Movies Add Life

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By Sheron Foster, ILLUMINATE Lead Programmer pictured above

I admit that I have sometimes felt lost in my life. I may have been unsure which direction to turn, or I wasn’t sure who I should trust or sometimes I just couldn’t seem to make a necessary decision. I hate when that happens! Also, there where times in my life when it would be very appropriate to me to jump for joy, or have a much needed meltdown and dissolve into tears, but I just couldn’t allow myself to be that vulnerable, for various reasons. During those times, I always thanked my lucky stars for movies!

Because of brilliant writers, directors, actors, cinematographers and many, many more, I have never felt alone in my times of distress. By my early twenties, I was blessed to discover that in the anonymity of a dark theater or at home with a rented video, (yes, this was the 80’s!) I could safely access whatever I needed to release any stress I was having in regards to the above mentioned dilemmas. If I needed to laugh, there was Mel Brooks “Young Frankenstein”. If I needed to cry and then laugh, nothing beat “Steel Magnolias” by Herbert Ross. And if I needed just a good cry, nothing, absolutely nothing, beat Victor Flemings “Gone With The Wind.”  (Oh Ashley! Oh Miss Scarlett!)

And I will never be able to forget my absolute longing to grow up be exactly as good and strong and noble as Atticus Finch was in the film adaptation of Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Oh my word – that film stirred a fire in me that has never been quenched. I had the direct experience of absolutely needing to do something to help right wrongs, and to try my very best to help make the world a better place. It helped me define my direction in life, and I am forever grateful.

It led me to being the lead programmer with the ILLUMINATE Film Festival, and the absolute joy I feel getting to scour the world for the most inspiring, riveting and game changing movies to help myself and others harness hope. It is such an honor to be with an amazing team of people who are as passionate about conscious cinema as I am, and to work with our brilliant executive director Danette Wolpert who has dedicated her every last breath to elevating the exciting new film genre of mind, body and spirit cinema, and getting it to the masses of audiences who need it. Now. How freakin’ cool is that!!??

Movies add life, change lives, and I dare say, save lives. Because of movies I knew I was never alone. Because I am blessed to be a small part of the  ILLUMINATE dream team, I get to fulfill some pretty wild dreams and banish loneliness completely. With you it will be even more fun too! I do hope you’ll join us.