ILLUMINATE Film Festival Offers Best of Conscious Cinema at Sixth Annual Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5/17/2021

ILLUMINATE Film Festival Offers Best of Conscious Cinema at Sixth Annual Event

Sedona, Arizona – ILLUMINATE Film Festival, the nation’s premier conscious film festival, returns in both a virtual and in-person format with a stellar lineup of films, premieres, panels, parties, and special events for its 6th annual showcase May 20-26 in Sedona, Arizona.

Over seven days, ILLUMINATE will screen 30 films— as well as host signature panels, filmmaker Q&As, luminary conversations, and stimulating immersive workshops—featuring more than 75 filmmakers, guest speakers, and film industry representatives from around the globe.

ILLUMINATE showcases ground-breaking narrative features, documentaries, and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment, including inspirational human journey stories and themes related to wellness, mindfulness, science and spirituality, social and environmental sustainability, human potential, and personal growth.

“The festival is designed to help audiences find their true path to well-being,” says festival founder and Executive Director Danette Wolpert. “And with the year we all just had, we feel these films — and the festival — are needed more than ever.”

IN-PERSON FESTIVAL Highlights

ILLUMINATE begins Wednesday, May 19 with a FREE Open Air Kickoff Screening of We Are The Thousand, a rousing film about the power of music that follows a group of musicians willing to go the mile to get their favorite band to play in their small town.

Luminary Screenings - Deepak Chopra will receive the festival’s 5th annual Conscious Visionary Award Tuesday, May 25 following the world premiere screening of The Way of Miracles at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre (MDF). Chopra’s prolific work over the last few decades in mind-body medicine, highlighted over decades in dozens of documentaries, has paved the way for the return of ancient wisdom and practices into our modern lives and for countless people to move from disease to health.

Following the May 25 showing of the touching drama-love story Grace and Grit, a narrative film based on the life of iconic philosopher and “Einstein of Consciousness” Ken Wilber, MDF audiences will revel in an unforgettable Luminary Living Room Conversation with Ken Wilber, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, and filmmaker Sebastian Siegel.

Drive-In Movies & Dance Party - New this year is the festival's pop-up Drive-In, located at the Sedona Airport, playing audience favorites May 21-23 such as Mucho Mucho Amor, a Sundance selection about the inimitable, legendary astrologer and psychic Walter Mercado, and Dreamer, an inspiring ode to living one’s dreams no matter the obstacles.

On May 22, attendees are invited to stay after the drive-in screening of the joyous Playing for Keeps for a "LET LOOSE" Drive-In Dance Party in the open air. Attendees are encouraged to bring their glow sticks, hula hoops, roller skates, and dancing shoes, and let loose!

Evening Meetups - Area restaurants are inviting festival-goers to meet up for evening fun, food and drink. Select restaurants will offer ILLUMINATE specials on specified evenings throughout the week. Check http://illuminatefilmfestival.... for the locations and times. And THANK YOU to Sedona’s local establishments!

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL Highlights

ILLUMINATE’s largest-ever lineup features 9 World Premieres, 8 North American, US, or Southwest Premieres, Virtual Gala Screenings & Spotlights, Short Film Programs, and Luminary Tributes. 27 of the 30 films are available on-demand and can be watched anytime over the 7-day festival window.

Gala Films

The Opening Film is AWARE: Glimpses of Consciousness, a North American premiere that follows six gifted researchers as they explore the mystery of consciousness.

The Festival's Centerpiece Screening will feature the world premiere of The Seeds of Vandana Shiva, which tells the remarkable life story of eco-activist and agro-ecologist, Vandana Shiva, who rose from obscurity to become the most articulate voice for organic food systems.

For the Closing Film, ILLUMINATE screens the world premiere of Samadhi Road, a deep exploration of spiritual awakening featuring interviews with Benny Golson, Sonny Rollins, Robert Thurman, and the inimitable Mooji.

Filmmaker Q&As - Look no further for inspired wisdom than this year’s nationally renowned guests, including Marci Shimoff, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, Vandana Shiva, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton, and Lynne McTaggart. Every day of the festival, audiences can connect directly with filmmakers, film subjects, wisdom teachers, thought-leaders, and healers in our Virtual Q&As. Check the livestream schedule at https://watch.eventive.org/ill... Virtual Event with Lynne McTaggart - Renowned author of The Power of Eight and ILLUMINATE's 2021 Humanitarian Award recipient Lynne McTaggart offers a free historic event on May 21st at 10 am MST to help end polarization in America.

Conscious Film Convergence - At ILLUMINATE’s 2021 Conscious Film Convergence, a two-day program of educational panels and spotlight conversations for film industry professionals and aspirants, registrants will delve into live conversations with conscious media trailblazers such as:

. Pete Docter, Pixar Animations Studios Chief Creative Officer, Oscar-winning director (Soul, Inside Out, Up, Monsters, Inc.) and recipient of ILLUMINATE’s 2021 Inspiration & Impact Storyteller Award;

· Regina K. Scully, Artemis Rising Foundation founder, pre-eminent conscious film financier, and recipient of ILLUMINATE’s Trailblazer Award;

· Christopher Vogler, screenwriter, educator, author of The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers;

· And 15 others!

Take Twenty Industry Mentoring - All-Access pass holders can land 20 minutes of one-on-one time with up to three of the festival’s 20 nationally respected film industry mentors, including Kino Lorber CEO Richard Lorber, Gathr Films CEO Scott Glosserman, Seed & Spark CEO Emily Best, and The Urban Monk Pedram Shojai, among others.

Special Events - ILLUMINATE hosts special online events offering a group experience, including 2 virtual parties and an all-new 9-day LIFE-QUEST led by Sonia Ricotti - Festival Experience featuring 7 curated films, 5 live masterclasses, and a community forum.

NINE WORLD PREMIERES

Nine documentary films are slated to make their world debuts at the 2021 ILLUMINATE Film Festival. “It’s a testament to the universal quest for connection, and why we created the festival as a home and launching platform for conscious films,” said Danette Wolpert. “We’re honored that a growing number of films choose to show here before anywhere else.”

World premieres have more than doubled since the festival’s inaugural installment in 2014. Part of a world-class film line-up, the nine world premiers join a festival gaining increasing recognition not only for the quality and intent of its films but also as a “destination festival” and conscious experience in itself. ILLUMINATE was selected by The Huffington Post as a “top festival to revitalize the soul.”

In addition to those mentioned above, world premieres include Ama’ara: the Song of the Whales, Day of A Stranger, LOTUS, The Calling, Touched: A Massage Story, and Unsinkable: The Secret to Bouncing Back. The full lineup of films can be found at https://illuminate2021.eventiv... & PASSES

Individual tickets ($12-$25) and festival passes ($149-$333) can be purchased at www.illuminatefilm2021.com. Conscious Film Convergence passes are $60.

Major sponsors include Spirituality & Health Magazine, Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, Mangurama, Chocolate Organic Oasis, Saturday Night Alive, Jess Magic, Global Coherence Pulse, and Sedona Arts Academy.

ILLUMINATE 2021 takes place May 20-26 online and in Sedona, Arizona at the Mary D. Fisher Theater, the Sedona Airport Drive-In, and The Collective Sedona. The festival is dedicated to ensuring our audiences feel safe and will therefore comply with recommended CDC guidelines, including socially distanced seating, air and surface sanitizing, and mask-wearing where appropriate. Safety protocols can be viewed on our website.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Tiffany Brown at 425-442-9642 or at urbansaltproductions@gmail.com.