ILLUMINATE FILM FESTIVAL 2025

Perfectly attuned to our times, this intimate heart-to-heart with the world's greatest ambassador of compassion is an unforgettable, meditative experience for the 21st Century. In what is likely to be his last film appearance, The Dalai Lama unlocks a door to genuine, lasting happiness and reveals that every one of us holds our very own key to it in the palm of our hand.

Personal stories and scientific study illuminates the profound and often miraculous connection between humans and horses. Inspired by a life-changing moment—when a nonverbal boy diagnosed with autism spoke his first words while interacting with a horse—filmmakers Dana Croschere and Krisanna Sexton seek to uncover the deeper meaning behind this extraordinary bond. Through moving stories and expert insights, Rescued Hearts reveals how horses help us heal and reconnect—with ourselves, each other, and all of nature.

Maggie Doyne, an American woman in her 20s, joins forces with a once-orphaned Nepalese man to open a children's home, a women's empowerment program, and a school for orphaned youth in Nepal. Shortly after being named a CNN HERO, she faces a devastating loss, forcing her and her family of over fifty Nepalese children to find resilience in the face of loss and seek hope in even the darkest moments.

In 1981, the Dalai Lama performed a historic Kalachakra Tantra initiation in Wisconsin, marking Tibetan Buddhism's arrival in America. Thousands gathered, a temple rose in weeks, and a new spiritual foundation was laid in the West—captured on film, then locked away in the Smithsonian. Now, this never-before-seen footage is revealed, immersing viewers in a forgotten chapter of spiritual history that shaped a generation and still resonates today.

In the spring of 2020, Maria, whose life had been crashing down around her, was looking for a beacon of hope. Then, one day while she was out for a run, she spotted an injured one-day-old sparrow lying on the ground. She picked him up, intending to help him, not realizing how much he would help her and that he would become that sliver of hope she, and so many others, needed.

How do we heal ourselves through reconnection to the natural world? Immersed in the experiences recounted by writers, artists, environmentalists, adventurers, therapists, and activists, we delve into scientific inquiry around topics such as personal action, sustainable business and life practices, nature therapies, and how we need and use nature to regenerate ourselves and our planet.

Musical brothers Isaac and Thorald Koren guide brave participants struggling with personal hardships to break free from emotional barriers through an immersive, music-driven experience. Each guest embarks on a profound voyage of self-discovery, shedding old narratives and finding healing through song, rhythm, and raw creativity, proving that transformation isn't about changing appearances—it's about embracing the music within. From Executive Producer, SIA.

The transformative power of personal healing for parents and the impact it can have on our children's brain development is explored with authenticity and rigor. Through the unfiltered narratives of real parents and experts in the field, Seen promises not just compelling storytelling but the potential for profound societal impact. Together, we are illuminating the path toward emotional liberation and healthier connections—with both ourselves and our children.

When Paul Gralen is diagnosed with ALS he makes the brave decision to use legally available methods to end his own life. At first, his wife Beth is scared to lose him, but together they go on a guided psilocybin journey and ultimately lose their fear of death. Beth reaches out to William Peters, the world's leading expert on the Shared Death Experience (SDE), to begin the process of SDE training in order to have a conscious and loving end-of-life experience.

During her 17th birthday party, Grace Fisher is struck with a polio like virus that left her fully paralyzed from the neck down. Circle of Grace takes a journey into her imagination as she paints a stunning image merely with a paintbrush attached to an apparatus in her mouth. Grace also composed the score for the film using that same technique, one note at a time.

A docudrama about a Chinese QiGong Master who grew up in brutal conditions during the Cultural Revolution in Maoist China, where he had to keep his gifts a secret. He eventually fled to the West and developed a significant following but also experienced a crushing fall from Grace. While he'd helped thousands to heal themselves from terminal diseases, he'd neglected to heal himself––from his own ancestral trauma.

Gath and K'iyh: Listen to Heal is a poetic exploration of a community-led creative arts project aimed at understanding and restoring our relationship with gath (king salmon) and k'iyh (birch) relatives as we navigate our feelings around climate change in Alaska. Guided by the wisdom of Ahtna Elder Fred John, it invites viewers to pause, listen, sing and dream together and ask how we might be in better relationship to the natural world around us.

"If you listen to nature, it will lead the way…" Elder Gagaj Taimanav. Steeped in symbolism and no larger than a child's hand, the diminutive bird known as the Armea is found in only one place on Earth: the Pacific island of Rotuma. After years away, Rako Pasefika returns to Rotuma with elders and community to revitalize ancient stories and connect with the land and ocean.

Ngarridurndeng Kured (We Going Home Now) follows Dean Yibarbuk, his family and community as they return to their traditional homeland in Kuwarddewardde – the rock country – to help protect their territory from devastating wildfires and reestablish their communities and support their families' and way of life.