PRESS RELEASE

ILLUMINATE Film Festival Expands to the West Coast

Sedona, Arizona – February 2, 2017 – "Illuminate Film Festival is at the forefront of a paradigm shift that is transforming the way of the world," says Danette Wolpert, Executive Director of the Illuminate Film Festival. The festival, now in its fourth year, opens May 31 – June 4, 2017 in Sedona, Arizona.

The Illuminate Film Festival has been making its debut along the California coastline and was selected by Warner Brothers Studio to help launch an invite-only screening in Los Angeles of their film, "Collateral Beauty," starring Will Smith, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley, Michael Peña, Naomie Harris, Jacob Latimore, Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren this past December. "Collateral Beauty" is a 2016 American drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Allan Loeb about man who copes with his daughter's death by writing letters to time, death and love. "This particular film was embraced by the spiritual community with open arms," says Ms. Wolpert. "It definitely made an impact on the general market with this new genre of film."

"In just three short years, we're proud to have become an industry leader in the conscious cinema movement," said Illuminate Film Festival Executive Director Danette Wolpert. "After all, the power of story is arguably the single-most affecting tool we have at our fingertips to shape the human experience. Filmmakers, now on the frontier of a global conscious shift, are speaking with their cameras, and Illuminate provides these brilliant visionary filmmakers of our time a vehicle to enlighten our world."

On February 17 – 21, 2017 in San Francisco, California, Ms. Wolpert will be speaking at the Wisdom 2.0 Conference. Here, she will share "10 Conscious Movies That Will Change Your Life." Wisdom 2.0 is in its eighth year, and has over 2,500 attendees from all over the world. This premier event is focused on exploring the intersection of wisdom and technology with those participating at the conference who are seeking answers to how they can live their lives with greater presence, purpose and wisdom in the digital age.

In addition to Wisdom 2.0, Ms. Wolpert will be attending the opening of 1440 Multiversity in May 2017. 1440 Multiversity is the nation's newest immersion learning center, located in the redwoods near Santa Cruz, California. This new school offers teachable skills for better living. It's a place where you can choose your path to a better life—on purpose, with practice. "We all have a desire to live a better life, a longing to connect more deeply to ourselves and to others. We believe that these connections are what give purpose and fulfillment to our journeys, says Ms. Wolpert, "Launching a film series at the new, luxurious 1440 Retreat Center is an exciting new venture for us." Five conscious films will be shown at the retreat that will change lives. "Everything conscious under one roof," says Ms. Wolpert. "We want to promote conscious cinema – films that hold human beings as sacred, not expendable, and inspire those who see them to more purposeful lives."

"It is our intention that the 1440 Multiversity will serve as an invitation to a personal and immersive experiential learning opportunity to connect us with the best of who we are, as each of us defines that for ourselves," says Scott and Joanie Kriens, founders of 1440. "We believe that we all have a unique and important story to share, a deep desire to connect with purpose and meaning in our lives, both personally and professionally. It is our shared hope at 1440 to serve learners and leaders—champions as we call them—whose work helps all of us further discover our best selves."

About Illuminate Film Festival: ILLUMINATE is the world's premiere film festival for conscious cinema. Dedicated to expanding human consciousness through film, ILLUMINATE is a landmark destination event and global hub for spreading enlightened ideas. Founded on the premise that the language of film is universal and a dynamic force in carrying messages to the masses, the Festival showcases the best of transformational media to uplift, inspire, and transform. The Festival includes both Documentary and Narrative Features, as well as Short Films, with filmmaker Q&A's, filmmaker Panels, and Reel Healing events, pairing films with interactive workshops. This year's festival is from May 31 – June 4, 2017.

About Wisdom 2.0: Wisdom 2.0 addresses the great challenge of our age: to not only live connected to one another through technology, but to do so in ways that are beneficial to our own well-being, effective in our work, and useful to the world. Through their series of conferences, meet-ups, and workshops, Wisdom 2.0 strives to bring this conversation to the world in an accessible, innovative, and inclusive way. Their annual Wisdom 2.0 Conference, is a flagship event held in February each year in the Bay Area, bringing together over 2,500 people from 24 countries.

About 1440 Multiversity: 1440 Multiversity is a new school in Santa Cruz County, California that offers teachable skills for better living. It's a place where you can choose your path to a better life—on purpose, with practice.

The 2017 ILLUMINATE Film Festival is scheduled for May 31 - June 4, 2017 at the Sedona Performing Arts Center and Mary D. Fisher Theater. For more information, visit www.ILLUMINATEFilmFestival.com.

Contact: Carol Kahn (336) 339-4709

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