ILLUMINATE is the world's premier film festival for conscious cinema. Founded in 2014 on the premise that the language of film is a universal and dynamic force in carrying messages to the masses, IFF partners with filmmakers to catalyze movements that change consciousness and elevate humanity. ILLUMINATE showcases narrative features, documentaries, episodic series 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, and human potential and personal growth.

ILLUMINATE is a landmark event and global hub for spreading enlightened ideas and has featured special guests including Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Ram Das, Joe Dispenza, Gregg Braden, and Michael Beckwith, among others. ILLUMINATE has worked with Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema, and has brought other industry guests representing Kino Lorber, Abramorama, Zeitgeist, Gaia, and others directly to the filmmakers through the annual IFF Film Convergence which features industry programs, filmmaker labs, mentoring and pitch sessions. ILLUMINATE’s Film Screenings include filmmaker Q&A's, Filmmaker Panels, and Reel Healing events that pair films with interactive, transformative workshops.​​​​​

Due to Covid-19, the May 2021 IFF is being designed as a hybrid festival with both live and virtual components. More details will be announced as we near our festival dates. By submitting to IFF, you acknowledge your willingness to have your film considered for screening within either a virtual, live, or hybrid film festival scenario.

Note: ILLUMINATE also has a year round Virtual Screening Platform that brings priority events and programming to a global audience throughout the year. If our programmers believe that your film would lend itself to a focused event screening outside of the festival, we will reach out to you directly to assess your interest.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Audience Award for Best Short Film
Jury Prize for Debut Feature Competition
Jury Prize for Debut Short Film Competition
Jury Prize for Best Episodic Series
ILLUMINATE Impact Award
Mangurama Award for Conscious Documentary Storytelling ($5,000 cash prize)
Director's Choice Award
Audience Choice (Year Round Virtual Screening Series)

Rules & Terms

ALL SUBMISSIONS:

*Films must be in the genre of transformational entertainment, including inspirational human journey stories and themes related to wellness, mindfulness, science and spirituality, social and environmental sustainability, and human potential and personal growth.

*Completion date of film must be Jan 1st 2020 or later. (Due to Covid-19, this date is being extended back to January 2019 or later.)

*One film per entry fee. Entry fees are non-refundable.

*Initial submissions should be submitted as online digital links, please make sure password is included if necessary.

*Films submitted must be available in English or in the original language with legible English subtitles.

COMPETITION FEATURES (DOCS + NARRATIVES)

*Must be 50 minutes or longer in total runtime.

*Must be a World, International or US Premiere at IFF 2021.

*Must not have been scheduled for public broadcast, commercial theatrical engagement, DVD, DVD, SVOD or TVOD in the US prior to May 28th, 2021.

NON-COMPETITION FEATURES (DOCS + NARRATIVES)

*Must be 50 minutes or longer in total runtime.

*Preference will be given to World, International and U.S. premieres, but must be at minimum a Sedona Premiere at IFF 2021.

*Must not have been scheduled for public broadcast or commercial theatrical engagement (in-theater) in the US prior to May 28th, 2021.

*Preference will be given to films that have NOT been available to the public through virtual theatrical engagement, public broadcast, SVOD or TVOD. (Must not have been offered free online)

*Film’s world premiere must not have occurred before September 2019 (except Retrospective submissions).

EPISODIC SERIES:

*Must be a World, International or US Premiere at IFF 2021.

*May submit up 120 minutes of content.

*Must not have been scheduled for public broadcast, commercial theatrical engagement, DVD, DVD, SVOD or TVOD in the US prior to May 28th, 2021.

SHORT FILMS:

*Must be no longer than 49 minutes in total runtime.

*Must be at minimum a Sedona Premiere at IFF 2021.

*Preference will be given to films that have NOT been available to the public through public broadcast, SVOD or TVOD.

LEGAL NOTES FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS:

-Entrants give permission to ILLUMINATE Film Festival to use stills, titles, copy, and/or information from the submission for promotional purposes.

-Entrants are responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, royalties, release forms, clearances, permits necessary to present their work. ILLUMINATE Film Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work.

-For the Physical Festival: Exhibition format must be high quality digital file, DCP or Blu Ray. Further instructions will be sent via email if accepted. For the Virtual Festival: Exhibition Format must be an upload of high quality digital file through the Eventive platform. Further instructions will be sent via email if accepted.

-Exhibition print supplier shall be responsible for the one-way cost of shipment to ILLUMINATE. ILLUMINATE will return the print to the supplier or to the next destination as indicated by the supplier (Features only). Entry materials and/or Short films other than DCPs will not be returned.

-The Festival is not responsible for damage to or loss of submitted materials incurred by shipping to or from the Festival.
3 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
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Networking
  • Camilla Becket

    Thank you so much to Andrew Stoneham, Danette, and the Festival Team for being so helpful, kind and for honouring our film. We would do this again in a heartbeat. This is an awesome festival, highly recommended!

    June 2021
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  • Sebastian Jobst

    AMAZING film festival. PERFECT communication. GREAT networking possibilities. BEST team ever. HEART OPENING films. I loved it so much being part oft it. I am very honored that our film "Ama'ara - the Song of the Whales" won Director's Choice Award at its WORLD PREMIERE 2021. I just can say: One of my favorite film festivals in the world.

    June 2021
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  • Mirjam Hlastan

    Positive, supportive and kind members of the staff really made me want to travel across the globe and visit this unique setting of a film festival but at that time simply wasn't ment to be. However, the future holds many loving surprises as do I memories of this great team and I'm sure we'll meet in person one day. To which I look forward. Thank you for your big support & I wish you full power on your next editions! Sunny greetings from Berlin ☀️

    June 2019
    Helpful