ILLUMINATE FILM FESTIVAL 2025

May 1-4 in Santa Barbara, CA | May 5-11 Virtual

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ILLUMINATE FILM FESTIVAL

Looking Through the
Lens of Love

ILLUMINATE stands at the forefront of the conscious film movement, dedicated to inspiring lasting personal and planetary transformation through the power of visual storytelling. As the world's premier showcase for films that unite and uplift us, we curate a profound experience that goes beyond entertainment—it's a journey of individual and collective awakening.

We're thrilled to unveil our 2025 festival theme—Looking Through the Lens of Love. This theme explores the transformative power of love—its potential to heal, unite, and reveal the boundless beauty and grace that surround us. In these times of profound uncertainty, divisiveness, and disconnection from our planet and each other, we invite you to expand your consciousness through the universal language of the heart.

This year's festival poster artwork, created by local Santa Barbara artist Tricia Evenson, combines hand-painted and digitally collaged images that explore the confluence of art, spirituality, science, and technology. By way of creative and collaborative storytelling, we are encouraged to view the "Lens of Love" as a portal to personal transformation and collective planetary healing.

ILLUMINATE Film Festival 2025 Poster

2025 Festival Poster by Tricia Evenson

2025 Film Guide

Explore our curated selection of conscious films for the 2025 ILLUMINATE Film Festival. From award-winning documentaries to inspiring narratives, our film guide showcases stories that elevate consciousness and inspire positive change. Discover transformative cinema from around the world, screening in-person in Santa Barbara (May 1-4) and online (May 5-11).

Wisdom of Happiness Poster

Wisdom of Happiness

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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Rescued Hearts Poster

Rescued Hearts

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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Wolf's Message Poster

Wolf's Message

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL

Wolf's Message is the powerful true story of Michael "Wolf" Pasakarnis, who was struck and killed by lightning and left profound evidence that he knew how, when, and where it would happen. With the help of evidence-based medium...

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Wolf's Message is the powerful true story of Michael "Wolf" Pasakarnis, who was struck and killed by lightning and left profound evidence that he knew how, when, and where it would happen. With the help of evidence-based medium Suzanne Giesemann, the film offers undeniable proof of consciousness beyond the physical body and challenges our understanding of life, love, and the soul's eternal journey.

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Between The Mountain And The Sky Poster

Between The Mountain And The Sky

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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The Dalai Lama's Gift Poster

The Dalai Lama's Gift

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL

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...

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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.

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Feeding Tomorrow Poster

Feeding Tomorrow

IN-PERSON

Up against a broken food system suffering from ecosystem destruction, climate change, health epidemics, and inequality, a brave group of visionary leaders in agriculture, healthcare, and education work to build a more just...

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Up against a broken food system suffering from ecosystem destruction, climate change, health epidemics, and inequality, a brave group of visionary leaders in agriculture, healthcare, and education work to build a more just and regenerative food system in their communities - giving rise to a new global vision of Feeding Tomorrow.

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Finding Happy Poster

Finding Happy

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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Fools' Paradise (Lost?) Poster

Fools' Paradise (Lost?)

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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The Heart Revolution Poster

The Heart Revolution

VIRTUAL

A journey through life, from before our first heartbeat to beyond the last, playfully exploring what our heart is all about. In every chapter of life, from pregnancy to birth, learning to walk and talk, going to school...

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A journey through life, from before our first heartbeat to beyond the last, playfully exploring what our heart is all about. In every chapter of life, from pregnancy to birth, learning to walk and talk, going to school and using our brains, falling in love, becoming parents, growing old, and dying, our heart plays an overlooked yet existential role. If you think your heart is only a pump, you're in for a big surprise.

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The Journey Poster

The Journey

IN-PERSON

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...

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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.

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Seen Poster

Seen

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL

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...

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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.

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Turtle Walker Poster

Turtle Walker

IN-PERSON

In the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along India's coastline and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest...

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In the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along India's coastline and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest, he unravels mysteries surrounding these enigmatic ocean creatures – and sets out to save them from extinction. After a devastating tsunami strikes in 2004, Bhaskar grapples with a pressing question: What happens to sea turtles when their nesting beaches disappear?

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Arema Poster

Arema

VIRTUAL

"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...

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"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.

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Cham Poster

Cham

VIRTUAL

Every winter, monks across India travel to the Thiksey Monastery to participate in a ceremonial dance called Cham, a sacred ritual transporting viewers into the divine realm.

From God To Man Poster

From God To Man

VIRTUAL

On the day that Lansana Mansaray was born, a tree was planted in his name in his father's Limba village. Now an Emmy and Peabody nominated filmmaker, Mansaray returns to the same village to better understand...

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On the day that Lansana Mansaray was born, a tree was planted in his name in his father's Limba village. Now an Emmy and Peabody nominated filmmaker, Mansaray returns to the same village to better understand the essential relationship that Limbas share with the trees that define every aspect of community life.

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Gath & K'iyh: Listen to Heal Poster

Gath & K'iyh: Listen to Heal

VIRTUAL

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...

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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.

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Ink Fish Poster

Ink Fish

VIRTUAL

A young composer, struggling to create a melody, finds unexpected inspiration from a silent squid, awakening her to the hidden vibrations of the world. The film unfolds like a song, building through discord and discovery toward a powerful crescendo, revealing how unseen rhythms shape the music of existence.

Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace Poster

Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace

VIRTUAL

Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace shares the inspiring journey of chef/restaurateur Lisa Dahl, who turned personal tragedy into a thriving culinary career in Sedona, Arizona. After the devastating loss of her son Justin, who was murdered in the 1990s...

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Lisa Dahl: Blessed By Grace shares the inspiring journey of chef/restaurateur Lisa Dahl, who turned personal tragedy into a thriving culinary career in Sedona, Arizona. After the devastating loss of her son Justin, who was murdered in the 1990s, Lisa found healing through cooking. In 1995, she moved to Sedona and opened Dahl & DiLuca as a tribute to Justin. Over 30 years, she expanded to six acclaimed restaurants, each dedicated to preserving Justin's memory.

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Mother Father Blood Poster

Mother Father Blood

VIRTUAL

A young Dayak Iban girl growing up in the forests of central Borneo follows ancient connections to earn the gift of a story – how her community united to stop logging companies and government officials from taking their lands amid rampant deforestation.

Sunyata Poster

Sunyata

VIRTUAL

A sound engineer is looking for the meaning of silence.

Tahnaanooku' Poster

Tahnaanooku'

VIRTUAL

A grandmother. A source of existence. A portal to other worlds. For thousands of years, the Indigenous Peoples of what is now known as North and South Dakota co-existed reciprocally with the Missouri River, its waters offering life while also inspiring legends...

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A grandmother. A source of existence. A portal to other worlds. For thousands of years, the Indigenous Peoples of what is now known as North and South Dakota co-existed reciprocally with the Missouri River, its waters offering life while also inspiring legends and languages. In Tahnaanooku', filmmaker Justin Deegan takes an experimental approach to the severing of this relationship between his community — the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara — and the river, the result of over 80 years of US government efforts to control the Missouri, including via the Garrison Dam.

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We Going Home Now Poster

We Going Home Now

VIRTUAL

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...

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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.

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Enchanted Matter: The Art of Robert Powell Poster

Enchanted Matter: The Art of Robert Powell

IN-PERSON

A genre-bending exploration of the Himalayas, Tantric Asia and the Nature of Art itself. An idealistic young architect's improbable journey of self-discovery manifests a life of true love and enchantment...

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A genre-bending exploration of the Himalayas, Tantric Asia and the Nature of Art itself. An idealistic young architect's improbable journey of self-discovery manifests a life of true love and enchantment. Magician of pen and brush, Powell's insatiable curiosity for shamanism, Tibet, and ancient artisan cultures transforms his jaw-dropping paintings into matter that may forever change the way you view inanimate objects.

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Suffering Into Gold Poster

Suffering Into Gold

IN-PERSON & ONLINE

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...

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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.

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Circle of Grace Poster

Circle of Grace

IN-PERSON & ONLINE

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...

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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.

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My Father - The Healer Poster

My Father - The Healer

VIRTUAL

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...

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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.

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Special Events

Join us for a variety of special events designed to inspire, educate and connect. From our Industry Hive to immersive experiences, there’s something for everyone at ILLUMINATE Film Festival.

Industry Hive

THE INDUSTRY HIVE

May 1, 2025
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The ILLUMINATE Festival Hub "28 Vic", 28 W Victoria St.
$150
Made possible by New Stories

ILLUMINATE's annual Industry Hive is the world's only film industry event dedicated to evolving the conscious film movement into a global phenomenon. Writers, directors, producers, creators, as well as investors and philanthropists, will join together to educate and uplift each other for the greater goal of expanding humanity's compassion and awareness through filmmaking.

Screenwriting Workshop

SCREENWRITING WORKSHOP

May 5, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Pacifica Graduate Institute, Ladera Campus,
801 Ladera Ln.
$225
With Dara Marks and Deb Norton
In partnership with Pacifica Graduate Institute

ENGAGING THE FEMININE HEROIC

Dive into ancient myths and contemporary stories to uncover powerful archetypal patterns that can be harnessed to elevate your storytelling. Through engaging lectures, evocative film clips, inspiring writing exercises and playful exploration, we'll unlock the creative flow and connect with the timeless wisdom of the Feminine Heroic.

Festival Components

Experience the full spectrum of the ILLUMINATE Film Festival through our curated program of transformative films, engaging conversations, joyful celebrations, and immersive experiences.

Films

FILMS

ILLUMINATE is the world's leading festival for films and media that light the way to a brighter future. Dedicated to sharing enlightened stories that move humanity forward, we offer an enriching destination event through our annual film festival while serving as a year-round global hub for the conscious filmmaking community.

Q&As and Panels

Q&A'S AND PANELS

Following select film presentations, enjoy enlightening conversations with filmmakers, experts, luminaries and film subjects. Previous panelists have included Deepak Chopra, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, Louie Schwartzberg, Joyce Tenneson and others.

Parties & Gatherings

PARTIES & GATHERINGS

From our VIP Opening Night Party to casual Happy Hours, join us in celebrating the joy of community with fellow attendees, filmmakers, and festival staff. Connect, converse, and create memories that last beyond the festival weekend.

Reel Integrations

REEL INTEGRATIONS

Deeply integrate a movie's messages through guided post-screening immersive "See & Be" experiences. These transformative sessions help you embody the insights and wisdom presented in our films, creating lasting personal impact.

IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL

Experience the Festival

In-person festival experience

IN-PERSON

MAY 1–4, 2025

Join us in Santa Barbara, CA for four days of films, panels, reel integrations, parties and other special events.

BUY PASSES
Virtual festival experience

VIRTUAL

MAY 5–11, 2025

Our Virtual Festival will be available online worldwide featuring conscious films, filmmaker Q&As, and other events.

COMING SOON

Participate with ILLUMINATE!

There are many ways to be part of the ILLUMINATE Film Festival community. Whether through membership, volunteering, sponsorship, or patronage, your involvement helps support our mission of transformative storytelling. Join us in creating meaningful connections and inspiring change through the power of conscious cinema.

Become a Member

Enjoy exclusive benefits and support our mission

BECOME A MEMBER

Volunteer

Help bring conscious film to life

VOLUNTEER TODAY

Become a Sponsor

Align your brand with transformative storytelling

BECOME A SPONSOR

ILLUMINATE the Future

Your donation amplifies the reach of conscious film and media in our world. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us bring transformative stories to light and inspire positive change in ourselves and our communities. By supporting ILLUMINATE, you're not just funding a film festival – you're investing in the power of storytelling to elevate human consciousness and create a more enlightened society.

Make a difference today. Your generosity illuminates the path to a brighter tomorrow.

ILLUMINATE Film Festival Team with Poster

Celebrating Our 11th Year!

In our new Santa Barbara home, ILLUMINATE is more lit up than ever with our mission to support humanity's evolution through the power of film, media, and meaningful connections with one another. We aim to inspire lasting personal, community, and planetary transformation through film by showcasing ground-breaking narrative features, documentaries, episodic content, and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment.

ILLUMINATE films and workshops cover themes such as spirituality, health & wellness, earth stewardship, human potential, science & quantum physics, social action, and arts & culture.

We hope you can join us for four fantastic days in Santa Barbara – but if you aren't able to for some reason, you'll want to be sure to join for the remaining seven days virtually – and invite friends to a watch party, because everything's better when we shine together!