Page 14 - May 2017 Edition

clockwise from left: the last dalai lama?, the Golden age, and rumBle all play at the illuminate film festival may 31 thru June 4.
illuminate
Anticipating its fourth year of spiritual cinema, Illuminate Film Festival, from May 31 – June 4 brings some truly independent work to Sedona. With an array of avant-garde films, the anticipated Convergence Conference, workshops and panels, as well as hands-on ac- tivities, the all-encompassing festival promises to keep those interested in human advance- ment peacefully occupied for several days. The fact it takes place in the beautiful red rocks only enhances the outside opportunities for the wandering soul as well. World premieres will be shown at Sedona Performing Art Center (SPAC), the Mary D. Fisher Theater and The Collective Sedona in the Village of Oak Creek. This becomes an opportunity for Ari- zona audiences to create ‘buzz’ for a new film. Cinema has the power to change the world and Illuminate plans to be at the forefront of that movement.
As the zeitgeist cries out for like-minded and like-hearted souls to address the issues of spiritual consciousness in the 21st Century, Illuminate challenges audiences to awaken to the possibilities of spiritual cinema during this nonsensical time. A mass audience may only be reached through cinema at this late point in our communal development? The conflu- ence of global warming, global wars and mass immigration, coupled with transnational corporations and banks, leaves the spiritual component of existence bereft of value. That void can be partially filled by several of the programs offered at Illuminate.
The films are the center of the transformational power Illuminate offers, but at the heart of the festival is the Convergence Conference which runs Friday, June 2 to Sunday, June 4, with a “summit” at the end to conflate what was learned into ongoing action. The Conver- gence features industry filmmakers, producers, development executives, the creative and business side of conscious filmmaking, all exploring the possibility for expanding global consciousness through spiritual films. The increase of quality films to larger audiences will affect changes in large populations rapidly. We either “get busy living, or get busy dying” in a world undergoing drastic change. And cinema is a world-wide phenomenon that can change hearts and minds in one touching film.
Festival director, Danette Wolpert’s desire is “to increase the quality, quantity and avail- ability of conscious cinema around the world.” We discussed how Hollywood has made its foray into the commercial/spiritual content world in the recent past and continually at- tempts to tap into this expanding market. Ms. Wolpert even applauded Will Smith’s recent Hollywood film Collateral Beauty. “It tried to make the right step forward with the spiritual underpinnings invested in this expanding market.” Ms. Wolpert pointed out that Collateral Beauty had a positive response with 90% of the spiritual community and over 70% of the main stream audience.”
She extended this thought: “Producers need to have their own spiritual awakening to the potential for a growing market for these life-affirming, life-changing films.” She wants to make it clear “Illuminate is not a socio-political film festival. We offer conscious solutions with hands-on workshops after films that integrate music, yoga practice and drumming to promote healing in a practical way. We are more interested in healing than dividing. Aware- ness and unity across consciousness addresses politics differently than confrontation.”
The Convergence works on ways for a viable business sector within the independent film industry. Once a quality film production attracts a new audience, the sky’s the limit, as conscious films beat down the doors of old Hollywood.
Professionals attending this year’s Convergence component of the festival include keynote speaker Louis Schwartzberg, Jim Browne of Argot Pictures, Billie Goldman of Intel, Lydia B. Smith, filmmaker of Walking the Camino, Mark Urman – CEO of Paladin, Dan Truong of Amazon Video direct, as well as Elizabeth Sheldon, Sandra de Castro
Buffinton and Henry Arlander. Ms. Wolpert shares, “These invited guests will define consciousness cinema, and imagine new business models as they brainstorm new strategies for collaboration to increase the quality of conscious cinema to the world.”
Last year’s Jury Prize went to Love, Sweat and Tears a documentary presented by Dr. Pa- mela Dee who is on a mission to “save menopausal vaginas in America.” Both informative and funny, with the likes of Joan Rivers and Jenny McCarthy, it now has distribution and a release set for this year! So, Illuminate was instrumental in getting Love, Sweat and Tears wider distribution.
Some of the powerful independent films to look forward to this year include world pre- mieres as well as Southwest premieres, with a special focus on spiritual movements and the influential leaders that initiated self-realization and global awakening. The Last Dalai Lama? is a Southwest premiere from the director (Mickey Lemie) who gave us Ram Dass Fierce Grace. Mr. Lemie’s 30-year relationship with the Dalai Lama helped cement their friend- ship and access to the insight of one of the world’s most profound leaders. The Dalai Lama discusses aging and the inevitability of death.
Another Southwest premiere, Shadows of Paradise, documents the Transcendental Medi- tation Movement and two of their renowned leaders: filmmaker David Lynch and his dis- ciple Bobby Ross. The film’s director Sebastian Lange, having grown up in TM, documents the movement and growth since the death of the founder Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
A US premiere of The Golden Age is a musical film, inspired by true events about sub- versive pop star Maya O’Malley. Against the back-drop of his songs, the film reveals the journey of one man from a troubled past to spiritual redemption.
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World documents the missing chapter in the history of American music, namely that of the Indigenous influence. Musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Randy Castillo and Robbie Robertson, amongst others, found inspiration in native har- monies, infused with a desire to resist.
And finally another leader who helped change the way we look at the world: Hare Krish- na! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All. The film tells the story of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of Bhakti Yoga in the western world, from extreme poverty to a world teacher in 1960s America, and the spiritual revolution known as Hare Krishna!
Consider treating yourself to a weekend of cinematic travel around the world and through many cultures and spiritual traditions. As well as the fine films in three venues, look into the Convergence Conference at the heart of the five days. Everything you need to know for a third-eye opening is at your finger-tips in Sedona! Please check out: IlluminateFilm- Festival.com for more up to minute information.
Groundwater
On Wednesday, May 17 at 7PM, the documentary film “GROUNDWATER: To enact a law for the common good...” makes its Northern Arizona debut at the historic Elks Theater, 117 E. Gurley Street, in downtown Prescott. Following the film, a diverse panel of prominent water experts and the filmmakers will take audience questions and engage them in a creative, solutions-oriented conversation on local and regional water issues.
The 26-minute documentary, told with humor and through moving interviews, was pro- duced, directed, and written by acclaimed filmmaker Michael Schiffer (of Colors Lean on Me, and Crimson Tide fame). It tells the true and inspiring story of the contentious battle among farms, cities, and mines in the late 1970s, which led, against all odds, to the passage of the celebrated 1980 Groundwater Management Act (GMA) - Arizona’s most significant
14 • MAY 2017 | the NOISE arts & news | www.thenoise.us
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