You’ll not want to miss ILLUMINATE 2016 – the 3rd annual World Premier Festival for Conscious Film. We promise.
Huffington Post identified ILLUMINATE Film Festival as one of the Top 24 Worldwide Festivals and Retreats To Revitalize Your Soul In 2016. Read more
Picture you and the planet’s most talented conscious filmmakers, actors and thought leaders. All together. In one sacred space to celebrate and honor stories that will inspire, move and mesmerize you.
So you’ve made a great film. Now comes the question, “How do I get it out there?” It’s a question independent filmmakers have been asking for decades. Luckily for today’s independent filmmakers, new technologies and distribution models are making this process much easier. This year Illuminate’s Conscious Film Convergence is proud to host a special panel exploring this topic on Saturday, May 30. Champions of Conscious Cinema: Meet the Distributors features three esteemed panelists that understand the ins and outs of film distribution in 2015: Elizabeth Sheldon (Senior Vice-President at Kino Lorber) Richard Abramowitz (President, Abramorama), Brian Parsons (Head of Content Partnerships, TUGG) and Richard Cohn (President, Beyond Word Publishing.)
By Sheron Foster, ILLUMINATE Lead Programmer (pictured above with Programmer Anna Sirotin)
I find many things in life support growth, evolution and thriving. For myself, movies have always been an enjoyable way to safely process life events, bolster courage to move forward in a specific direction in my life and discover new strategies for experiencing life through the stories onscreen. Movies have also played a key role in saving my life (pardon the drama)!
By Sheron Foster, ILLUMINATE Lead Programmer
When a film allows me deep access into the center of my joyful being, I will return to it to experience that thrill again and again. My husband accuses me of being extreme. I confess to watching all versions of “Scrooge” and it’s twin “A Christmas Carol” at least 100 times in my life! My favorite being “Scrooged” by director Richard Donner and starring Bill Murray. Followed very, very closely by Ronald Neame’s 1970 musical masterpiece “Scrooge” featuring Albert Finney.
How Hollywood Paved the Way for the Rise of Conscious Film
What do Shawshank Redemption, Forest Gump, Avatar, Contact, and The Pursuit of Happyness all have in common? Yes, they are big hits. Yes, they have A-list stars. But those aren’t their most important features. Think back to when you first watched each film…how did you feel when you exited the theater? Were you elated? Loving? Hopeful? If so, then you’ve just received a dose of conscious-ness! Most would agree that these films fit the bill as heart-opening gems, but with one kicker… these films get you stoked about living! Who can forget Morgan Freeman’s character Red uttering the now-immortalized line, “You either get busy livin’ or you get busy dying.” Fellow inmate Andy Dufresne immediately abandoned self-pity and chose to mastermind his dream life outside prison walls by such inspiration. These films are but a few in the genre of “conscious films” that change lives, inspire choices, and elevate human consciousness.