The Gabriel Awards honor the best in film, broadcasting, and digital media.

The Catholic Media Association extends our warmest congratulations to the winners for their outstanding contributions to the Church and culture.

We also express our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated in the 57th Annual Gabriel Awards.

2023 Gabriel Awards Winners

Winners were announced June 8 at the Catholic Media Conference in Baltimore.

Personal Achievement Award - Best Director or Producer

First Place

Rev. James Korda, Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown

Feature Film

First Place

Slaves and Kings, Bosco Films

Pablo Moreno, Director and Script; Rubén D. Ortega AEC, Photography; María Esparcia, Editor; Oscar M. Leanizbarrutia, Music; Paco Pavón, Production Direction; Nacho Pérez, Costumes; Marina H., Makeup; Sara Pérez Lobato, Art Direction; Juan Borrell, Direct Sound; Raúl Escudero, Casting

Runner Up

Mirando al Cielo — Looking at heaven, MediaQuest

Antonio Pelaez, Director & Writer; Laura Diaz, Producer; Wolf Parra, Camera; Antonio Pelaez, Editor

Short Film

First Place

Women of Burden, Georgetown University Initiative on Health and Peace

Producers: Timothy O Casey and Jessica Kritz; Directors: Sean Casey and Kevin Casey

Runner Up

NFL Chaplain Profile — Fr. Chuck Dornquast, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kaczmark, President; David Naglieri, Producer; Matthew Sawczyn, Producer; Christopher Weingart, Director; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations

Runner Up

Father Kapaun Comes Home, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kaczmark, President; Haley Rossi, Director of Photography; Jessie Schiffer, Creative Coordinator; Danielle Conklin, Producer; Daniel Gebert, Creative Coordinator; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations; Elrodson Quiroz, Senior Editor; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development

Runner Up

To Last a Thousand Years, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kazmark, President; Victoria McEachern, Director of Production; Haley Rossi, Director of Photography; Daniel Gebert, Creative Director; Chris Weingart, Director; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development; Renee Poskitt, Senior Editor; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations

Documentary

First Place

Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, Knights of Columbus and Castletown Media

David Naglieri, Tim Moriarty, Marc Boudignon, George Hosek

Runner Up

Symphony of Courage, Voice of America

Beth Mendelson, Senior Executive Producer/Director; Euna Lee, Senior Executive Editor; Carol Slatkin, Editor/Producer; Nathan Antila, Writer/Producer

Streaming Scripted Series

First Place

Juice Box: How to Pray, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kaczmark, President; Cody Hilliard, Director; Daniel Gebert, Creative Director; Haley Rossi, Director of Photography; Edgar Patino, Senior Editor; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations; Julia Gralczyk, Director; Christopher Weingart, Director

Runner Up

Word of Life, Coronation Media

Gary Gasse, Bill Phillips & the Coronation team

Documentary - Local Release

First Place

No Stone Unturned, Alabama Public Radio

Pat Duggins, Rob Briscoe, Joe Moody, Nala Pena

Runner Up

The Eyeopener, The Voice Therapy Diaries, CBC

Allison Dempster, Reporter/Producer; Josh Page, Producer

Runner Up

Defending Conscience Rights for Healthcare Providers, Doctor, Doctor, Inc.

Thomas W. McGovern, MD, Co-Host; Christopher Stroud, MD, Co-Host; Andrew Mullally, MD, Co-Host; Andrea Serrani, Producer

Single Story - Local Release

First Place

Second-grade recess litter patrol in Beachwood cleans up the playground and the planet, Ideastream Public Media

Zaria Johnson

Runner Up

CBC radio Fresh Air — May 22 Mixed Ability Rugby, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Local Toronto

Jason D'Souza, Host; Helen Bagshaw, Producer

Single Story - National Release

First Place

The Current, Why an Indigenous man dreaded telling his grandmother he’s a priest, CBC

Allison Dempster, Reporter/Producer; Matt Galloway, Host; Cathy Simon, Producer

Runner Up

The Current: The Woolly Mammoth, CBC

Matt Galloway, Liz Hoath, Ben Jamieson

Single Story - Local Release

First Place

This Week with Bob Mueller: The War in Ukraine, WKRN-TV

Bob Mueller, Anchor/Producer; David Van Hooser Photographer/Producer

Runner Up

Escaping Mass and Cass, GBH News

Filmed by Tori Bedford, Howard Powell and Joanie Tobin; Edited by Emily Judem; Reported by Tori Bedford; Produced by Emily Judem and Stephanie Leydon

Runner Up

Cleveland artist Dexter Davis channels road rage shooting into new art, Ideastream Public Media

Dave DeOreo and Jean-Marie Papoi

Runner Up

Sarah Will Walk Again, WZTV Fox 17 News Nashville

Ryan Brooker, Photographer; Dennis Ferrier, Reporter

Single Story - National Release

First Place

CFN Live — AMT Children of Hope, Catholic Faith Network

Jackie Lukas, Producer/Host; Denise Giammarino, Senior Executive Producer; Nicholas Hintz, Shooter/Editor

Runner Up

CFN Live — The Catherine Violent Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, Catholic Faith Network

Colleen McVey, Sr. Producer/Host; Denise Giammarino, Sr. Executive Producer; Gina Colon Bumbalo, Producer; Nicholas Hintz, Shooter/Editor

Runner Up

The National: Canadian Coyote, CBC

Jorge Barrera, Kimberly Ivany, Aileen McBride

Runner Up

Roadfood: Discovering America One Dish at a Time, GBH

Cliff Sharples, Executive Producer; Laurie Donnelly, Executive Producer; Misha Collins, Executive Producer & Host; Kathy Kingsley, Producer

Runner Up

Seventy Times Seven — Forgiving their Mother’s Murderer, Shalom Media

Mesmin Santhosh, Producer; Robin Varghese, Creative Producer; Zachary James Martinez, Camera; Ranjith Jimmy, Editor

Runner Up

EH3 — A Hero on the Hudson: Captain Vince Lombardi, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kaczmark, President; David Naglieri, Producer; Greg Krajewski, Vice President of Production; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations

Special or Documentary - Local Release

First Place

Sister Blandina Segale: A Cincinnati Saint, WKRC-TV

Patricia McGeever, Producer; Byran Dykes, Director of Photography & Editor; Bob Herzog, Host; Ricky Henry, Graphics

Runner Up

Shawn Bradley: Strangely Grateful, KSL TV

Angie Denison, Producer/Director; Eric Betts, Videographer/Editor; Jim Thomas, Graphic Designer

Special or Documentary - National Release

First Place

The Doctors of the Church: St Francis de Sales, Wings/EWTN

Matthew Bunson, Greg Hendrick, Nathan Leon, Peter Gagnon

Runner Up

The U.S. and the Holocaust, Florentine Films

Ken Burns, Director, Producer, Executive Director; Lynn Novick, Director, Producer; Sarah Botstein, Director, Producer; Mike Welt: Producer

Runner Up

Going Home Like a Shooting Star… Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood.pdf, NewGroup Media

Judith Ann Zielinski, OSF, Writer/Producer; Christopher Salvador, Director/Producer; Lawrence Bilinski, Editor; Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Executive Producer

Best Use of Sound for Television

First Place

Glorious lives — St.Devasahayam Pillai: India’s First Layman-Martyr Saint, Shalom Media

Robin Varghese, Producer; Jithu Raj, Co-producer; Ranjith Jimmy, Editor; Shinoob T Chacko, Director of Photography

Special or Documentary - National Release

First Place

Una Sola Carne, Wings/EWTN

Ricardo del Pozo, Doug Keck, John Elson, Betty Pilco

Runner Up

Santa María de Guadalupe: Mujer Eucarística, Spirit Juice Studios

Rob Kaczmark, President; David Naglieri, Producer; Marissa Van Kley, Supervising Producer; Branden J. Stanley, Vice President of Development; Christopher Weingart, Director; Victoria McEachern, Director of Production; Seneca Lester, Vice President of Operations; Brandon Morocco, Editor

Best Single Episode Podcast – English

First Place

How Does Dobbs Really Change Abortion Laws and Medicine?, Doctor, Doctor, Inc.

Thomas W. McGovern, MD, Co-Host; Christopher Stroud, MD, Co-Host; Andrew Mullally, MD, Co-Host; Andrea Serrani, Producer

Runner Up

Deacons Pod: Judge Esther Salas, Paulist Fathers

Deacon Joseph “Drew” Dickson, Host; Deacon Dennis Dolan, Host; Deacon Tom Casey, Host; Paul Snatchko, Producer

Runner Up

Faith Full Catholic Podcast: Kingdom of Heaven: “Your quality known among enemies” — A Catholic Military Perspective on War, Tony Ganzer

Best Podcast Series Audio – English

First Place

The Science and Art of Parenting: Practical Tips from Medical Experts, Doctor, Doctor, Inc.

Thomas W. McGovern, MD, Co-Host; Christopher Stroud, MD, Co-Host; Andrew Mullally, MD, Co-Host; Andrea Serrani, Producer

Runner Up

Giant: Murder Underground, CBC NORTH - Northwest Territories

Rachel Zelniker, Host/Producer; Peter Sheldon, Producer/Editor

Runner Up

The Spirit World — Exorcism Pt. I, II, III, IV, Holy Family Communications

Debbie Georgianni, Adam Blai, Jakob Kraft, Matthew Maloney

Best Podcast Series Audio – Spanish Language

First Place

El Cascanueces Podcast, Guadalupe Radio

René Heredia, Executive Producer; Denise Blasor, Director; Laurent Eyquem, Music; Juan Matos, Editor

Runner Up

Aprendiendo a Vivir. Cuentos Infantiles, Guadalupe Radio

René Heredia, Executive Producer; Denise Blasor, Director; Marcos Loya, Music; Gerardo Nevárez and Ramón Velarde, Editors

Best Podcast Audio – English

First Place

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Inc.

Thomas W. McGovern, MD, Co-Host; Christopher Stroud, MD, Co-Host; Andrew Mullally, MD, Co-Host; Andrea Serrani, Producer

Runner Up

Faith Full Catholic Podcast, Tony Ganzer

Best Video for Social Media

First Place

An Inside Look at Ukrainian Refugees in Poland, EWTN News Inc.

Colm Flynn and Patrick Leonard

Runner Up

Rare look inside a Leprosy Colony in South Sudan, EWTN News Inc.

Colm Flynn and Patrick Leonard

Best Video

First Place

Sister Saving Sister, Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

Deacon Jim Armstrong, Kay Colby, Carol Kovach and Kathy McLain

Runner Up

The Root of Medicine, Coronation Media

Gary Gasse, Bill Phillips & the Coronation team

Runner Up

Who Are Glenmary Home Missioners?, Thing in a Pot Productions

Katie Rutter, John Feister, Matt Stoltz, Eric Filson

2023 Gabriel Awards Judges

  • Nora Aufiero, Catholic Relief Services

  • Kimberly Bender, Diocese of Charlotte

  • Sean Brown, EWTN

  • Brian Finnerty, Opus Dei

  • SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald

  • Lisa Johnston, Ave Maria School of Law

  • John Lippman, Voice of America

  • Patrick Livingston, Up North Live News

  • Jordan Mcmorrough, Archdiocese of San Antonio

  • John Mulderig, OSV News

  • Fr. Luis Proenca, Loyola Marymount University

  • Jason Schmidt, December 2nd Productions

  • Ron Schmidt, S.J., Documentary Filmmaker

  • Paul Soukup, S.J., Santa Clara University

  • Deanna Tritz, Heart of the Nation

  • Randy Tritz, 2050 Services LLC

  • Sr. Nancy Usselmann, Pauline Center for Media Studies

  • Elizabeth Westhoff, Ave Maria School of Law

  • Gary Wolverton, Spring Hill College

  • Andrew Zuk, Diocese of Columbus