‘The Mulligan’ nominated for Most Inspirational Independent Movie

Nine months after its nationwide theatrical release last April, “The Mulligan,” the most recent feature film from Liberty University’s Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center, has been nominated by MovieGuide for Most Inspirational Independent Movie for films released in 2022.

The nominations by the Christian, movie-centric organization were announced earlier this month, with the ceremony set for Feb. 10 in Los Angeles. Cinematic Arts executive director Stephan Schultze will attend the ceremony.

“This nomination codifies the quality of our student’s education in cinema at Liberty University,” Schultze said. “Through partnerships with executive producers like Rick Eldridge, we have been able to develop a degree program in higher education that seamlessly delivers graduates into the entertainment industry with a deeper faith in Christ.”

“The Mulligan” is Liberty’s third feature film to hit the big screen in a national release. It is also the third film in which Liberty has partnered with ReelWorks Studios owner and executive producer Rick Eldridge.

Based on the popular book by Wally Armstrong and Ken Blanchard, “The Mulligan” weaves heartwarming life lessons inspired by the game of golf into the story. The film tells the story of a father with a passion for golf who is offered the opportunity to have a “do-over” with his son (or, in golf terms, an extra stroke that’s called a “mulligan”).

Throughout March of 2021, 48 juniors in the cinematic arts program worked on-location, with many of the scenes being filmed at Currahee Golf Club in Toccoa, Ga.

The cast film includes Pat Boone (“Journey to the Center of the Earth,” “State Fair”), Eric Close (“Nashville,” “American Sniper,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”), Tanya Christiansen (“I Still Believe,” “The Hate U Give”), and Charmin Lee (“Just Mercy,” “The 5th Wave”) with special appearances by American sportscaster Jim Nantz, sports commentator Jim Szoke, and PGA champion Tom Lehman.

The film is currently available on DVD and through streaming on The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vudu, Frndly TV, Prime Video, Redbox. and Apple TV on your Roku device.

In its 11 years, Liberty’s cinematic arts program has developed seven feature films, one television pilot, and one short film. The two-year immersion cohort for the B.F.A. in Film Production & Content Development allows students to concentrate solely on filmmaking. In addition to creating their own short film and business plan, students earn at least one IMDb credit on a professional film project.