Christopher Award
The Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organization founded in 1945 by the Maryknoll priest James Keller.
The 2016 Christopher Awards were announced on March 30, 2016, and were presented in a ceremony in New York City on May 19.
Judging process
Publishers, TV networks, and film directors are asked to submit titles and work that they believe to be award-worthy. Industry professionals and Christopher staff members make the final selections based on:- Artistic and technical proficiency
- Significant degree of public acceptance
- Affirmation of the highest values of the human spirit
Categories
- Christopher Leadership Awards
- Christopher Life Achievement Award
- Christopher Spirit Award
- James Keller Award
- Books for Adults
- Books for Young People
- Feature Films
- Television & Cable
Selection of previous winners/honorees
Christopher Leadership Awards
- 2011 Scotty Smiley
- 2008 Cardinal John Patrick Foley
- 2005 Sargent Shriver
- 2004 Father John T. Catoir
- 2002 Rudy Giuliani
Christopher Life Achievement Award
- 2018 Ken Burns
- 2016 Ernie Anastos
- 2012 Mother Dolores Hart
- 2008 David McCullough
- 2006 Dave Brubeck
- 2005 Robert Coles
- 2004 Art Linkletter
- 2003 Mary Higgins Clark
Christopher Spirit Award
- 2016 When Calls the Heart
James Keller Award
- 2012 Marty Lyons
- 2011 Shannon Hickey
- 2005 Pat LaFontaine
- 2004 Caroll Spinney
Books for Adults
- Five Years in Heaven: The Unlikely Friendship That Answered Life’s Greatest Questions by John Schlimm
- The Gift of Caring: Saving Our Parents from the Perils of Modern Healthcare by Marcy Cottrell Houle and Elizabeth Eckstrom
- One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York by Arthur Browne
- Tough As They Come by Travis Mills with Marcus Brotherton
- Under the Same Sky: From Starvation in North Korea to Salvation in America by Joseph Kim with Stephan Talty
- The Wind in the Reeds: A Storm, a Play, and the City That Would Not Be Broken by Wendell Pierce
- The Invisible Front: Love and Loss in an Era of Endless War by Yochi Dreazen.
- American Story: A Lifetime Search for Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things by Bob Dotson
- Love and Salt: A Spiritual Friendship Shared in Letters by Amy Andrews and Jessica Mesman Griffith
- The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest, Soldier, and Korean War Hero by Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying
- On These Courts: A Miracle Season That Changed a City, a Once-Future Star, and a Team Forever by Wayne B. Drash
- Walk In Their Shoes: Can One Person Change the World? by Jim Ziolkowski with James S. Hirsch
- Carly’s Voice by Arthur Fleischmann and Carly Fleischmann
- Fearless by Eric Blehm
- A Good Man by Mark Shriver
- My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell
- Road to Valor by Aili and Andres McConnon
- A Good and Perfect Gift by Julia Becker
- An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski
- I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish
- Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis and Beth Clark
- Little Princes by Conor Grennan
- Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
- The Jesuit Guide to Everything by James Martin
- Thea's Song: The Life of Thea Bowman by Charlene Smith and John Feister
- ' by Laura Hillenbrand
- ' by Ron Chernow
- A. Lincoln: A Biography by Ronald C. White, Jr.
- Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson
- Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder
- Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took on New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City by Anthony Flint
- Alex & Me by Irene Pepperberg
- American-Made—The Enduring Legacy of the WPA: When FDR Put the Nation to Work by Nick Taylor
- Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler
- Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America by Steven Waldman
- The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez
- Until Our Last Breath: A Holocaust Story of Love and Partisan Resistance by Michael Bart and Laurel Corona
- Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat
- The Florist's Daughter by Patricia Hempl
- The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers by Harry Bernstein
- The Lonely Patient: How We Experience Illness by Michael Stein, M.D.
- ' by Ishmael Beah
- A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom by David W. Blight
- Barefootin': Life Lessons from the Road to Freedom by Unita Blackwell with JoAnne Prichard Morris
- Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario
- ' by Francis Collins
- Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculée Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin
- The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan
- My Life with the Saints by James Martin
- The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions by Sister Helen Prejean
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- One Soldier's Story: A Memoir by Bob Dole
- The Prison Angel: Mother Antonia’s Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail by Mary Jordan & Kevin Sullivan
- They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky by Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng & Benjamin Ajak, with Judy A. Bernstein
- Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman, M.D.
- Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson
- The Freedom Line by Peter Eisner
- I Am a Pencil: A Teacher, His Kids, and Their World of Stories by Sam Swope
- Love in the Driest Season: A Family Memoir by Neely Tucker
- Mao's Last Dancer: A Memoir by Li Cunxin
- A Human Being Died That Night by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
- If I Get to Five by Fred Epstein, M.D., & Joshua Horwitz
- The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage by Paul Elie
- My Heart Will Cross This Ocean: My Story, My Son, Amadou by Kadiatou Diallo & Craig Wolff
- My Path Leads to Tibet by Sabriye Tenberken
- Sisters: Catholic Nuns and the Making of America by John J. Fialka
- Triangle: The Fire That Changed America by David Von Drehle
- Choosing Naia: A Family’s Journey by Mitchell Zuckoff
- The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
- Fatal Passage: The Story of John Rae, The Arctic Hero Time Forgot by Ken McGoogan
- Five Past Midnight in Bhopal by Dominique Lapierre & Javier Moro
- Jim's Last Summer: Lessons on Living from a Dying Priest by Teresa Rhodes McGee
- Standing on Holy Ground: A Triumph Over Hate Crime in the Deep South by Sandra E. Johnson
- Aging with Grace by David Snowdon, PhD
- Choosing Mercy by Antoinette Bosco
- Freedom's Daughters by Lynne Olson
- An Hour Before Daylight by Jimmy Carter
- John Adams by David McCullough
- Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
- Aging with Grace, by David Snowdon, PhD
- Choosing Mercy, by Antoinette Bosco
- Freedom's Daughters, by Lynne Olson
- An Hour Before Daylight, by Jimmy Carter
- John Adams, by David McCullough
- Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
- Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa
Books for Young People
- Preschool and up: One Good Deed by Terri Fields, illustrated by Deborah Melmon
- Kindergarten and up: An Invisible Thread Christmas Story by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski, illustrated by Barry Root
- Ages 6 and up: Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate
- Ages 8 and up: Katie’s Cabbage by Katie Stagliano with Michelle H. Martin, illustrated by Karen Heid
- Ages 10 and up: Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Christopher Denise
- Young Adult: Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott
- Preschool and up: Maya Was Grumpy written and illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur
- Kindergarten and up: Year of the Jungle: Memories from the Home Front by Suzanne Collins, illustrated by James Proimos
- Ages 6 and up: The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
- Ages 8 and up: Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by K.G. Campbell
- Ages 10 and up: The Boy On the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson with Marilyn J. Harran and Elisabeth B. Leyson
- Forever You: A Book About Your Soul and Body by Nicole Lataif with illustrations by Mary Rojas
- The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce with illustrations by Joe Bluhm
- The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger with illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate with illustrations by Patricia Castelao
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- Outcasts United by Warren St. John
- Shine: Choices to Make God Smile by Genny Monchamp with illustrations by Karol Kaminski
- Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown with illustrations by John Parra
- You Can Be a Friend by Tony Dungy and Lauren Dungy with illustrations by Ron Mazellan
- Hooper Finds a Family by Jane Paley
- Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
- Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
- by Mo Willems
- Would You Still Love Me If... by Wendy LaGuardia with illustrations by Patricia Keeler
- Brother Jerome and the Angels in the Bakery by Father Dominic Garramone
- Lafayette and the American Revolution by Russell Freedman
- Preschool: Ten Days and Nine Nights: An Adoption Story by Yumi Heo
- Ages 6–8: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, & Mary Nethery
- Ages 8–10: Most Loved in All the World by Tonya Cherie Hegamin with illustrations by Cozbi A. Cabrera
- Ages 10–12: Extra Credit by Andrew Clements with illustrations by Mark Elliott
- Young Adult: A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden
- Preschool: Close to You: How Animals Bond by Kimiko Kajikawa
- Ages 6–8: That Book Woman by Heather Henson with illustrations by David Small
- Ages 8–10: Clementine's Letter by Sara Pennypacker with illustrations by Marla Frazee
- Ages 10–12: Shooting the Moon by Frances O’Roark Dowell
- Young Adult: Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
- Preschool: Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy by Scott Menchin
- Ages 6–8: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara with illustrations by G. Brian Karas
- Ages 8–10: Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu with photographs by Peter Greste
- Ages 10–12: The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy
- Young Adult: Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
- Preschool: Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli with illustrations by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen
- Ages 6–8: How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa with illustrations by Sean Qualls
- Ages 8–10: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline
- Ages 10–12: Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan
- Young Adult: Bread and Roses, Too by Katherine Paterson
- Preschool: Am I a Color Too? by Heidi Cole & Nancy Vogl with illustrations by Gerald Purnell
- Ages 6–8: I Could Do That! Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote by Linda Arms White with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
- Ages 8–10: Game Day by Tiki Barber and Ronde Barber with Robert Burleigh, illustrations by Barry Root
- Ages 10–12: Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
- Young Adult: Hitch by Jeanette Ingold
- Preschool: Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson with illustrations by Doug Cushman
- Ages 6–8: The Hungry Coat: A Tale from Turkey written and illustrated by Demi
- Ages 8–10: Shredderman: Secret Identity by Wendelin Van Draanen with illustrations by Brian Biggs
- Ages 10–12: The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck
- Young Adult: Thura’s Diary: My Life in Wartime Iraq by Thura Al Windawi
- Preschool: Little Bear’s Little Boat by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter
- Ages 6–8: The Dot written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
- Ages 8–10: Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull with illustrations by Yuyi Morales
- Ages 10–12: Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo
- Young Adult: The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry
- People Mole and the Baby Bird by Marjorie Newman with illustrations by Patrick Benson
- Ages 6–8: Dear Mrs. Larue: Letters from Obedience School written and illustrated by Mark Teague
- Ages 8–10: The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool by Margaret Gray with illustrations by Randy Cecil
- Ages 10–12: Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
- Young Adult: Left for Dead by Pete Nelson
- Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest with illustrations by Anita Jeram
- Ages 6–8: Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier with illustrations by Lori Lohstoeter
- Ages 8–10: Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
- Ages 10–12: Uncle Daddy by Ralph Fletcher
- Young Adult: Soldier X by Don L. Wulffson and Witness by Karen Hesse
- Ages 6–8: How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
- Ages 9–10: The Mousery by Charlotte Pomerantz, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
- Ages 11–12: The Yellow Star by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Henri Sørensen
- Ages 11–12: Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
- Young Adult: The Wanderer by Sharon Creech
Feature films
- Ben is Back
- Instant Family
- Paul, Apostle of Christ
- Won't You Be My Neighbor?
- Darkest Hour
- Lady Bird
- The Star
- Wonder
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Hidden Figures
- The Hollars
- Queen of Katwe
2015
- The American Nurse
- Selma
- St. Vincent
- 42
- Frozen
- Gimme Shelter
- Gravity
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
- Akeelah and the Bee
- Charlotte's Web
- Miss Potter
- The Nativity Story
- Sophie Scholl – The Final Days
- Water
- World Trade Center
- Good Night, and Good Luck
- Mad Hot Ballroom
- Millions
- An Unfinished Life
- The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
2004
2003
About a Boy
2002
2001
- Billy Elliot
- Cast Away
- Finding Forrester
- My Dog Skip
- Remember the Titans
- Peter Pan
Television and Cable