The indie legal thriller Created Equal continues its award winning sweep, winning prizes at the Action On Film Festival in Las Vegas and the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta.
At Action On Film Festival, the film won “Best Picture” and “Best Actress,” and legendary actor/director, Bill Duke, received the esteemed Icon Award – the ultimate honor from Action On Film Festival that celebrated his lifetime of achievements in Hollywood.
At BronzeLens Film Festival, Created Equal took home the win for “Best Feature.” Deidre McDonald, artistic director of the BronzeLens Film Festival shared, “BronzeLens is pleased to have awarded Created Equal as our 2017 Best Feature. Bill Duke’s skillful direction made a story of gender equality in the Catholic Church an exciting thriller. Kudos, also, to Thada Catalon, an actress, writer, director and now producer who was able to bring it to the screen. I have no doubt we will see a lot of her films in the years to come!”
Created Equal stars Broadway actor and singer Aaron Tveit (Grease Live!), Latina actress Edy Ganem (Devious Maids), Yohance Myles (Shots Fired), veteran actors Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire) and GregAlan Williams (Greenleaf).
In the film, Thomas “Tommy” Reilly ( Aaron Tveit ), a cocky, up-and-coming attorney, begrudgingly takes on a case for Sister Alejandra “Allie” Batista ( Edy Ganem ), who’s desperate to become a priest in the Catholic Church. Against his supervisor’s wishes, Tommy files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for gender discrimination without justifiable cause.
As the trial unfolds, an extremist concocts a plot to stop the heresy against the church by attacking and threatening to kill Alejandra if they don’t back off.
Tommy’s faith and conviction are tested, and as he questions his purpose, he begins the transformation from an egotistical, arrogant person, to one who is committed to a mission larger than his own self-interests.
Based on the novel, Created Equal, written by Roger A. Brown, who also serves as executive producer, the film certainly lives up to its intent, as it sparks a worldwide conversation that explores the disparity between men and women holding the highest leadership positions within the church, as well as other positions that hold the greatest authority in the world.