Variety’s Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors Shines Light on Stories of Hope, Resilience and Love

Andrés Buenahora

5 December 2024 at 3:22 pm·5-min read

There was a sense of hope and optimism at Variety’s Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honors gala on Wednesday night. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills and presented by the Coalition for Faith and Media, the event celebrated industry leaders supporting underrepresented themes of faith within entertainment.

Jeff Simpson, Coalition for Faith and Media trustee and CEO of Desert Management Corp, opened the ceremony by highlighting the importance of diverse portrayals of faith in media. He added that the coalition is committed to providing the necessary resources for artists to achieve modes of rich and authentic storytelling that moves beyond simplified stereotypes.

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“It’s more for us than simply a faith genre story,” Simpson said. “It’s a story about how people of faith are depicted in everyday circumstances. We believe that there’s a tremendous opportunity to expand our narratives to connect with global audiences in a more meaningful way.”

Academy Award winner Viola Davis and her husband Julius Tennon were recognized for the work of their production company JuVee Productions. Actor Edwina Findley Dickerson presented the award to the couple. She highlighted the compelling and relatable stories being told by Davis and Tennon as well as the profound truths their projects have spread in captivating audiences.

“As Viola often quotes, ‘The two most important things in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why,’” Findley Dickerson said. “It is our God dream, our divine dream, to live abundantly and to die empty, assured that when this life is done, we will have fulfilled the heights of our purpose.”

She paused to speak directly to Davis and Tennon, telling the pair that they embody this dream in essence and virtue.

“Years ago, we planted a seed in Hollywood and we just kept watering that seed,” Davis said. “The roots got deeper and deeper and that seed produced a tree that produced fruit. That fruit is JuVee Productions.”

“Abbott Elementary” star and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph was honored for her portrayal of Christian teacher Barbara Howard on the Hulu comedy series “Abbott Elementary.”

Her co-star Lisa Ann Walter, who presented the award, credited Ralph with bringing to life a character of genuine faith on-screen and for galvanizing the crew during challenging production shoots.

“Faith has been a guiding light in my life, a constant source of strength, resilience and hope,” Ralph said. “It is that quiet whisper that reminds me who I am, even in moments of doubt, and there have been many. It is that force that has carried me through doors that others said would not be open for someone like me. Faith has allowed me to stand tall in places where I wasn’t always welcome.”

The actor added that themes of faith can be difficult to make space for in an industry that thrives on glamor and spectacle. She said stories of faith are the narratives that reflect our shared humanity and celebrate the sacred moments of daily life.

Ralph said she is honored to showcase the power of faith through her portrayal of Barbara and that faith is not merely a system of beliefs but a series of actions and a manner of living life.

“Tonight, it is faith that allows me to share this stage with so many faithfull storytellers who are lifting up narratives that often go unheard,” Ralph said. “Real faith is not about easy answers or glossy portrayals. It is about the messy, the beautiful, the complicated journey that we all take to find meaning, connection and purpose.”

Later in the night, Emmy nominee Joey King presented “We Were the Lucky Ones” creator and showrunner Erica Lipez with her award, emphasizing the sensitivity and emotional depth Lipez brought to the screen.

King, who stars in “We Were the Lucky Ones,” said the series effectively displays the faith and cultural heritage of Jewish life. She added that Lipez is someone in a position of power who possesses both approachability and tremendous talent, which is a gift to those working around her.

“The nuance and emotion was able to soar because of the leadership we were fortunate enough to have at the head of this show,” King said. “Your kindness and your commitment to telling this story so thoughtfully put so much more passion into all of our desire to help bring your vision for this show to life. Working for you is one of the greatest privileges I’ve had.”

“It Ends With Us” actor and director Justin Baldoni served as presenter for author and podcaster Jay Shetty. Baldoni recalled connecting with the “On Purpose With Jay Shetty” host a decade ago via social media.

He said when they met in person in Los Angeles, the two engaged in deep conversations absent of networking or business proposals. Instead, they discussed service and spirituality.

“He talked about the necessity of bringing spirituality to Hollywood. He imagined what a room like this can be like,” Baldoni said. “Jay has created a space where people from all walks of life can ask big questions about love…what it means to be human.”

Shetty began his acceptance speech by expressing his gratitude to Baldoni. He went on to say that trending searches on Google and ChatGPT indicate society’s most significant cocnerns tend to revolve around love — something that, as Shetty put it, only spirituality and faith can truly answer.

He explained that he found himself inspired to bring ancient spiritual wisdom to modern society but was discouraged from doing so early on in his career.

“I was told that no one wanted spirituality and entertainment,” Shetty said. “What I realized was, even if there is no demand, there is and will always be, a deep need for spirituality.”

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