry professionals.

More than 500 filmmakers and industry representatives from around the world participated in this year’s Festival held from September 20-26, 2005, which screened 324 short films in competition and included more than 2,400 of the filmmaker submissions, from over 45 countries, in the film market.

Award winners receiving a first place prize are automatically eligible to submit their films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Academy Award consideration: the Festival presented six of last year’s short film Academy Award nominees, including two winners. Over the past ten years, the Festival has presented 46 films that have gone on to receive Academy Award nominations.

www.psfilmfest.org

Just Pray Awarded Best Score at Rhode Island International Film Festival
8-18-2005

The 2005 Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition and Just Pray received the jury prize of Best Score. Significant to this win is the film’s automatic submission to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ annual Grammy Awards for nomination consideration. RIIFF is also the only film festival in the United States to have an affiliation with the Grammy Awards. Additionally, the film was selected by RIIFF to appear in its annual festival follow-up series known as “The Best of the Best 2005.”

www.film-festival.org

Just Pray Accepted into the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival
8-05-2005

Entering its ninth year, LA Shorts Fest is the largest short film festival in the world and one of the few recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Last year's festival garnered over 1,100 film entries and drew more than 10,000 moviegoers, filmmakers and entertainment executives. Through film screenings and panel discussions our filmmakers have an opportunity to interact with their peers, to network with the industry and to entertain audiences.

LA Shorts Fest attracts the highest caliber of short films made each year. Since its' inception, twenty festival participants have gone on to earn Academy Award nominations and six have won the Oscar for their films.

www.lashortfest.com

Just Pray Accepted into the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
8-01-2005

The Palm Springs International Festival Of Short Films and Film Market will present over 350 short films on three screens with concurrent Film Market facilities featuring over 2,400 shorts, making it the largest short film festival and market in North America. The Festival offers 20 awards in ten different categories, featuring cash prizes and/or film stock. All submitted films are eligible for film market participation for no additional submission fee. Winning films in Live Action and Animation categories are automatically qualified for nomination consideration by AMPAS in the short film categories. There is also a special student film section with awards and reduced entry fees.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues to honor the integrity of the decisions made at this Festival by making this one of the few qualifying festivals for their Best Short Film Awards. Last year’s ShortFest featured the Premiere of Andrea Arnold’s Wasp, which received the 2004 Best of the Festival Award and an Academy Award in the Best Live Action Short Film category. The Best Animated Short Film Academy Award winner, Ryan, also screened at the Festival and received first place in the Best Animation category. In total, 6 of last year’s short film nominees were premiered or presented at the Festival.

www.psfilmfest.org

Film Review
Ron Singer, The Sonoma Valley Sun
5-13-2005

Just Pray (2005)
Just Pray is an unusually compelling story about a nine year old boy-awkward and overweight- who is ostracized by the Southern community which should be supporting him while his mother suffers from cancer. In just twenty-one minutes, this movie accomplishes what full length movies rarely do- it creates vivid characters, tells a moving story and leaves a lasting impression.

At critical points, Cyrus, played convincingly by first time actor Zac Garner, falls to his knees and asks for God's help in keeping the other kids from teasing him, in keeping his mother alive, and in keeping him from looking at "naughty" pictures. Writer Dean Johnson has used a nice mix of irony and sincerity in choosing his title, and humor and pathos in showing something of the South of his youth. At first it seems like Cyrus' prayers are in vain, but in the end there is a surprise answer.

Constance Zimmer plays the hair dresser giving Cyrus' mom her first perm after chemotherapy. Her Corley becomes Johnson's vehicle for exploding the hypocrisy of a church lady ( hilariously played by Cynthia Watros) who attacks Cyrus. Zimmer had audiences practically cheering at the Sonoma Film Festival. I don't remember when I last enjoyed such a down-home, heroic character as much.

One wonders how director Tiffani Thiessen (former child star in Saved by the Bell) could have coaxed such moving performances out of all her actors. Writer Dean Johnson has given us a story which really matters, about Christian charity- true love in its purest form, and we can only look forward to more films from this powerful team.

Ron Singer, film critic for the Sonoma Valley Sun

Just Pray Accepted into Rhode Island International Film Festival
7-11-2005

With over 1500 film submissions from around the globe, the prestigious Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) has selected Just Pray as an official entry in the 9th annual competition. Noted for its independent spirit in film, the festival has become a haven for independent filmmakers from throughout the world. Of special note is that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has elected to recognize the Rhode Island International Film Festival as a qualifying festival for the Short Films category for the Annual Academy Awards. With more than 1950 film festivals worldwide, only 47 have this recognition. As of 2004, RIIFF also became a nominating festival for best score & composer through its affiliation with the Grammy Awards.
www.film-festival.org

Seattle International Film Festival
5-03-2005

"Just Pray" was selected as an official entry into the prestigious Seattel International Film Festival. More info. to come.

Vail Film Festival - Vail 90210
4-12-2005

At an extra screening on Sunday morning, Tiffani (formerly Amber) Thiessen and her screenwriter and producing partner, Dean Johnson, discussed her directorial debut, the short Just Pray. Tiffani had more or less dared Dean to write the script, but revealed that she hadn’t originally intended to direct it.
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Vail Daily News - The flipside of Tiffani Thiessen
4-1-2005
article by: Laura A. Ball of Vail Daily News
Tiffani Thiessen took a leap to the other side of the camera this year for her directorial debut, "Just Pray." Well, maybe it was more like a step.

The veteran actress has been in front of the camera since the age of 9, best known for her roles in "Saved by the Bell" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," experience that helped her real-life role as a director.
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