Illuminate Film Festival: May 1-4 in Santa Barbara, CA | May 5-11 Virtual

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.

Schedule of the Event:

May 1, 2025

Industry Hive: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Happy Heart Hour Reception: 4:00 - 5:00 PM

Experience a magical rainforest installation by Giuliana Mottin and meet ILLUMINATE's poster artist Tricia Evenson at Art & Soul Gallery.

Art & Soul, 1323 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Wisdom of Happiness - OPENING NIGHT Keynote by Lynne Twist: 7:00 - 9:00 PM

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.

Runtime: 90 minutes
Director: Philip Delaquis, Barbara Miller

The Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Opening Night Celebration: 9:00 - 11:00 PM

Celebrate the beginning of the 2025 Festival in a relaxed party atmosphere with DJ Teagan Rose.

Kiva Cowork, 1117 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

May 2, 2025

Morning Meditation: 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Join PALMA Colectiva and Meredith Markworth-Pollack for a guided meditation and sound bath to start the day grounded and deeply connected to self, spirit, and community. This 45 min journey will begin with gentle breath and meditation to drop us into our unique presence, followed by a soothing sound bath, opening us to receive the ancient wisdom from these alchemized instruments.

Art & Soul, 1323 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Fools' Paradise (lost?) & Panel Discussion: 12:00 - 2:15 PM

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.

Followed by: Returning to the Heart of Nature panel discussion with director Alexandra Lexton, Art Cisneros, Mariko Pitts and moderated by Kimberley Pinkson

Runtime: 98 minutes
Director: Alexandra Lexton

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

ENCHANTED MATTER: The Art of Robert Powell & Panel Discussion: 3:00 - 5:00 PM

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.

Followed by: Re-enchanting Our Modern World panel with director Tom Piozet, Sarah Drew, Jess Hundley and moderated by Pacifica Faculty

Runtime: 61 minutes
Director: Tom Piozet, Andrei Jewell

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Rescued Hearts & Panel Discussion: 6:30 - 9:15 PM

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.

Followed by: Rescuing the Heart panel with director Krisanna Sexton, producer Dana Croschere, Sheva Carr, Joell Dunlap and moderated by Mark Laisure

Runtime: 118 minutes
Director: Krisanna Sexton

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Turtle Walker: 7:00 - 9:00 PM

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?

Introduction by director Taira Malaney

Runtime: 75 minutes
Director: Taira Malaney

The CEC Atrium, 1219 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Heart & Harmony Song Circle with Donna De Lory: 8:00 - 10:00 PM

Cap off a fun day of film-going with heart-opening community singing led by Donna De Lory.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

May 3, 2025

Morning Meditation: 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Join PALMA Colectiva and Monique Williamson for a powerful guided meditation to illuminate your inner radiance. Through breath, visualization, and heart-centered presence, you will be guided to where silence becomes both stillness and sanctuary. This offering is a portal—a space to reflect, recalibrate, and rise in luminous authenticity, harmony, and inner nobility.

Art & Soul, 1323 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Acting Through The Lens of Love: A Holomovement Workshop: 10:15 - 11:30 AM

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.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

SEEN followed by Filmmaker Q&A: 12:00 - 2:00 PM

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.

Followed by: Q&A with film producer Sam Jockel and film participant Professor Selena Bartlett

Runtime: 74 minutes
Director: Hailey Bartholomew

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

The Medicine of Movies with Sheva Carr: 2:00 - 3:00 PM

What does it mean to "look through the lens of love?" Can movies help us do that, not just on screen but in our lives? The word “Movie” comes from the words “moving pictures.” But great films don’t just move pictures across a screen—they move us. They move us emotionally and move us into action to create changes that can impact our own bodies, our lives and even our world! They can alter our perspectives- whether we’re the ones creating the film or experiencing it. In 1 hour experiential and interactive workshop, learn leading edge neuroscience about the heart and brain, that shows us how we as filmmakers and audience members can deliberately look through the lens of love to create movie experiences that serve as meaningful medicine for the evolution of our souls. Leave with awe and wonder about how we and the world work, and how our works of art can become change agents for the elevation and revelation of higher expressions of life and healing for humanity and all living things.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Wolf's Message preceded by Suffering Into Gold followed by Reel Integration: 3:30 - 5:45 PM

Wolf's Message

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.
Followed by: Opening to Other Realms panel discussion with director Jim Spruell (director), film participant & producer Suzanne Giesemann and film participant Mike Pasakarnis
PRE-SCREENING INTERVIEW with Suffering Into Gold team directory Lowell Blank, producer Peter Rader and William Peters
Followed by Reel Integration: Evidence-based medium Suzanne Giesemann lead us in opening our hearts to tune into the frequency of love to connect to loved ones beyond the veil.

Runtime: 63 minutes
Director: Jim Spruell

Suffering Into Gold

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.

Runtime: 14.5 minutes
Director: Lowell Blank

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Between the Mountain and the Sky & Filmmaker Q&A: 6:30 - 8:30 PM

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.

Followed by filmmaker Q&A with director Jeremy Power Regimbal and film protagonist Maggie Doyne.

Runtime: 93 minutes
Director: Jeremy Power Regimbal

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Soul on Fire Dance Party: 8:00 - 10:30 PM

Rock out to local favorite band, Red Fish, playing 80's music and funk.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

May 4, 2025

Morning Meditation: 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Join PALMA Colectiva and Giuliana Mottin for a unique 45-minute meditation experience designed to ground you and cultivate clarity as you begin your day. Imagine immersing yourself in the serene atmosphere of an art gallery, transformed into a tranquil forest sanctuary. Giuliana Mottin, the artist in residence will guide you through a gentle meditation, allowing the calming energy of the space and the natural imagery to soothe your mind and body with a sensory experience.

Art & Soul, 1323 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Hive Deep Dive: 10:15 - 11:15 AM

ILLUMINATE Interim Executive Director Kia Kiso leads an industry conversation about where we go next as conscious media creators.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

Finding Happy preceded by Circle of Grace, followed by Reel Integration: 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Finding Happy

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. Followed by an in-person Reel Integration at 28 Vic: Intuitive Animal Connection with Jamie Wozny (not available in Virtual Festival)

Runtime: 73 minutes
Director: Maria Bertrand

Circle of Grace

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.

Runtime: 13 minutes
Director: John Behring

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

The Art of Integration: A Heart-Centered Journey into Quantum Expansion with Matt & Joy Kahn: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Films have a unique way of stirring our souls—awakening emotions, sparking revelations, and inviting us to see the world through new eyes. But how do we take these profound insights beyond the screen and truly integrate them into our lives? In this immersive workshop, Matt and Joy Kahn will guide you through Quantum Expansion (QUE), a powerful mindfulness experience designed to help you embody the wisdom, healing, and transformation sparked by the films you’ve encountered. Through a heart-centered practice, you’ll learn how to ground these cinematic awakenings into real, lasting change—clearing old patterns, expanding your creative flow, and stepping into a life of deeper alignment. Stay for an interactive Q&A session for greater support throughout your personal journey. If you’re ready to turn inspiration into transformation, this is your moment to step into the magic.

IFF Hub (28 Vic), 28 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

The Dalai Lama's Gift & Discussion Panel: 1:00 - 3:10 PM

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.

Followed by panel Tantra: Imagining What You Can Be with director Ed Bastian, Losang Samten, Vesna Wallace and moderated by Téana David

Feeding Tomorrow & Discussion Panel: 4:00 - 6:15 PM

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.

Followed by panel discussion Nourishing the Now with filmmakers and moderated by Geoff Green

Runtime: 88 minutes
Director: Oliver English, Simon English

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

The Journey & Micro-Shorts Finalists & Awards & Reel Integration: 7:30 - 9:30 PM

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.

Followed by Reel Integration: Isaac & Thorald lead us in a Collective Song Creation

Runtime: 55 minutes
Director: Erik Felderhof, Aaron David Thomas

The New Vic Theatre, 33 W Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA

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Date: May 1-4, 2025

Location: Various Venue in Santa Barbara, CA

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