PRESS RELEASE

ILLUMINATE Film Festival Announces 2021 Highlights

Sedona, Arizona - April 21, 2021 - In a year many festivals reduced their size, ILLUMINATE is proud to present its largest lineup ever -- with 29 of the year’s best conscious films  -- and our festival’s largest-ever, industry-focused Conscious Film Convergence.

Welcome back to the full festival! Like you, we’ve missed connecting with you. Meanwhile, we’ve reinvented ourselves. Keep reading for a peek at the new ILLUMINATE.

We’re Back… Stronger Than Ever

While lots of festivals are reducing their size this year, ILLUMINATE is proud to present our largest lineup ever. We curated 30 of the year’s best conscious films, and we’re producing our largest ever industry-focused Conscious Film Convergence.

More Ways to Watch & Play

In what may be a permanent move to a hybrid format, the festival will offer virtual, outdoor and in-theater options to accommodate all comfort levels.

You will be able to view almost all of our festival films virtually… and connect directly with the filmmakers and stars in scheduled virtual Q&A Conversations throughout the week. ILLUMINATE expects to reach its largest global audience ever!

For audiences attending physically, we have added a new venue: our Drive-In at the Sedona Airport!  Stick around after Saturday’s show for music and play! Favorite returning venues are The Collective for our open-air Pre-Festival Kickoff Screening, and the state-of-the-art Mary D. Fisher Theater.  

Lots of Luminaries 

Delve into a live conversation with our 2021 honorees:  Deepak Chopra, acclaimed author and recipient of the festival’s Conscious Visionary Award;  Pete Docter, Pixar Animations Studios Chief Creative Officer, Oscar-winning director (Soul, Inside Out, Up, Monsters, Inc.) and recipient of the Inspiration & Impact Storyteller Award; and Artemis Rising Foundation founder and conscious film financier Regina Scully, recipient of the Trailblazer Award.

Look no further for inspired wisdom than this year’s nationally renowned guests, including Deepak Chopra, Ken Wilber, Marci Shimoff, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton and Lynne McTaggart, who will join us virtually.

Film Industry Conference

Finally, help us welcome industry leaders at our largest-ever Conscious Film Convergence. Here the Festival hosts a series of virtual film industry programs such as panels, networking and even mentoring for those working to elevate consciousness through filmmaking. 

You can sign up to land 20 minutes of one-on-one time with up to three of our 20 top-tier mentors in the field during our expanded Take Twenty program.  Pick their brain on script development, production, marketing, distribution and impact. Take your project to the next level!

Highlighted industry guests include Hollywood screenwriter, author Christopher Vogler (The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers), Level Forward CEO Adrienne Becker, Harpo Films Executive Vice President Carla Gardini, and actor Mario Van Peebles.

So, yes, we’ve changed. We now can reach people across the world. But we haven’t forgotten our home base. We do it all for you -- and for a world of consciousness. Curtains up!

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