Stephen Atherholt, center in hat, in Sight & Sound Films’ “I Heard the Bells.”
The accolades and great reviews keep rolling in for Sight & Sound Film’s debut, “I Heard the Bells.”
In January 2023, LBC’s own Musical Theatre Director, Stephen Atherholt, who plays Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the film, was nominated for the Grace Prize for Most Inspiring Performance for Movies in the 30th annual MOVIEGUIDE Awards. “I Heard the Bells,” which saw box office success throughout the Christmas season, was also nominated for Most Inspirational Independent Film.
| Read more about LBC’s connection to “I Heard the Bells” here. |
“Being part of ‘I Heard the Bells’ has been such a humbling experience,” Atherholt said. “This was not an easy project. The content of the film is heartbreaking and required a lot from me as a performer. As an actor, we cross over with the characters we are playing. Henry’s story brought about a journey of joy and grief that I have not experienced in my own life. Yet, his story is redeemed by the love of his wife and the love of the Lord. God still speaks into our lives from His Scriptures, while the loved ones we have lost speak through our memories and through their legacy.
“I’ve been given the chance to leave my own legacy through this film,” he continued, “but none of this would have happened without the Lord. He opened the door, He gave me the talents and direction, and He opened the hearts of the viewers to be moved by the story. My story now takes me to Los Angeles for the MOVIEGUIDE awards, where I’m nominated for ‘Most Inspiring Performance.’ While this is an honoring event, it humbles me even more. We work hard to accomplish our life’s work, but the Lord is the author of my talents and story, and I’m so grateful He trusted me with this beautiful story.”
MOVIEGUIDE’s Grace Prize is awarded annually to “an actor or actress in a motion picture or television program who exemplifies God’s grace and mercy toward us as human beings through their outstanding performance.” For his work in “I Heard the Bells,” Atherholt is up against Mark Walberg, Pat Boone, Cary Elwes and Brett Varvel for the honor.
As a side note, Sight & Sound Theatres’ production of “David” was also nominated as Most Inspirational Independent Streaming/Television. Many Lancaster Bible College alumni are associated with this production, either on stage or behind the scenes.
The MOVIEGUIDE Awards, which seek to honor “the best of family-friendly movies and television programs and spiritually uplifting entertainment,” will take place Feb. 10 at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood. UPTV will air the telecast on Feb. 26.