S&P Awards

The Most Spiritually Literate Films of ...
13th By Ava DuVernay A call to speak truth to power regarding the history of racism in the U.S. and the creation of a prison industrial complex. Documentary
20th Century Women By Mike Mills A dramedy about a mother's unusual project to teach her son how to be a good man. Feature
A Man Called Ove By Hannes Holm A Swedish dramedy about the strange and wonderful ways in which a difficult person's heart can be tenderized. Foreign
Arrival By Denis Villeneuve An adventuresome sci-fi thriller about the race to communicate with intelligent alien life to avert disaster. Feature
Blood on the Mountain By Mari-Lynn Evans, Jordan Freeman A hard-hitting documentary about the death and destruction heaped upon the coal miners of West Virginia. Documentary
Cameraperson By Kirsten Johnson Vivid and memorable images from the career of documentary cinematography Kirsten Johnson. Documentary
Do Not Resist By Craig Atkinson A scary documentary on the increasing militarization of American police. Documentary
Embrace of the Serpent By Ciro Guerra A cross-cultural masterpiece set in the Amazon. Foreign
Equal Means Equal By Kamala Lopez An illuminating and hard-hitting documentary that makes a solid case for equal rights for women. Documentary
Eye in the Sky By Gavin Hood An ethical and immersive film about the collateral damage of drone warfare. Feature
Fences By Denzel Washington A poignant screen adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play in which Denzel Washington stokes the fire in his belly. Feature
Finding Dory By Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane An inventive animated film about short-term memory loss, the longing to return home, and the lessons learned on a quest. Animated
Fire at Sea By Gianfranco Rosi A heart-rending documentary about a small island between Libya and Sicily where illegal immigrants from Africa stop on their way to Europe. Documentary
Hacksaw Ridge By Mel Gibson An adrenaline-charged World War II story revolving around the nonviolence of a Seventh Day Adventist conscientious objector. Feature
Hidden Figures By Theodore Melfi The true story of three patient and patriotic African-American women who make an invaluable contribution to the success of the early space program. Feature
I Am Not Your Negro By Raoul Peck An inspiring documentary on the legacy of the African-American writer and activist. Documentary
I, Daniel Blake By Ken Loach An award-winning film that puts you in the shoes of people coping with poverty and the bureaucracy of England's welfare system. Feature
La La Land By Damien Chazelle A renovated version of the old-fashioned movie musical about making it big in the City of Stars. Feature
Landfill Harmonic By Graham Townsley, Brad Allgood An astonishing documentary about a youth orchestra that will stir your soul and bring you tears of joy. Documentary
Lion By Garth Davis A true story that will elicit your empathy through the miracles in the life of a man who goes on a quest to locate his birth family. Feature
Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World By Werner Herzog A bold and multidimensional documentary about the glories and the drawbacks of the Internet. Documentary
Manchester by the Sea By Kenneth Lonergan An elegant and spiritually sobering film about the ways in which guilt, loss, isolation, and self-destruction can erode the foundations of our lives. Feature
Moana By John Musker, Ron Clements The quest of a young Polynesian girl to become a way-maker for her people. Animated
Moonlight By Barry Jenkins Sixteen years in the life of a gay, poor, and bullied black man whose quest for wholeness touches our hearts. Feature
My Love, Don't Cross That River By Moyoung Jin An emotionally jubilant celebration of marital love. Documentary
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You By Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady An entertaining documentary on the television writer and producer who pioneered socially relevant television in America. Documentary
O. J.: Made in America By Ezra Edelman A substantive and often sensationalistic documentary about the downfall of O. J. Simpson and the rage of African-Americans against injustices. Documentary
Parched By Leena Yadav An explosive Indian drama about the toxins of gender inequality and the exhilarations of women's empowerment. Foreign
Paterson By Jim Jarmusch A tribute to the life and times of a bus driver, poet, and master of everyday spirituality. Feature
Pete's Dragon By David Lowery A very special family film with its spiritual depiction of awe and wonder in the face of an astonishing wild creature. Feature
Queen of Katwe By Mira Nair A celebration of the manifold accomplishments of a young African chess prodigy. Feature
Sand Storm By Elite Zexer A story about a young Bedouin woman and the tough values choices she must make. Foreign
Seasons By Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud An immersive experience of what life was like for animals and early humans during the Golden Age of the forest. Feature
Seed: The Untold Story By Taggart Siegel, Jon Betz A boldly creative and ethically robust documentary about protecting the food supply. Documentary
Silence By Martin Scorsese An exploration of the toxic fallout from the belief that your culture and/or religion is superior to that of others. Feature
Snowden By Oliver Stone An inspiring portrait of a courageous whistle-blower who alerted us to the demise of privacy. Feature
Sully By Clint Eastwood A tense ethical thriller probing heroism and the fallibility of computers. Feature
Sunset Song By Terence Davies A remarkable film that skillfully mixes the luminous and the harsh, the beautiful and the horrific parts of the human adventure. Feature
Sweet Bean By Naomi Kawase A heart-affecting Japanese drama about the marvels of cooking, the wonders of nature, and the spiritual legacy of a wise old woman. Foreign
The Brand New Testament By Jaco van Dormael A dramedy about the Divine Feminine with a surplus of laughter, tears, music that touches the soul, and miracles that soften the heart. Foreign
The Eagle Huntress By Otto Bell A breathtaking experience of the good medicine of a golden eagle in alliance with a 13-year old Mongolian girl. Documentary
The Edge of Seventeen By Kelly Fremon Craig An immensely appealing teen comedy that speaks to us with immediacy and grace about adolescence. Feature
The Innocents By Anne Fontaine A bright and bold portrait of a heroic French woman doctor whose compassion is a beacon to those she helps. Foreign
The Ivory Game By Richard Ladkani, Kief Davidson An extraordinary documentary that gives us hope that the last wild elephants in Africa can be saved from extinction. Documentary
The Little Prince By Mark Osborne A creative and spiritual reworking of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's magical and enlightening 1943 novella. Animated
The Lobster By Yorgos Lanthimos The wildest love story in many a moon. Feature
The Measure of a Man By Stephane Brize A mesmerizing portrait of what it's like to live in the prison of unemployment. Foreign
The Music of Strangers By Morgan Neville A rounded and rousing look at the talented Silk Road Ensemble musical collective. Documentary
The Secret Life of Pets By Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney A delightful and funny animated family film about the playfulness of animals. Animated
The Tenth Man By Daniel Burman Another engaging and insightful drama by Argentinian director Daniel Burman on the pitfalls and perils of father-son relationships. Foreign
Things to Come By Mia Hansen-Løve A touching portrait of a resilient woman facing multiple challenges as she ages. Foreign
Time to Choose By Charles Ferguson A hopeful and helpful look at the positive efforts all around the world to stop the progression of climate change. Documentary
When Two Worlds Collide By Heidi Brandenburg, Mathew Orzel A stirring portrait of an indigenous leader defending the Amazon rainforest. Documentary
Zero Days By Alex Gibney An incredibly important documentary tracing the opening salvos of cyberwarfare which have been shrouded in secrecy. Documentary
Zootopia By Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush A spunky 3-D animated film about a bunny whose life is energized by big dreams and rock-solid optimism. Animated
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