SPIRIT OF WINDRIDER AWARD
RECOGNIZING COMMITMENT IN ENCOURAGING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT TO IMPACT CULTURE THROUGH FILM AND MEDIA
Each year, we honor an individual who embodies the heart of soul of Windrider. We are always excited to feature our accomplished and eclectic Spirit of Windrider Award Recipients. We take the time each year to go through a nomination, presentation and selection process, as we gather together to choose each year’s recipient.
We have been excited to honor the following individuals over the years.
Heartland’s Sparks named “Spirit” Winner
7th annual Windrider Fourm will take place January 24th-30th, 2011 during the Sundance Film Festival
Jeff Sparks
The Windrider Forum is pleased to announce the 2011 “Spirit of Windrider Award” winner is Heartland Truly Moving Pictures President and CEO, Jeff Sparks
Jeff will be joining the Windrider Forum for the opening night festivities on Monday night, January 24th, to accept the award. Jeff will also be on hand for the entire forum, and will participate in numerous panel discussions and Q&A sessions.
Each year, we honor an individual who embodies the heart of soul of Windrider. We are always excited to feature our accomplished and eclectic Spirit of Windrider Award recipients. We take the time each year to go through a nomination, presentation and selection process, as we gather together to choose each year’s recipient. The award, which recognizes commitment in encouraging the creative spirit to impact culture through film and media, will honor a worthy recipient in Mr. Sparks.
The current President ,CEO and founding board member of Heartland Truly Moving pictures, has been a leader in recognizing and honoring filmmakers, whose works explore the human journey, artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life. Since 1991, the annual Heartland Film Festival has recognized filmmakers with the largest prize purse worldwide.
The prestigious Heartland Film Festival takes place in Indianapolis from 14-23, 2010. Beginning in 1991, Sparks led a group of visionaries, united to create a unique film festival to honor beautifully made films that celebrate the positive aspects of life called the Heartland Film Festival.
The Heartland Film Festival started in 1992 as a small event in Indianapolis and has expanded over time to become one of the fastest growing film festivals in the country. Today, the annual film festival is a ten-day event full of independent films, a variety of special events for film enthusiasts of all ages, and a one-of-a-kind experience in one of the Midwest’s most inviting cities.
Each October, the Heartland Film Festival screens independent films from around the world and presents more than $100,000 in cash prizes and Crystal Heart Awards to the Festival’s top-judged submissions.
About Heartland Truly Moving Pictures
Heartland Truly Moving Pictures recognizes and honors filmmakers whose work artistically expresses hope and respect for positive values of life. Heartland is a cultural institution, but it’s also an ideal. The organization was formed around the belief that great films can inspire people to accomplish amazing things. They can increase our understanding of the world around us. They can motivate us to treat one another with compassion and respect.
Maximizing film’s potential to promote the common good calls for action on multiple fronts. Heartland has responded in a variety of ways – from producing an internationally regarded film festival, the Heartland Film Festival, to presenting a highly coveted ndustry award, the Heartland Truly Moving Picture Award, to inspiring today’s youth through programs produced by the Heartland Institute such as the F.I.L.M. Project and the Heartland High School Film Competition.
Moreover, we continue to forge successful partnerships with film studios, like-minded national non-profit organizations and our supporters to achieve our goal of making more uplifting films more accessible than ever.
The result is a series of ripples that over the years has developed into a powerful wave.
Please join us in congratulating, Jeffrey L. Sparks, the 2011 Spirit of Windrider Award recipient.
James Lecesne, Hilla Medalia, John Priddy and David Abadi at the Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Awards Ceremony for After the Storm
2010 SPIRIT OF WINDRIDER AWARD WINNER IS: PRODUCER, RALPH WINTER
Ralph has accepted the invitation to be with us Jan. 30, 2010, at Windrider Forum in Park City, Utah, to receive the award.
Producer, Ralph Winter
Ralph Winter is a successful movie producer who is has produced some of the largest tent pole movies for 20th Century Fox Studios in the last 10 years: four XMEN movies, two FANTASTIC FOUR movies, and Tim Burton’s PLANET OF THE APES. The latest of these is WOLVERINE: XMEN ORIGINS, which was released May 1, 2009. All of these movies have set box office records, and his cumulative career total is close to $2BB in world wide theatrical box office.
Currently Ralph has formed a new partnership, 1019 Pictures, with Terry Botwick, in order to raise a slate of $300MM to co-finance movies with the studios. With over 25 pictures on the slate, 1019 is currently in pre-production on an environmental documentary with activist Bjorn Lomborg, and Ondi Timoner directing (the only director to win the Govenor’s Sundance award twice). In active development: Paul Verhoven will be directing THE SURROGATE, and the thriller MAN AND WIFE. This project was selected by Peter Chernin to partner with Ralph, as Peter launches his new venture in Hollywood.
Other notable pictures in development are SCREWTAPE LETTERS, based on a best selling work by C. S. Lewis. SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME, from a NY Times best selling book, and FRANKENSTEIN, again based a the best selling book by Dean Koontz.
Before going to 20th Century Fox in 1999, Ralph executive produced INSPECTOR GADGET, for Walt Disney Pictures, a $100MM box office hit for that summer. Along with Tom Jacobson, he produced Disney’s remake of the 1949 RKO classic, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, directed by Ron Underwood (CITY SLICKERS). Additionally he produced the movie HACKERS for United Artists, directed by the critically acclaimed Ian Softley (BACKBEAT, K-PAX). He produced the ABC-TV series “High Incident” for Steven Spielberg’s DreamWorks in ‘95-’96. This led to his directorial debut on the special Halloween episode, “Masquerade”. In the fall of ’96 he headed to Warner Brothers to work with director Sam Raimi. He has also produced an award winning short film entitled: OPIE GONE MAD that year.
Ralph produced STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, nominated for two Academy Awards and STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME, which was nominated for four Academy Awards.
Mr. Winter is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America, and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
Having met while attending Glendale High School together, Ralph and Judy Winter have been and continue to be an active part of the local community. As a RN, Judy works in several of the Glendale area schools and with at-risk students. She also volunteers at the local church working with college students. Their children are graduates of Whitworth College in Spokane; daughter Beth is married, living and working in La Canada, CA; son, Benjamin, also married, lives and works in Columbus, Ohio.
Ralph is one of the founders of the City of Angeles Film Festival, now in its 14th year, celebrating urban films that encourage theological dialogue. Ralph is also one of the founders of Reel Spirituality, an outgrowth of that film festival, and in conjunction with Fuller Seminary, provides an in depth conference each year on theology and the arts. Ralph also teaches for Act One, a ministry to developing Christians as writers and producers within the Hollywood community. Ralph is on the Board of Compass Arts, a small film school based in Grand Rapids, MI.
Ralph also sits on the Board of Advisors for Heartland Film Festival, co-chair of Biola University’s Studio Task Force, and the Board of the 168 Film Project. Ralph is a past member and Chairman of the Alex Regional Theatre Board, serving Glendale and the performing arts community.
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2009 SPIRIT OF WINDRIDER AWARD WINNER IS: FILMMAKER, RICK STEVENSON
Producer, Director, Writer - Rick Stevenson
About Rick
Rick Stevenson is a Seattle native known for his work in film and television in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Stevenson’s production credits include PRIVILEGED (1983) starring Hugh Grant; RESTLESS NATIVES (1985) starring Ned Beatty, PROMISED LAND (1987) starring Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland; SOME GIRLS (1989) starring Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly and Andre Gregory: and CROOKED HEARTS starring Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Noah Wylie, Juliette Lewis and Peter Coyote.
Stevenson made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with MAGIC IN THE WATER, starring Mark Harmon and Joshua Jackson. His next, widely lauded, feature film was THE DINOSAUR HUNTER with Christopher Plummer (1999). This was followed by ANTHRAX (2001) starring Cameron Daddo, David Keith, William B. Davis, Ed Begley Jr. Most recently, Stevenson directed, co-wrote and produced EXPIRATION DATE(2006) starring Robert Guthrie, Dee Wallace Stone and David Keith. Stevenson has directed many programs for television including ED for NBC and his work as a director of television commercials has garnered a myriad of awards.
In 2004, Stevenson founded The Film School with Tom Skerritt and Stewart Stern. He is currently piloting OFFICIAL BEST OF FEST, an initiative to help bring the world’s best indie films to the public. He is also completing his first feature in THE 5000 DAYS PROJECT series. Rick holds a PhD from Oxford University, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in history from Whitman College in Washington State.
Rick is married with four children.
NEW! Video of Rick accepting the award at the 2009 Windrider Forum @ Park City.
Producer, Director, Writer - Rick Stevenson
About Rick
Rick Stevenson is a Seattle native known for his work in film and television in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. Stevenson’s production credits include PRIVILEGED (1983) starring Hugh Grant; RESTLESS NATIVES (1985) starring Ned Beatty, PROMISED LAND (1987) starring Meg Ryan and Kiefer Sutherland; SOME GIRLS (1989) starring Patrick Dempsey, Jennifer Connelly and Andre Gregory: and CROOKED HEARTS starring Jennifer Jason-Leigh, Noah Wylie, Juliette Lewis and Peter Coyote.
Stevenson made his feature film directorial debut in 1995 with MAGIC IN THE WATER, starring Mark Harmon and Joshua Jackson. His next, widely lauded, feature film was THE DINOSAUR HUNTER with Christopher Plummer (1999). This was followed by ANTHRAX (2001) starring Cameron Daddo, David Keith, William B. Davis, Ed Begley Jr. Most recently, Stevenson directed, co-wrote and produced EXPIRATION DATE(2006) starring Robert Guthrie, Dee Wallace Stone and David Keith. Stevenson has directed many programs for television including ED for NBC and his work as a director of television commercials has garnered a myriad of awards.
In 2004, Stevenson founded The Film School with Tom Skerritt and Stewart Stern. He is currently piloting OFFICIAL BEST OF FEST, an initiative to help bring the world’s best indie films to the public. He is also completing his first feature in THE 5000 DAYS PROJECT series. Rick holds a PhD from Oxford University, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree in history from Whitman College in Washington State.
Rick is married with four children.
NEW! Video of Rick accepting the award at the 2009 Windrider Forum @ Park City.
