UNSTOPPABLE WITH LEQUITA SHARROCK

By Rory Sharrock

Since starting our company in 2016, Lequita and I have represented Sharrock Media Group at several local and out-of-town events. 

Each outing was beneficial and holds a special place in our hearts. However, the road trip to Orlando for the 2024 International Christian Film and Music Festival was our first joint elevated experience. This mega event took place May 1-4 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. 

I’ve worked as a multi-media journalist since my college days in the late 1990s. My passion and work experience have been centered around sports. This was my first time covering a film festival and awards show. It was very beneficial to step outside of my "work comfort zone" by interviewing the multitude of nominees and winners. 

Lequita travels a different lane as a visionary CEO. She's also enrolled in divinity school. However, experiencing the atmosphere at the festival went beyond her online course studies.  

Full transparency for me – when it comes to faith-based movies, my viewership is minimal at best. I do browse through the genre on Tubi and Amazon looking for something that is both entertaining and inspiring. Of course, I Google the actors/actresses to learn about their bios and filmography.  

Now, after attending ICFF, I have a deeper appreciation for the genre in its totality. 

The weeklong activities included various screenings from animation and short films to documentaries and full-length features. These works were showcased inside multiple conference rooms. The lobby was flooded with companies stationed at tables promoting their products. 

While all these outlets were enriching, for Lequita, the marquee area was the prayer room. Located inside Salon E, this reserved space was a fertile ground for spiritual rejuvenation. 

"Inside the prayer room, the word spoken over me was reset. I repeated that word throughout the trip and continue to say it now," she said. 

"I thought it was great that they had a prayer room. Communicating with God brings a sense of clarity, intentionality and purpose. In the mist of a film festival, it was important to have a prayer room. I received valuable insight and wisdom before engaging with others."

During our conversations with all the honorees, it was rewarding to hear their stories. Each person gave detailed commentary on maintaining faith-based standards to achieve resilient results with their work.

"We've been coming to ICFF for a while now. It’s good to see God's people coming together," said Cameron Arnett, 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. "Everyone has an anointing. It is by the word of our testimony that we overcome. We ought to have a story of who God is, what he’s done in our lives and what he’s doing through our lives."

Arnett's acting credits span film, television and theatre. He also is a speaker who delivered a message at ICFF. He discussed his Christ Over Career campaign. This project focuses on principles above professional advancement in every work environment. 

"Christ Over Career came out of me as a Christian making a decision about Hollywood. They wanted me to do partial nudity and I said no. Jesus wants us to be a billboard of his awesomeness to the world. We have to be able to let him govern us by the Holy Spirit," he said. 

The Women's Empowerment Seminar was another signature session of the festival. Award-winning actress, producer and speaker Shannen Fields-Braswell was the moderator for the discussion. 

Fields-Braswell was joined by panelists BJ Arnett and Venus Monique. All three women are veterans in film and television. They discussed their careers, trends within the industry and answered questions from the audience.

Although the spotlight was on them, the panelists were humbled by the opportunity to speak at the event.

"We've walked through a lot of stuff and learned some things the hard way. We can take the experiences we've learned and send it out," Fields-Braswell said. "I didn't have something like this when I started. To sit on a panel with amazing Christian women is an honor."

Another standout moment was meeting Tyrone and Bridgette Crawford of Biloxi, Miss. They also share a bond of marriage and business partners. Tyrone is a Christian rapper who took home the prize for Best Performing Artist. Bridgette is an author who has published multiple books.  

The Crawfords also have a clothing line called NGB (Never Going Back). Their biblical reference for their apparel is from Philippians 3:13 – "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

This duo expressed joyous emotions about being at ICFF.  

"This is encouraging and it’s a blessing from God to be here. It’s leading toward the steps of the goals I have," Tyrone said. 

"It's awesome and I always love supporting him. Our clothing line is doing well. I have the best business partner ever," Bridget said. 

Listed below are the winners and the respective categories at the 2024 ICFF.

FEATURE FILMS
Best Picture
Best Picture – The Shift
The Descent – Second Place
The Church Thinks We're Dating – Third Place
Unfailing Love – Audience Choice

Most Inspirational
Freedom Hair

Best Foreign Film
Little Anna

Best Cinematography
The Shift

Best Musical Score
Tim Williams, Southern Gospel

Best Supporting Actress
Danielle Renee Vivarttas, The Church Thinks We’re Dating

Best Supporting Actor
Michael J. Patterson, unDEFILED

Best Lead Actress
Samantha Cutaran, Just One Life

Best Lead Actor
Sean Patrick Flanery, Nefarious

Best Screenplay
Alexandra Boylan, Andrea Polnaszek, Identity Crisis

Best Director
Kyle Roberts, What Rhymes With Reason

SPECIAL AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement Awards – Cameron Arnett
Outstanding Woman in Film – Autumn Bailey-Ford
Humanitarian Award – Homeless but Human

SHORT FILMS
Most inspirational Short Film
I Heard the Bells

Best Lead Actress
Brooke Jackman, I'll Speak For You

Best Lead Actor
Robert Salas, Job

Best Screenplay
Jacob-Carl Pauw, Blood Tears

Best Director
Robin Bjerke, Magi

Best Short Film
Lifeless: A Musical Zomedy – First Place
Citified – Second Place
I’ll Speak For You – Third Place
Kindred Spirits – Audience Choice

SCRIPTS
Best Script
When Cotton Blossoms – First Place
She’s Dating Jesus! – Second Place
Goliath and David – Third Place

DOCUMENTARIES
Best Documentary
Homeless but Human – First Place
One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction – Second Place
Sunlight – Third Place
Choir of Honor: Commemorating Pearl Harbor – Audience Choice
Behind Our Walls – Audience Choice

Most Inspirational Documentary
Joy in the Morning

Most Creative Documentary
One Second at a Time: Battling the Monster of Addiction

Best Director
Jigyasa Taneja Sethi, Strange Destiny – Winner

TV SERIES / TV SHOW
Best Actress / TV Series
Madeline Carroll, These Stones: Episode 103 – Winner

Best Actor / TV Series
Michael Angelo, The Last Evil (Season 1) – Winner

Best TV Show Host
Earlene Camielle Cartwright, JourneyTV – Winner

Best TV Show
Kashtan’s Wildlife in the Zoo
The History of Gospel Music – Audience Choice

Best TV Series
The Last Evil (Season 1)
Fade Away – Audience Choice

MUSIC
Best Music Video
Majrouh ( wounded ) – First Place
Small Town Girl – Second Place
All Things Are Possible With God – Third Place
All Mighty God – Audience Choice

Best Songwriter
Athena Sorensen, Have You Touched Jesus 

Best Performing Artist
Tyrone Crawford, Together

ANIMATION
Best Animated Film
Rose
Pigasus: The Lost Paradise – Battle for Evermore – Audience Choice

STUDENT FILMS
Best Student Film
Still – Winner
Get Up – Audience Choice

TRAILERS
Best Trailers
Revive: Portraits of Redemption
These Stones TV SERIES – Audience Choice

STAGE PLAYS
Best Stage Play
The Hiding Place the Musical – Winner
G.L.O. (Ghost Ladies of Ottawa) – Audience Choice