ILLUMINATE Industry Hive

Made Possible by a Generous Grant from NewStories

May 1, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The ILLUMINATE Film Festival’s groundbreaking Industry Hive Day brings together visionary filmmakers, producers, distribution experts, and media changemakers dedicated to nurturing the conscious media movement. Taking place on May 1, 2025, at the IFF Hub (28 Vic) in Santa Barbara, this full-day industry summit features enriching talks from Chaz Ebert, Sheva Carr, and Emanuel Kuntzelman, as well as illuminating case studies and panel discussions exploring how filmmakers can create content that fosters both personal transformation and social change. This year’s Industry Hive is made possible by a generous grant from NewStories.

Keynote

Keynote #1

Presenter

Chaz Ebert Author, It's Time to Give a Feck

Synopsis

Chaz Ebert will share about the power of films as "empathy generators" and how through media, we have the power to transform forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and kindness into tangible action for greater personal and global impact.

Panel #1

Heart Meets Market: Meeting the Moment with Stories that Matter

Moderator

Kia Kiso Interim Executive Director, ILLUMINATE Film Festival; Award-winning Producer, Zaza Productions

Confirmed Speakers

  • Terra Joy Director of Consultations and Script Services at Roadmap Writers
  • Marisa Polvino Award-Winning Producer and Co-Founder of The Nohoba Group and Straight Up Films
  • Dr. Dana Klisanin Award-Winning Psychologist, Futurist, and Founder of Evolutionary Guidance Media R&D

Synopsis

This insightful panel explores the evolving marketplace, and perhaps an opportunity, for media in a post-pandemic entertainment landscape. Industry veterans will explore the disconnect between the rising audience demand for mindfulness, wellness, and transformational content—and what is actually being greenlit, acquired and distributed by platforms and buyers.

Audiences today are seeking content that reflects their values, lifts their spirit, nurtures personal growth, and aligns with a deeper sense of meaning. For filmmakers, this rising demand presents a unique challenge: how to meet it within a marketplace still shaped by legacy gatekeepers, outdated success metrics, and commercial risk aversion. Conscious storytellers and creative changemakers often find themselves navigating a system designed for mass-market appeal, even as their audiences grow in number and depth.

This panel will encourage filmmakers to think differently about how their content could thrive. With honest reflections and forward-thinking perspectives, panelists will offer a deeper look at the opportunities—and the obstacles—facing storytelling today.

Topics will include

  • Strategies for developing projects with specific, built-in audiences
  • The continued dominance of true crime and celebrity-driven content versus niche offerings conscious media and transformative entertainment
  • How filmmakers can position their stories to stand out in a crowded marketplace

This crucial conversation will provide filmmakers with practical insights on how to develop, pitch, and position projects in a rapidly changing industry environment.

Case Study #1

Documentary Film on Festival Circuit

Presenter

Soraya Simi Director, Row of Life, Founder, 805 Film Collaborative

Synopsis

Director Soraya Simi shares her journey through all stages of creating her award-winning film, "Row of Life", from a successful private investment and grant funding effort, to a world-wide festival circuit, and a unique strategy toward distribution. Her film follows Marine Corps veteran, 3x Paralympian, and 14x Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen and her solo attempt to row across the Pacific Ocean in 2020.

Soraya and Angela worked closely together to produce the film, which gained worldwide media attention during the making-of. It is a significant and deeply personal story that exemplifies the complexity of a close protagonist-director relationship, and how the stakes in non-fiction storytelling are not imagined, but very real. It is Co-Produced by Vacationland Studios, TOGETHXR, Time Studios, and Executive Produced by Sue Bird.

Case Study #2

Documentary Film in Development

Presenter

Peter Rader Producer, Suffering Into Gold

Synopsis

Veteran filmmaker Peter Rader will share his time-tested strategy of using shorts as a way to attract funding and partnerships, how it's never too early to begin marketing and engage with your audience, the importance of conferences in your overall strategy, and tips to reverse engineer your offering to identify your film's niche.

Case Study #3

Scripted Series in Development

Presenters

Sarah Drew & Vilina Malka GAIA CODEX - Television Series & Media Platform

Synopsis

Step behind the veil with co-creators and producers Sarah Drew and Vilina Malka as they illuminate the transformational journey of bringing the beloved feminist fantasy novel Gaia Codex to life as a scripted television drama and immersive media platform.

In this intimate case study, they reveal the creative alchemy behind adapting a mythic, regenerative narrative for the screen—merging timeless storytelling with emergent technologies including AI-assisted development and augmented reality world-building. Rooted in the ethos of Media as Medicine™, this visionary project reimagines how media can serve as a conduit for healing, remembrance, and cultural evolution. From the sacred act of writing to the integration of next-gen tools, Sarah and Vilina share how art, spirit, and innovation coalesce to birth a new kind of storytelling—one that speaks to the soul of our time.

Q & A Session

Facilitated Q & A for all Case Studies

Led by

Téana David Artistic Director, ILLUMINATE Film Festival; Co-founder, Wise Planet Media

Presenters

All above presenters

Synopsis

Hive participants have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with all Case Study presenters.

Keynote

Keynote #2

Presenter

Sheva Carr HeartMath Institute

Synopsis

Sheva Carr will share leading-edge neuroscience about the heart and brain, that shows us how both filmmakers and audience members alike can deliberately create movie experiences that serve as meaningful medicine for the evolution of our souls.

Panel #2

Inner Transformation for Outer Activation: Leveraging Your Distribution and Impact Campaign

Moderator

Corinne Bourdeau Founder of 360 Degree Communications, Film Marketing Strategist

Confirmed Speakers

  • Chris Lane President, Distribution & Audience at Joint Venture, former Vice President Of Distribution in Campaigns & Engagement at Participant
  • Kelly Noonan Gores Producer of HEAL, Author, and Host of the HEAL with Kelly Podcast
  • Keith Ochwat Distribution Strategist and Founder at Show&Tell Films
  • Devon Dansky Impact Producer and Narrative Strategist, ABUNDANCE: THE FARMLINK STORY, former Program Manager at UCLA's Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment

Synopsis

This timely panel explores how filmmakers can navigate and reimagine impact and distribution strategies in today's media landscape. As the world of social change begins to embrace personal reflection and inner growth, filmmakers are being encouraged to create content that speaks not just to issues—but to inner resonance. As Gandhi reminded us, "Be the change you wish to see in the world"—because creating the world we want to live in starts with who we are inside. And the media we share should reflect that.

Using current impact campaign and distribution models as a foundation, this conversation will explore what's possible when those frameworks are infused with a deeper awareness of audience values, viewing behaviors, and their desire for personal growth. Audiences aren't just consuming content—they're seeking connection, alignment, and inspiration. Understanding how they engage with story can reshape how we design campaigns, partnerships, and outreach from the inside out.

Topics will include

  • Identifying and connecting with your authentic audience
  • Building strategic partnerships aligned with your film's mission
  • Utilizing data-driven resources to understand your viewership
  • Creating strategies that maximize both reach and inner- and outer-impact

This essential conversation invites filmmakers to consider a dual path: one where inner activation and personal awakening are just as vital as social change. Because lasting transformation doesn't just ripple out—it starts within.

Special Talk

Holomovement Talk

Presenter

Emanuel Kuntzelman Holomovement

Synopsis

Holomovement founder Emanuel Kuntzelman will explore how filmmakers can inspire viewers to move from awareness to action, reflecting the Holomovement's vision of unity in the face of division and resilience under the weight of crisis.

Industry Hive Panelists

Corinne Bordeau

Founder, 360 Degree Communications

Corinne is the President and founder of 360 Degree Communications. With a level of energy that challenges even the “Energizer Bunny,” Corinne has cultivated not just a film marketing career but a lifestyle. As the former publisher of LA Magazine, Corinne had the writing and PR background needed to successfully launch 360º and live out her passion. Now, as a recognized and dynamic speaker in the film industry, Bourdeau is an outspoken advocate for independent films dedicated to social change. She is the founder and co-director of the Esalen Inspirational Film Festival. She holds a Masters degree in depth psychology and mythology with a focus on cinema and mythology, and is working on completing her forthcoming book, The Magic Lantern. In tandem with curating a life around film, Corinne has curated a life around family.

Devon Dansky

Impact Producer and Narrative Strategist

Devon Dansky is an LA-based impact producer and narrative strategist who has led the campaigns for several documentaries focused on criminal justice reform and bridging, including The First Step and Undivide US. She has also worked in climate storytelling as the impact producer for Hulu’s intergenerational climate action documentary I Am Greta.

Devon has consulted with multiple impact-driven storytelling organizations in Hollywood, including Bridge Entertainment Labs, YEA! Impact, and Pathos Labs. She is a founding member of SIE Society where she has helped program workshops to inform creatives and filmmakers on alternative ways to finance, market, and measure their work.

Devon previously worked at UCLA’s Skoll Center for Social Impact Entertainment where she helped launch the first report-of-its-kind which mapped the landscape of social impact entertainment; she also coordinated the fully Deaf/Blind accessible LA Premiere event of the Oscar-nominated short Feeling Through.

Outside of work, Devon is a volunteer with the community-based organization Feed the Streets LA.

Sarah Drew

Co-creator, Executive Producer, Gaia Codex Television Series and Media Platform

As the visionary creator of the eco-feminist fantasy series GAIA CODEX, Sarah Drew crafts groundbreaking narratives that blend ancient wisdom and protopian futures for cutting edge media platforms. As an author and cultural philosopher, her work explores the intersection of consciousness, ecology, and feminine spirituality. GAIA CODEX has garnered a passionate global following as a novel, earning recognition from NYT bestsellers and esteemed environmental and feminist leaders.

With a background in digital media innovation, including past founder and CEO of the virtual reality content company Serpmon, Sarah’s work has been showcased internationally, including speaking engagements at venues such as Google, Bioneers, Paua, and ABC Deepak Homebase where she has lectured on topics such as “Feminine Wisdom & The Evolution of Technology” and “AI & The Evolution of Consciousness” and “Illuminated Creation-The Art of Visionary Writing”.

A lifelong explorer of culture and consciousness, Sarah has traveled internationally from the jungles of the Amazon to the high peaks of Bhutan, where she has studied with key lineage teachers. At Daitoku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan, Sarah studied Rinzai Zen in a series of retreats. In her early twenties, Sarah made a solo overland one-month journey through Tibet, where she had the opportunity to sit with Tibetan lamas and experience Tibetan culture firsthand. She is a multi-decade practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism. Sarah holds certifications in Sowa Rigpa, Tibetan Medicine. At U.C. Berkeley, as an undergraduate, Sarah studied Religious Studies.

As a storyteller and media creator, Sarah catalyzes powerful blueprints for the future deeply rooted in the gnosis of the past, “Media as Medicine,” for these dynamic, transformative times. She lives with her husband in Manhattan and on a lushly forested farm in the Hudson Valley.

Kelly Noonan Gores

Filmmaker, Author, and Host of HEAL with Kelly

Kelly Noonan Gores is an entrepreneur, writer, director, and producer. She gained recognition for her award-winning documentary HEAL (2017) which explores the power of the mind-body connection and the body’s natural healing capabilities. In 2019, Kelly authored the follow-up book, HEAL: Discover Your Unlimited Potential and Awaken the Powerful Healer Within.

She is the host of HEAL with Kelly, a podcast that inspires, reveals tools, and shares personal stories of the body’s ability to heal. Through the HEAL brand, she aims to empower people by sharing knowledge about the remarkable ability and intelligence of the human body to expand our belief of what’s possible and become conscious co-creators with our lives.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kelly has been in the entertainment industry since the age of seven, acting in commercials, TV, and films. Kelly is currently on the board of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA and has a passion for healing the planet. Her interests also extend to psychology, wellness, spirituality, and an insatiable appetite for understanding consciousness.

Outside of professional pursuits, Kelly is a mother, knowledge-seeker, meditator, and investor in Religion of Sports, Trusted Gut Brewing Company, and WellSet. She also enjoys exploring all that the West Coast has to offer from snowboarding in the mountains to surfing in the ocean and stand-up paddle boarding, playing tennis, and getting lost in a self-help book, an ancient philosophy text, or a mystery novel.

Terra Joy

Director of Consultations and Script Services, Roadmap Writers

Terra Joy started her career in Washington, DC as a journalist and social justice nonprofit advocate where she also managed a Roe v. Wade documentary film campaign — resulting in 115+ screenings in under nine months. She was also very active in the local screenwriting community as a member of WIFV.

After becoming a reader for Slamdance, she joined Roadmap Writers — a talent training and discovery platform with 450 writers signed — as a Coordinator, where she was then promoted within nine months as the Director of Consultations and Script Services. Terra has read well over 1,500 scripts, and has seen the trends in exec and rep feedback on over 7,000.

She also leads pitching and portfolio branding workshops to help writers stand out using their own personal “character motivation.” She’s lived in Poland and Japan, been to 35+ countries by the time she was 15, has a B.A. in Political Science, and when she’s not connecting awesome creative people with other awesome creative people, she’s listening to Greta Van Fleet, Led Zeppelin, and drinking way too much boba.

Roadmap has helped writers get staffed on BRIDGERTON, THE FLASH, CHICAGO PD, THE FIRST LADY, NIGHT COURT, THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE RESIDENT, REACHER, FUBAR, SUBJECT TO CHANGE, MAYANS, COBRA KAI, POKERFACE, and others. Their writers have also set up projects at Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, MGM, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Starz, Legendary, American High, New Republic Pictures, Anvil Pictures, Lifetime, Will Packer Studios, and more.

Dr. Dana Klisanin

Founder, Evolutionary Guidance Media R&D

Dr. Dana Klisanin is an award-winning psychologist, futurist, and storyteller exploring the intersection of conscious media, nature, and human potential. Recognized by Forbes as a top female futurist, she has collaborated with major entertainment companies through Evolutionary Guidance Media R&D, Inc., integrating transformational storytelling into film and digital media.

An award-winning author, her Chronicles of G.A.I.A. series empowers young readers to become eco-leaders through immersive storytelling. She recently launched ReWilding: Lab, a research-driven initiative helping people trade burnout for biophilia through nature-based leadership and creativity.

Her work has been featured in BBC, Time, Fast Company, and other outlets exploring the evolution of entertainment, digital culture, and impact-driven storytelling.

Chris Lane

President, Distribution and Audience at Joint Venture

Chris Lane currently serves as President of Distribution and Audience at Joint Venture, a new distribution company that is filmmaker-forward and centered on community building through distribution strategy, audience engagement, and innovative campaigns for independent film.

Most recently, as Vice President of Distribution at Participant, Chris worked on worldwide distribution strategies for the social impact-driven company’s narrative, documentary, and episodic slate which included Academy Award®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated films. Chris has also served in previous roles working in distribution at Park Circus, Sony Pictures, and MGM.

Throughout his 20+ tenure in the business, Chris is always trying to find new and innovative ways to distribute and market films of all genres and audience sizes.

 

Scarlett Lewis

Founder, Choose Love Movement

Scarlett Lewis made a courageous choice after the brutal murder of her 6-year-old son, Jesse—she chose love over fear. In this powerful presentation, Scarlett shares a life-changing formula she discovered through a message Jesse left behind, revealing how love can be put into action in every thoughtful response.

Through the Choose Love Movement, she has created no-cost solutions that are now taught in all 50 states and 135 countries, helping individuals of all ages grow through adversity, and be strengthened by their experiences. Now, in collaboration with the Holomovement Visioneer Emanuel Kuntzelman, this message expands, uniting love quantum science and holistic transformation. Together, Choose Love and Holomovement bridge the science of consciousness with compassionate action, proving that our choices ripple outward to create a more connected, thriving world.

As a globally recognized speaker, subject matter expert, and award-winning advocate for peace, Scarlett is frequently in the news and on national and international stages, inspiring millions with her message of choosing love. Together with Emanuel, a lifelong seeker and philanthropist, they offer a powerful roadmap for healing, empowerment, and unity—proving that when we choose love, we reshape the world.

Vilina Malka

Creative & Executive Producer, Gaia Codex

Vilina is a visionary in media, blending her expertise as a film & video director, creative producer, and artist weaving cinematic alchemy. Graduating from Parsons School of Design, New York, Vilina has over 15 years of leadership experience in top advertising (Digitas, Young & Rubicam & McCann), fashion companies-such as Ralph Lauren and programming for Brooklyn film festival. She is on a mission of love bridging worlds through storytelling that inspire profound transformation and collective healing.

As a multidisciplinary artist, Vilina seamlessly integrates sacred rituals into her creative process, infusing each transmission with depth and purpose. Her pioneering efforts in experimental filmmaking as a director and producer, explore themes of sacred sexuality, the feminine rising, and higher consciousness, and have garnered recognition and awards (Best Experimental Film at Brooklyn and Coney Film Festival), setting her apart as a conscious creator.

As a filmmaker, her projects have utilized and been inspired by cutting-edge technologies such as CGI, Al and the LED/Volume. With a deep understanding of the fantasy genre, Vilina is uniquely positioned to oversee production with a collaborative spirit, strategic decisions & commitment.
Through her production company. Violet Waves, Vilina creates a heart-driven space where film, art, and sound converge to awaken souls, implementing sustainable practices and innovative solutions while breaking the spell of conventional filmmaking.

Keith Ochwat

Founder, Show & Tell

Keith is a filmmaker and Founder of Show&Tell. Over the last four years, Keith has coached and advised thousands of filmmakers on their distribution and fundraising strategies. Filmmakers in the Show&Tell community have raised over $20 million in nontraditional ways including: partnerships, sponsorships, conferences, and more. Keith was a filmmaker for 12 years and produced three films that appeared on PBS and Netflix. His film Age of Champions screened in over 3,000 communities and generated over $1.5 million—powered by partnerships with groups like AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association and companies like Cigna Health. He’s delivered keynote presentations on distribution at filmmaking organizations like IDA and his work has appeared in IndieWire and Documentary Magazine.

Marisa Polvino

Co-founder, The Nohoba Group

Marisa Polvino is an award-winning producer and entrepreneur dedicated to creating bold, impactful content across all genres and platforms. With a career spanning feature films, series, documentaries, and digital media, she seamlessly blends entertainment with purpose, ensuring that every project is not only compelling but also a catalyst for real-world change.

As the co-founder of Straight Up Films and the recently launched company, The Nohoba Group, Polvino develops and produces high-profile, socially driven narratives that integrate built-in impact campaigns—bridging the gap between storytelling and tangible action. Her belief that “Entertainment Brings the Action” fuels her approach, using media as a force to inspire engagement and transformation.

Her diverse production slate includes major motion pictures such as Transcendence and The Education of Charlie Banks, as well as groundbreaking purpose-driven projects like Power On—a short film series in collaboration with Google and YouTube to champion diversity in STEM—and Meaning in Madness, which explores mental health issues among teens and young adults.

Polvino’s upcoming projects, including The Ride, a documentary tackling homelessness in America, and House of Mirrors, an exposé on the American Family Court system, exemplify her commitment to stories that not only entertain but also activate audiences toward meaningful change.

With a sharp eye for industry trends and a deep understanding of narrative impact, Polvino forges strategic partnerships with thought leaders, brands, and change makers to expand the reach and influence of her work. Her storytelling ethos is rooted in authenticity, integrity, and equity—pushing the boundaries of traditional filmmaking to ignite conversations and drive action.

In an industry that often prioritizes commercial success, Marisa Polvino stands apart as a producer who balances scale, scope, and social responsibility, proving that powerful stories can shape culture and create lasting change.

Peter Rader

Producer, Suffering Into Gold

Peter Rader has worked as a film and television writer for 20 years. His first script, Waterworld, was produced by Universal in 1995. He has developed numerous projects for other studios, and industry leaders such as Steven Spielberg, Dino De Laurentiis and John Davis.

In the nonfiction arena, Rader has directed episodes of the hit TV show Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan. He has worked as a cinematographer and editor on a number of award-winning documentary projects, including AWAKE: The Life of Yogananda, which he produced and edited. He also led its worldwide distribution effort.

Rader attended Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He is accomplished in a broad range of fields, including music and photography.  Rader has taught classes and workshops in writing and filmmaking at Harvard, Los Angeles Film School, and Cal State Fullerton. He has also volunteered to teach writing to homeless people at Step Up on Second.

In 2013, Rader published his first book, Mike Wallace: A Life (St. Martin’s Press), a critically acclaimed biography of the legendary CBS journalist. Rader was subsequently hired to adapt his book into a script for director Rob Reiner. Most recently, Rader wrote Playing to the Gods: Sarah Bernhardt, Eleonora Duse, and the Rivalry That Changed Acting Forever (Simon & Schuster, 2018), which is being adapted for the screen by Emmy & Golden Globe winner Michael Sucsy.

Soraya Simi

Director, Row of Life

Soraya Simi is an award-winning independent filmmaker, published writer, and entrepreneur. Her strength lies in Directing, Producing, and Writing for film and television, with extensive experience in commercial work. Immediately graduating from USC Film School, Soraya embarked on her first feature documentary, ROW OF LIFE, which follows the story of Paralympian and Marine Veteran Angela Madsen and her harrowing solo row across the Pacific Ocean. It exemplifies the complexity of a close subject-director relationship, and how the stakes in non-fiction storytelling are not imagined, but very real. ROW OF LIFE is Executive Produced by Sue Bird and co-produced with TOGETHXR and TIME Studios. Her next project is a true crime docu-series about a wrongful conviction based in her hometown, Tucson, for which she is both a Co-Director and Executive Producer. It is Executive Produced by John Legend, co-produced with GET LIFTED, and currently in production. Soraya also runs a local membership-based organization in the Central Coast, 805 Film Collective, which offers events, jobs, and resources to the thriving local film community to help generate high-quality local film work. She is a published writer, with long-form essays in OUTSIDE magazine, surf and adventure publications, and currently writing her first novel.