2018-19 Season

An Announcement from ILLUMINATE Executive Director Danette Wolpert

I want to share some news with you.

Having recently been diagnosed with an acute health issue, it's become important that I dedicate the next few months to my medical care, rest, recovery and renewal.

As a result... and this was not an easy decision, we've decided to postpone our annual five-day film festival.

In lieu of ILLUMINATE 2019, we're launching a year-round CineMatters Series, a curated collection of single night screenings of the year's best conscious films paired with exciting events, immersive Reel Healings, illuminating panels and/or spotlight guests.

While I'm on sabbatical, our wonderful and capable managing director, Morgan Richmond, will take the reins, and our passion-fueled ILLUMINATE Dream Team will continue to bring you the world's most transformational films.

Today we announce our third CineMatters event, Fantastic Fungi - A film by Louie Schwartzberg. This film is presented in partnership with Sedona International Film Festival including two screenings on Thursday, October 17, 2019. Louie was our Conscious Film Convergence keynote speaker at ILLUMINATE 2017.

Our second CineMatters event of the season, "An Evening of Conscious Film with Gregg Braden" was held on Sunday June 9, 2019 at the Sedona Performing Arts Center in Sedona Arizona. The evening included a VIP/Member Meet & Greet along with an evening of film followed by a Q&A and Reel Healing with Gregg Braden. This event is in cooperation with Stellar Productions and the Embracing Bliss weekend of workshops with Gregg Braden, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Deborah Rozman, Kelley Alexander and others.

Our first CineMatters event, "Women's Voices in Action," was a statewide call to action for women's empowerment, and took place Friday, January 11th, 2019.

The event featured the Arizona premiere of the film This Changes Everything, which garnered rave reviews and standing ovations from audiences and critics at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival as well as two sold out screenings in Sedona. This revealing and timely documentary explores the fight for gender equality in Hollywood through the incomparable voices of women including Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, executive producer Geena Davis and others of the Time's Up and #MeToo Movements.

The day included a post-screening discussion with director Tom Donahue, producer Ilan Arboleda and cast member Maria Giese, an ActionSpace for signup and activation opportunities with women's groups from across the state, and a VIP Member Reception. A lunch entitled Women's Voices in Action Luncheon: Expanding Your Influence featured a panel of powerful women influencers in business, philanthropy and social action, co-presented by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Sedona Verde Valley Chapter.

This announcement comes at a time of great opportunity for ILLUMINATE - as growth and expansion opportunities abound. It's reassuring to witness the Universe conspiring for our highest good... gifting us with an extended planning period!

As I pause to reflect, I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the last five years. As we look toward the next five, we're excited to create deeply meaningful experiences, catalyze conscious evolution and foster collective well being through stories that unite us.

I invite you to share your thoughts and comments with me here.

In Light and Gratitude,
Danette