PRESS RELEASE

The ILLUMINATE Film Festival lands in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA - February 22, 2024

The ILLUMINATE Film Festival, an annual celebration of films that aspire to elevate humanity’s sense of self, purpose and possibility, has recently relocated to Santa Barbara after nine years in Sedona, Arizona. Following a well-attended launch event at Montecito’s Music Academy last fall, which featured Bhutan’s Oscar-shortlisted film, The Monk and the Gun, the Festival officially opens April 5th at the Lobero and Fiesta 5 theaters in Santa Barbara’s Arts District. It continues online, April 8th to 14th. 

“By showcasing uplifting socially-conscious films and by bringing community together around these meaningful stories and evolutionary ideas, we hope to offer an antidote to the despair and overwhelm that so many are grappling with.” 

Attendees will enjoy films, post-screening discussions, filmmaker Q&A’s, workshops, and a vibrant festival “hub” at the new Community Environmental Council space on State Street. All-Access passholders will also be able to attend receptions, parties, an exclusive meditation and tea experience hosted by Palma Colectiva, and enjoy priority entry into all screenings.

The Festival’s 2024 line-up includes Love Over Money, the surprising story of heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune, John Robbins, and Wilding, the adventures of a young couple who, against all odds, bravely re-imagine an inherited family estate in the English countryside. Other highlights include the world festival premiere of Source, a documentary film about the breakthrough work of Dr. Joe Dispenza, which will be followed by an interactive session with Dr. Dispenza. Unveiled: Joyce Tenneson and the Heroine’s Journey, celebrates the life and work of renowned photographer, Joyce Tenneson, who has been recognized as one of the ten most important women photographers in the history of photography. The Festival programming includes a special in-person presentation with Ms. Tenneson about her unique artistic process. The Festival’s full line-up will be announced on March 4th. 

“We intend to entertain while evoking curiosity and critical thinking, planting seeds that can inspire us to take collaborative action toward the greater good. Our 2024 Festival theme, Movies Make Movements Happen, reflects this commitment,” says Ms.David. 

In addition to film screenings and in-depth panel discussions, the Festival offers workshops for emerging filmmakers and creators of all kinds, including a 1.5 hour Purpose Lab to kick off the festival on April 5th and a back-by-popular-demand 5-day Source to Screen Creativity Lab, April 8-12 at The Empathy Center in Santa Barbara, led by award-winning filmmakers, Paola di Florio and Peter Rader. 

All-Access Passes for the ILLUMINATE Film Festival are on sale now at https://2024.illuminatefilmfestival.com. Virtual Festival passes and single tickets go on sale March 4th. 

The Festival’s 2024 key sponsor is the Holomovement, a global social initiative uniting people worldwide to recognize our interconnectedness and take collaborative action for the greater good.

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About ILLUMINATE Film Festival

ILLUMINATE Film Festival is a nonprofit-sponsored organization founded in 2014 in Sedona, Arizona. Now based in Santa Barbara, California, the festival's mission is to elevate human consciousness and inspire lasting personal, community and planetary transformation through cinema.

Website: https://2024.illuminatefilmfestival.com

For media inquiries, please contact:

Media Contact: Mahil Senathirajah
Email: mahil@illuminatefilmfestival.com

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