ILLUMINATE FILM FESTIVAL 2025
May 1-4 in Santa Barbara, CA | May 5-11 Virtual
ILLUMINATE stands at the forefront of the conscious film movement, dedicated to inspiring lasting personal and planetary transformation through the power of visual storytelling. As the world's premier showcase for films that unite and uplift us, we curate a profound experience that goes beyond entertainment—it's a journey of individual and collective awakening.
Join us May 1-4, in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, for four days of transformative films, panels, and experiences before tuning in online May 5-11 where the festival continues globally. Our festival showcases carefully curated narrative features, documentaries, and shorts that explore the depths of human potential, from spirituality and healing to ecology and creative expression. We welcome you to be part of a community that believes in the power of conscious media to shape a more enlightened world.
ILLUMINATE 2025
Passes On Sale
The 2025 ILLUMINATE Film Festival will be held in Santa Barbara, CA, May 1–4, 2025 and online May 5–11. The festival showcases narrative features, documentaries, episodics and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment.
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Micro-Short Film Contest
Let your creativity flow, your heart open, and your cleverness shine in 90 seconds or less. Show us humanity's essential goodness. Help us believe in ourselves, others, and the world!
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Submit Your Film
ILLUMINATE is the world's leading festival for films that light the way. Our 2025 festival theme is inspired by the late physicist David Bohm's theory of the holomovement and supported by the social movement, Holomovement. Essentially, love in action!
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Festival Components
FILMS
ILLUMINATE is the world's leading festival for films and media that light the way to a brighter future. Dedicated to sharing enlightened stories that move humanity forward, ILLUMINATE offers an enriching destination event through its annual film festival while serving as a year-round global hub for the conscious filmmaking community.
THE INDUSTRY HIVE
Made possible by New Stories
ILLUMINATE's annual Industry Hive is the world's only film industry event dedicated to evolving the conscious film movement into a global phenomenon. On May 1st from 10 am - 4 pm, writers, directors, producers, creators, as well as investors and philanthropists, will join together to educate and uplift each other for the greater goal of expanding humanity's compassion and awareness through filmmaking.
Q&A'S AND PANELS
Following select film presentations, enjoy enlightening conversations with filmmakers, experts, luminaries and film subjects. Previous panelists have included Deepak Chopra, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Louie Schwartzberg, Joyce Tenneson and others.
PARTIES & GATHERINGS
From our VIP Opening Night Party to casual Happy Hours, join us in celebrating the joy of community with fellow attendees, filmmakers, and festival staff.
REEL INTEGRATIONS
Deeply integrate a movie's messages through guided post-screening immersive "See & Be" experiences.
SOURCE TO SCREEN
An immersive week-long lab for creators of all kinds–writers, inventors, filmmakers, musicians, and entrepreneurs–anyone who wishes to integrate their spirituality and creativity to tap into the deepest source of inspiration.
Experience the Festival
IN-PERSON
Join us in Santa Barbara, CA for four days of films, panels, reel integrations, parties and other special events.
BUY PASSES
VIRTUAL
Our Virtual Festival will be available online worldwide featuring conscious films, filmmaker Q&As, and other events.
COMING SOONGet Involved with ILLUMINATE Film Festival
There are many ways to be part of the ILLUMINATE Film Festival community. Whether through membership, volunteering, sponsorship, or patronage, your involvement helps support our mission of transformative storytelling. Join us in creating meaningful connections and inspiring change through the power of conscious cinema.
ILLUMINATE the Future
Your donation amplifies the reach of conscious film and media in our world. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us bring transformative stories to light and inspire positive change in ourselves and our communities. By supporting ILLUMINATE, you're not just funding a film festival – you're investing in the power of storytelling to elevate human consciousness and create a more enlightened society.
Make a difference today. Your generosity illuminates the path to a brighter tomorrow.
Celebrating Our 11th Year!
In our new Santa Barbara home, ILLUMINATE is more lit up than ever with our mission to support humanity's evolution through the power of film, media, and meaningful connections with one another. We aim to inspire lasting personal, community, and planetary transformation through film by showcasing ground-breaking narrative features, documentaries, episodic content, and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment.
ILLUMINATE films and workshops cover themes such as spirituality, health & wellness, earth stewardship, human potential, science & quantum physics, social action, and arts & culture.
We hope you can join us for four fantastic days in Santa Barbara – but if you aren't able to for some reason, you'll want to be sure to join for the remaining seven days virtually – and invite friends to a watch party, because everything's better when we shine together!