Newly relocated to Santa Barbara for its 10th year, ILLUMINATE is the world's leading film festival for conscious cinema. Our 2024 festival theme, "Movies Make Movements Happen," is inspired by the late physicist David Bohm's theory of the holomovement and supported by the social movement of the same name. Essentially, radical collaboration in action.
Our 2024 Holomovement-inspired curation categories are Science & Spirituality, Consciousness, Social Action/Sacred Activism, Environmental Stewardship & Regeneration, Self-Realization for Social Transformation, Evolutionary Arts, Indigenous Wisdom, Wholistic Health & Wellness, and Discovery of Collective Purpose (from Me to We).
In addition to showcasing narrative features, documentaries, episodic series, and shorts in the genre of transformational entertainment, ILLUMINATE partners with filmmakers to catalyze movements that change consciousness and elevate humanity.
ILLUMINATE is a landmark event and global hub for spreading enlightened ideas. The festival 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 Filmmaker Accelerator which features industry programs, filmmaker labs, mentoring, and pitch sessions. ILLUMINATE’s Film Screenings include Filmmaker Q&As, Filmmaker Panels, and Reel Integration events, pairing films with interactive, transformative workshops.
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 films and panels to a global audience. 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.
Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Audience Award for Best Short Film
The Evolutionary Award, a $5K cash prize for an outstanding, paradigm-shifting documentary
The HoloMovie Award, a $5K cash prize presented to a film that most exemplifies the principles of the Holomovement
Director's Choice Award
The Artist-Activist Award, a $5K cash prize to an artist who is also an activist -- to donate to a charity of their choice.
Audience Choice (Year-Round Virtual Screening Series)