ILLUMINATE 2015 Lineup

Conscious Film Convergence • Healing Village

Tickets Now On Sale! • Festival Grid

Download the printable 2015 Program Guide  (6 MB PDF)




Bipolarized
Arizona Premiere

Bipolarized follows Ross McKenzie on his intricate journey to heal the root cause of his mental breakdown rather than merely control symptoms with prescription medications. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Ross was told he would have to take lithium for the rest of his life. Frustrated after years of drug treatment, he embarks on a healing journey using shamanic healing, trauma release, yoga and inner-child work to restore his health and reclaim his life. This film will surprise you and leave you inspired to be an intuitive advocate for your own health and well-being.


A Q&A with Ross McKenzie will follow.

Preceded by:  
Automatic Fitness | Germany | 2015 | 20 Minutes • Animated Short




Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet
Southwest Premiere

From producer Salma Hayek-Pinault comes this stunning visual adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, one of the most popular volumes of poetry ever written and cherished guide to life, death, love and art. Chock full of wisdom, Gibran’s timeless verses have been given enchanting new form in this painterly cinematic adventure about freedom and the power of human expression. This groundbreaking use of animation for divine storytelling will excite both adults and children alike. Written and directed by Roger Allers (The Lion King), the film stars Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek-Pinault, John Krasinski, Frank Langella, Alfred Molina, John Rhys-Davies and Quvenzhané Wallis.





Bonobo
Arizona Premiere

A straightlaced, middle-aged widow attempts to remove her daughter from a Bohrmian sex commune, but ends up understanding that each of us has a unique path to follow on the road to spiritual evolution and self-acceptance. 





DOWN to EARTH
US Premiere

Leaving the rat race behind, a family of five embarks on the journey of a lifetime. They travel the ends of the earth searching for a new perspective on life. During five years on five continents, they seek out tribal sages never filmed or interviewed before. DOWN to EARTH reveals the deep wisdom they found and its power to transform lives.


A Q&A with directors Rolf Winters and Renata Heinen will follow.




A BRAVE HEART: The Lizzie Velasquez Story
Arizona Premiere

Bullying stories are known for having victims, not heroes. A Brave Heart tells the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 58-pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight and called "the world's ugliest woman," Lizzie’s story is all about the transformative power of looking inward for validation, self-love and the power of family to instill it. This powerful film recently had its world premiere at South by Southwest.


A Q&A with director Sara Hirsh Bordo will follow.




The Connected Universe: A Sneak Peek
Work-in-Progress World Premiere

Discover the science behind the interconnection of all things in clips from what many are calling the next big conscious film, still in final production. Featuring Nassim Haramein, The Connected Universe was funded by the highest-grossing documentary campaign in Indiegogo history. The trailer has already been viewed by 1.5 million people. A groundbreaking marriage of science and spirituality, these ideas will not only help to change THE WORLD... they will also help you change YOUR WORLD. This film takes us to the next step in our understanding of consciousness, propelling our evolution.


A Q&A with director Malcom Carter will follow.