2009 Speakers and Special Guests

• JOE ESZTERHAS – Screenwriter/Author

• MARK ZORADI – President, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group

• CHRISTA ZOFCIN – Head Of Business Affairs, United Artists

• RALPH WINTER – Producer, XMen, Fantastic Four, Wolverine
• TERRY BOTWICK – Producer
• MICHAEL VAN DYCK – TV/Feature Literary Agent, Paradigm
• CHRISTOPHER LOCKHART – Story Editor, William Morris
• DOUG TENNAPEL – Graphic Novelist/Writer
• KEN WALES – Producer, Pink Panther/Amazing Grace
• Al KASHA – Academy Award Winning Composer
• HOWARD KAZANJIAN –  Producer, Raiders of the Lost Ark/Star Wars
• CYRUS NOWRASTEH – Writer/Director
• PAUL LAUER – Producer, Mpower Pictures
• ROLFE AUERBACH – President, Brand-In Entertainment
• TODD BURNS – Entertainment Attorney
• TRAVIS MANN – Entertainment Attorney
• SUSAN ISAACS – Writer/Comedienne
• JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS – Actor
• PHIL COOKE – Director/Author
• KIM DORR – Talent Agent
• DAN RUPPLE - Producer/Writer
• MARK JOSEPH – Writer/Producer
• THE GROOVALOOS – Freestyle and Hip-hop Dance Troupe

2008 Speakers and Special Guests

• TODD KOMARNICKI – Producer of the Christmas blockbuster, Elf and Meet Dave
• DAVID KINNAMAN – President and Strategic Leader of The Barna Group
• BILLY PITTARD – Emmy winning Brand Strategist and President of Pittard Inc.
• CHUCK BOWMAN – Veteran TV Producer for CBS/NBC/ABC
• TERRY BOTWICK – Producer and Director, Pres. of Vanguard Film & Animation
• STEVE TOMPKINS – Award winning TV Writer/Producer for Bernie Mac and The Simpsons
• KAY SUMNER – Reality TV Producer for The Dog Whisperer
• ANITA RENFROE – Comedienne, weekly featured on ABC’s Good Morning America
• CHUCK SLOCUM – Assistant Executive Director Writers Guild of America
• WILL BIGHAM – Writer/ Producer and Director, Winner of FOX’s "On the Lot"
• FRANK DESIDERIO – President of Paulist Productions
• SCOTT DUNLOP – Reality TV Producer, Real Housewives of OC
• MAT BROOME – Creative Director and COO MyIPD.Com
• SCOTT SHUFORD – CEO of Frontgate Media, Founder White Barn Group
• PHIL COOKE – Writer/Prod./Dir., CEO of Cooke Pictures and TWC Films
• DAN RUPPLE – Comedy Writer/Producer, CEO of Seriously Funny Entertainment
• CRAIG DETWEILER – Writer/Screenwriter, Fuller Theological Seminary
• JASON EPPERSON – Writer/Producer/Director and CEO of Eppic Films
• JORDAN HUDGENS – Founder and CEO of vidShadow Network
• MARK JOSEPH – Writer/ Producer and CEO of MJM Entertainment Group
• REX OLSON – Vice President of Content Development for NewTek Inc.
• DANIEL TEMPLE – Co-Owner of Sermonspice Inc.
• LISA SWAIN – Filmmaker/Chair, Cinema and Media Arts, Biola University

2007 Speakers and Special Guests

• SIMON SWART – Executive VP & General Manager, Fox Home Entertainment
• STEVE MCEVEETY – Producer, What Women Want, Payback, Anna Karenina, Immortal Beloved, The Man Without A Face and Braveheart, The Passion of The Christ, Paparazzi and We Were Soldiers. President of The Mpower Company.
• SHERRI SHEPHERD – Actress, with co-starring roles on Everybody Loves Raymond, Less Than Perfect, The Jamie Fox Show , and guest appearances on The View, 30 Rock and David. E. Kelly's Wedding Bells.
• MICHAEL KLAUSMAN – President of CBS Studio Center
• ERWIN MCMANUS – Lead Pastor of Mosaic, futurist and Author of An Unstoppable Force; Chasing Daylight; Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul; The Barbarian Way; Stand Against the Wind and Soul Cravings.
• JOCELYN DIAZ –Director of Drama Development for ABC.
• RALPH WINTER – Executive Producer, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and X-.3
• BRIAN BIRD – Producer and Writer, Touched By An Angel
• KIM DORR – Talent Agent and owner of Defining Artists Agency
• DEAN BATALI – Executive Producer and Writer for That 70s Show.
• PHIL COOKE – President and CEO of Cooke Pictures and founding Partner of TWC Films
• PAUL CROUCH, JR . – Vice president of Administration for the global operations of the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
• MARK JOSEPH – Multi-media producer, media strategist, author and founder of the MJM Group.
• JIM KRUEGER – Comic Writer/Filmmaker and Former creative director at Marvel Comics.
• DAVID RILEY – Brand Image Development specialist including Marketing Collateral, Web / Interactive, Interior and Environmental Design.
• JEFFREY OVERSTREET – Film Critic/Author with over a decade of experience as a film reviewer and columnist.
• GEORGE TEMPLE – President of Sermonspice
• VAN PARTIBLE – Comic Creator/Director/Writer of Cartoon Network’s half-hour series, Johnny Bravo.
• MARK ATTEBERRY – Commercial, TV, voice over and feature films actor, acting instructor and author.
• MATT BRONLEEWE – Grammy nominated Songwriter/Producer

2006 Speakers and Special Guests

• DEAN BATALI – Executive Producer and Writer for That 70’s Show
• JUDD FUNK – Executive VP of Business Affairs, New Line Cinema
• ARTHUR ANDERSON – Producer/Director. 1 st AD on films such as Face Off and Mission Impossible 2. Co-Producer on Windtalkers and Paycheck
• SIMON SWART – Executive VP for FOX Home Entertainment
• SCOTT DERRICKSON – Writer/Director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose
• RALPH WINTER – Exec. Producer, X-Men, Fantastic Four, X3
• DARREN GRANT – Director, Diary of a Mad Black Woman
• CORY EDWARDS – Writer/Director, Hoodwinked
• DAN RUPPLE – Comedy Writer/Producer, President of CCA
• KIRSTIN WILDER – Deputy Managing Editor of Variety Magazine
• STEPHANIE FREDERIC – Producer/Director for Black Entertainment TV
• PHIL COOKE – Producer/Director, Pres. Of Cooke Pictures
• KEN WALES – Film Producer, Amazing Grace, and TV Producer, Christy
• CRAIG FORREST – Cameraman/ Director - PBS, A&E, History
• TRAVIS MANN – VP, Business Affairs for Crystal Sky Pictures
• PEGGY PATRICK – Literary Agent / Media Management
• CHUCK SLOCUM – Exec. VP - WGA, Chair. Act One
• JIM HIRSEN – News Analyst / Lawyer / Author
• DENISE WASHINGTON – International Media Manager for Focus on the Family
• BRAD DOLL – Senior Marketing Director for New Media, Zondervan
• HARRY CHENNY – Academy Award winning Sound Editor
• BYRON SPALDING – International President for Artists in Christian Testimony
• BUCKY ROSENBAUM – Literary Agent and Former CEO of Pastors.com
• CINDI RONZONI – VP of Publicity for Game Show Network
• KAREN ARMSTRONG – Casting Agent
• CRAIG DETWEILER – Author, Producer and Conference Host

2005 Speakers and Special Guests

• TERRY BOTWICK – CEO of Thunderpoint Studios
• MARK ZORADI – President of Buena Vista International and Buena Vista Home Entertainment International.
• RALPH WINTER – Executive Producer of X-Men, Planet Of The Apes, Star Trek and The Fantastic Four.  
• PHIL COOKE – President/CEO of Cooke Pictures and partner of Thomas/Winter/Cooke
• LORI McCREARY – CEO and founding partner, along with actor Morgan Freeman, of Revelations Entertainment.
• STEVE TAYLOR – Musician, writer, producer (Newsboys, Sixpence None the Richer), video and feature film director.
• ARTHUR ANDERSON – Producer/Director. 1 st AD on films such as Face Off and Mission Impossible 2. Co-Producer on Windtalkers and Paycheck
• PEGGY PATRICK – Vice President of one of Hollywood’s premiere agencies, Shapiro-Lichtman.
• RICK DEMPSEY – Director, Disney Character Voices
• NED LOTT – Assistant Director, Disney Character Voices
• MARK JOSEPH – MJM Entertainment and special consultant for Walden Media.
• STEVE BORDEN a.k.a. STING – Nine time World Championship Wrester
• GEORGE BELLIAS – Owner of Jade Productions, a post-production studio, and producer of  Bon Jovi’s latest award winning DVD.
• BRIAN GODAWA – Author, speaker and an award winning screenwriter, “To End all Wars” starring Keifer Sutherland.
• CRAIG GROSS and MIKE FOSTER – Founders of XXXchurch.com
• CRAIG FORREST – Freelance cameraman and documentary director, A&E, History Channel and PBS.
• MIKE LANDA – Award winning General assignment reporter for KNX Newsradio
• MARK DREISTADT – President of Infinity Concepts, a direct marketing and consulting firm.
• LOU DOUROS – President of Grass Roots Software.
• JOHN BROADHEAD – Edirol Corporation for visual/technology performance.

2004 Speakers and Special Guests

• RALPH WINTER – Executive Producer, X-MEN, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Fantastic Four
• DAVID MCFADZEAN – Writer/Producer with Wind Dancer Productions. Creator and producer of ABC hit TV show, Home Improvement. Executive Producer on What Women Want starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt
• MARK ZORADI – President of Buena Vista International and Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• MIKE KLAUSMAN – Senior Vice President of West Coast Operations for CBS
• MICHAEL WARREN – Producer of numerous television hits such as, Perfect Strangers, Step by Step, and Family Matters.
• PHIL COOKE – Producer, Director, Media Consultant and CEO of Cooke Pictures
• ARTHUR ANDERSON – Producer/Director. 1 st AD on films such as Face Off and Mission Impossible 2. Co-Producer on Windtalkers and Paycheck
• SCOTT DERRICKSON – Writer of Urban Legends, Hellraiser: Inferno and currently in production with The Exorcisms of Emily Rose
• BRIAN BIRD – Producer, Ultimate Gift, TV Executive Producer, Touch by an Angel
• TRAVIS MANN – Entertainment Lawyer/Producer. Negotiated contracts on such films as City of Angelsand The Matrix
• MARK JOSEPH – President of MJM Entertainment Group and author of three books on entertainment and religion
• JENNIFER YORK – Reporter for KTLA-TV
• JONATHAN BOCK – President of Grace Hill Media
• SHEILA HANAHAN – VP. of Production & Development for Zide/Perry
• STU HAZELDINE – Screenwriter
• CINDY RONZONI – VP of Publicity for Game Show Network
• DAVE ANDERSON – Media Ministry
• KIM DOOR – Owner, Defining Artists Talent Agent
• DARIAN MATHIAS – Actress / President of Location Connections Inc.
• LEO PARTIBLE – Artist, Writer and Producer
• JOHN SCHMIDT – Producer, "Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius"
• MICHAEL LEVINE – Entertainment Publicist and Author

Previous Briner Award Archive

HOWARD KAZANJIAN - 2009
Howard Kazanjian has been associated with the film industry as a producer for more than 25 years. He has worked as an Assistant Director with such legends as Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Wise, Elia Kazan, Joshua Logan, and Billy Wilder. While vice president of production for Lucas Films, Ltd. for seven years, Kazanjian produced two of the highest grossing films of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. In addition to winning an Emmy for Making of Raiders of the Lost Ark, his films have received a half dozen Oscars and more than a dozen Oscar nominations.

In addition to his film and television success, Howard is also an author. His works include a biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans titled The Cowboy and the Seniorita. A graduate of the film school at USC, he is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy of Arts and Science, and was appointed to the California Film Commission.

AL KASHA - 2009
Al Kasha has reached the top of every field that he has lent his talents to: as a writer, producer, composer, motivational speaker and executive working in theatre, film, television, home video, music publishing, and recording.

Mr. Kasha is one of those rare artists who, as a composer/lyricist, has had hit records over the last five decades, starting in the sixties and continuing on to the seventies, eighties, nineties and into the present, ranging from Elvis Presley to Aretha Franklin to Helen Reddy to Sherrie Austin to Donna Summer.

He has been awarded two Oscars and had two Academy Award nominations for his critically acclaimed work in films. His first Academy Award for Best Song was for "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure, and his second for "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno. Two additional nominations came from the Live-Action Animated Walt Disney classic Pete's Dragon. He also received Tony nominations for his work on Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and the musical, David Copperfield. In addition, he has received two Grammy nominations, an Emmy, four Golden Globe nominations and the coveted People's Choice award.

KEN WALES - 2009
Veteran filmmaker Ken Wales was the Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed and award-winning CBS Television series, Christy. But prior to that success, Ken’s fifteen-year partnership with director Blake Edwards, produced many memorable films including The Tamarind Seed and The Wild Rovers. He also served as associate producer on many feature films including Darling Lili with Julie Andrews, The Great Race with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, and The Party and Revenge of the Pink Panther, both starring Peter Sellers.

Wales co-produced the ABC 8 hour miniseries, Emmy nominated and Golden Globe winner John Steinbeck's East of Eden, starring Jane Seymour, and was associate producer of the first season of Cagney and Lacey. He was Vice President of Production for Walt Disney Pictures and has served as production supervisor and consultant for many other features.

Ken’s long running career as a producer extends itself to the 2006 theatrically released film Amazing Grace, based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce, directed by Michael Apted, starring Ioan Gruffudd and Albert Finney. Ken is currently preparing the shooting scripts for the sequel to Chariots of Fire and C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce.

Phil Vischer - 2008
Phil Vischer exemplifies Bob Briner's worthy aspirations. He has given millions of children and adults enduring characters like Bob The Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus and others. Along the way he has nurtured godly character and principles through these beloved vegetables, an array of memorable animation, while demonstrating professionalism, excellence and a steadfast faith in the midst of sometimes trying circumstances.

Phil Vischer made his first animated film when he was nine years old. After a brief stint in Bible College, Phil struck out on his own, looking for a way to integrate his faith with his dream of filmmaking. This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. The year was 1991, and Phil was a newly married 25 year-old with no financial backing and no idea how his vegetables would ever see the light of day. Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased and Phil's faith-filled stories can be found in 1/3 of all American homes with young children.

Although Phil's original company, Big Idea Productions, collapsed in bankruptcy in 2003, Phil continues some involvement with VeggieTales' new owner Big Idea, Inc. while actively developing new ways to integrate faith and storytelling through his new company, Jellyfish Labs. Phil captured the breathtaking rise and heartbreaking fall of Big Idea Productions in the book Me, Myself & Bob - recently published by Thomas Nelson.

Vischer joins a stellar group of past honorees, which has included Touched By An Angel producer Martha Williamson, X-Men producer Ralph Winter, Steve McEveetey, Producer of Braveheart and The Passion of The Christ, ABC News Senior producer Jody Hassett, Jars of Clay singer Dan Haseltine, Chicago Tribune Editor Lou Carlozo, author critic Steve Turner and others.

Vischer was chosen by a panel of Bob Briner's friends, which includes write/producer Mark Joseph, musician/dproducer/director Steve Taylor, columnist Terry Mattingly, music executive Barry Landis, musician Charlie Peacock, his widow Marty Briner and Dr. John Mark Reynolds of Biola's Torrey Honors Institute

Stephen McEveety - 2007
Producer Steve McEveety exemplifies Bob Briner’s lofty ideals. He has given filmgoers good and enduring things like Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ. He has demonstrated professionalism, excellence and a steadfast faith in an array of memorable projects.

“Steve McEveety had been making the kinds of movies that Bob Briner dreamed might someday be made in 1993 when he wrote his book Roaring Lambs,” said Mark Joseph a friend of the late Briner and member of the Briner Impact Award committee. “Briner spoke often about the need to be excellent and to take one’s beliefs and life experienes into the public square. This is exactly what Steve has done.”

Through Icon Productions, McEveety produced acclaimed films like What Women Want, Payback, Anna Karenina, Immortal Beloved, The Man Without A Face and Braveheart, which won five Academy Awards. He also served as producer for The Passion of The Christ, Paparazzi, We Were Soldiers , 187 and Airborne, which he also wrote.

Steve executive produced the upcoming feature, Bella, which won the audience award at the 2006 Toronto Film Fest. He is currently in pre-production on The Monkey Trial. McEveety recently formed “The Mpower Company,” which is involved in all aspects of the arts including film, TV, radio, cell phones and the Internet.

McEveety joins a stellar group of past honorees which has included Touched By An Angel producer Martha Williamson, X-Men producer Ralph Winter, ABC News Senior producer Jody Hassett, Jars of Clay singer Dan Haseltine, Chicago Tribune Assistant Editor Lou Carlozo, author and rock critic Steve Turner and others. Steve McEveety was chosen by a panel which includes Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Mark Joseph, Bob Briner’s widow Marty, record producer and film director Steve Taylor, columnist Terry Mattingly, and music executive Barry Landis.

Ralph Winter - 2006
The original plan was seminary and full-time ministry. Yet somehow, a job overseeing training videos for the Broadway department stores evolved into supervising visual effects on the Star Trek movies. Ralph Winter’s accidental career is a tribute to excellence, perseverance, and character.

The autographed movie posters that line his office are more than a tribute to boffo box office. They express the appreciation Ralph has earned by being wise, frugal, and conscientious. Hollywood’s elite thank him because he has been a calming presence amidst high stakes storms, an adult amidst children.

He is a class act. From vintage wines to fine cigars, Ralph exudes taste and style. He walks with the confidence that he first carried onto the basketball court. He stands above his competition, yet demonstrates such a willingness to serve others and put the team first.

He has faced tough choices. He has been willing to admit mistakes and put family before projects. Ralph has given (sometimes too) graciously to those who have asked, from serving on numerous boards to church search committees. He has leveraged his Rolodex for the sake of others, offering so many aspiring filmmakers a helping hand. No one has given back more to the Christian community in Hollywood. In fact, no one has produced or ministered with more grace and good will than Ralph Winter, the embodiment of the Robert Briner Impact Award.

On behalf of the countless people Ralph has mentored, encouraged and aided, we are pleased to say, “Thank you!”

Steve Taylor - 2005
Steve Taylor has blazed a trail across the recording industry, helping to define, refine, and satirize Contemporary Christian music. He brings profound wisdom and restless creativity to his evolving roles as musician, album producer, and record label executive and now filmmaker.

Steve is one of the true mavericks--creating groundbreaking music like (I Want to be a Clone, Meltdown, I Predict 1990), leading acclaimed bands like Chagall Guevara, and producing best-selling albums by the Newsboys and Sixpence None the Richer. He combined artistic taste and business acumen in creating Squint Records, home to Burlap to Cashmere, Chevelle, PFR and L.A. Symphony. For the third act of his varied career, Steve has recently directed his first feature film, SECOND CHANCE, starring Michael W. Smith.

Steve summarized the ethos of the Biola Media Conference in his liner notes for the Roaring Lambs CD he produced as a tribute to author, Bob Briner:

"This record is a sampling of artists who have...answered the call to pursue excellence in their craft, to willingly enter the 'marketplace of ideas', and to let the light of God shine uniquely through their own lives and individual expression."