The Santa Fe Film Festival
Spiritual Cinema
 

A new genre in film was launched at The Santa Fe Film Festival this December 3-7, -- "Spiritual Cinema."

Of course, the most powerful movies have always been spiritual, from ET which told The Resurrection Story in modern garb, to Star Wars, which brought us "The Force."

What's new is the birth of a grass-roots internet-based movement to empower ordinary people -- you and I and our friends – to begin creating our own spiritual cinema.   

Witness Indigo, a humble little film made mostly by volunteers on a shoestring of $25 and $50 donations that added up to $500,000.  It tells the story of a young girl with psychic abilities who is first misunderstood by her family, but finally leads them on a journey of redemption.  

The premier of this small film, released 8 months after its conception, drew 2000 people to come to the Santa Fe Film Festival from all over the world.  The 500-seat venue was sold out in a record-breaking four hours.   Three more screenings were added to the festival, one of which also sold out within 24 hours.  Over half of the festival attendees raised their hands to show they came because they heard about the Indigo spiritual cinema movement on the internet.

The Festival screened a total of 211 films, featuring actors ranging from newcomers to seasoned professionals like Sean Penn, Ben Kingsley and Nicole Kidman.

Over all these films, the audience voted to give the prestigious Audience Choice Award to Indigo.

"Spiritual Cinema does not mean movies that are religious or movies that are New Age," said Stephen Simon, who produced the film with James Twyman.  "It means movies that ask the big questions: Who are we? Why are we here? Where are we going?"

As a result of Simon's programs and website at www.movingmessagesmedia.com  more than 50 Spiritual cinema communities have been formed around the country.  "The goal in the next 24 months is to create a broad community of writers, actors, producers, technicians and more -- a self contained system for producing, promoting and distributing movies that return to Shamanic story telling," Simon said, adding "There will be very few movie stars unless they work for scale."

In the future, look for in-depth interviews with Indigo's co-writer, James Twyman, internationally recognized singer/songwriter, author and the inspiration behind the film; Co-writer, Neale Donald Walsch, best-selling author with "Conversations with God" series; and producer/director Stephen Simon, producer of films such as "What Dreams May Come" and "Somewhere In Time".

Arthur Kanegis.  

Arthur is a Writer, Producer and Screenwriter.   His latest movie project (see www.oneworldcitizen.com) is a feature film about the First World Citizen, based on the true story of Garry Davis.  Arthur also heads Future WAVE - Working for Alternatives to Violence through Entertainment. (www.futurewave.org)

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