For Immediate Release
(Newswire.net – July 8, 2013) Nashville, TN – The Inspirational Country Music Association celebrates its 21st Anniversary during ‘Country Music Month’ in Nashville, Tennessee, with newly announced expansion of award show categories. The 2013 ICM Faith, Family and Country Convention and Awards will take place at Two Rivers at Opryland in Music City on Oct 20-24, 2013; with the 19th annual Inspirational Country Music Awards taking place on October 24, 2013, at Two Rivers.
“At this time, more and more mainstream artists are releasing positive messaged songs that bring Faith, Family, and Country into their music and we felt it to be appropriate to recognize these artists for their efforts in bringing such a message to their audience,” says Jason Higgins, ICM Executive Director.
Last year’s female Vocalist of the Year Award Winner, Laura Dodd, is the co-writer and performer of award winning film “Spirit of Love” title track. She was inspired to write the song with her longtime friend and Indie movie producer and director Darla Rae. When Darla shared the story of Former NBA player Mike “Stinger” Glenn and his real life basketball camps for the deaf and hard of hearing. She was moved to great emotion when she saw how her song was showcased in the final scene of the film featuring two deaf and hard of hearing actors using ASL(American Sign Language) to interpret her song on screen to the audience that typically does not have musical lyrics offered to them. Laura also appears and performs in the film.
This year Ms. Dodd is nominated for Inspirational Country Song of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.
“It’s an honor to be considered for these great awards and recognized along with films from major studios like 20th Century Fox,and Warner Bros. I believe this is the first time a film with Open Captions and ASL, and deaf actors has been included. This is a great milestone for us as indie filmmakers and for our deaf and hard of hearing teen actors to be honored this way. We are thrilled for this opportunity,” said writer Darla Rae.
The ballot, voted on by membership, includes a stellar array of major names in a broad array of categories that include entertainer, artist, new artist, song, songwriter, group, duo, musician, radio, radio station, film, and television honors. Major artist semi-finalists for this year’s awards include Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, among others.
ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards Movie Semi-Finalists are:
• 42 – Warner Bros. Pictures
• Brother White – Pure Flix Entertainment
• Home Run – Hero Productions
• Last Ounce Of Courage – Veritas Entertainment
• Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure – Documentary
• Parental Guidance – Twentieth Century Fox
• Ring The Bell – Whitney Beach Pictures
• Spirit Of Love, The Mike Glenn Story – Film It Productions
• The Frontier Boys – Destiny Image Films
• Unconditional – Harbinger Media Partners
For additional information about the awards schedule, visit http://www.faithfamilycountry.com/?p=1058 . To schedule interviews or more information about “Spirit of Love” , contact Kathy Shipp at 323-522-4179 or visit http://www.SpiritOfLoveMovie.com .
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