Gaia

I’m helping to run what promises to be a remarkable event in a few weeks, in Beverly Hills; and I wanted the TFT audience to be among the first to know the details.  If you’re in the neighborhood you’d be most welcome; I’d love to meet you*.

You’re invited to Beyond Cinema: Film and Spirit, a night and a day of movies and meaning, featuring Tibetan Buddhists, New Zealand communitarians, Russian mystics, and Native American wisdom.  (There may be some classic Parisian helium too.)  Three local premieres, in-person appearances by the film-makers, and conversation to nourish the soul, provoke the mind, and encourage change.

The film-makers have produced, photographed, or directed movies as diverse and important as ‘Hoop Dreams’, ‘City of Industry’, and U2′s ‘Zoo-TV’ concert film, and we think their personal projects are as thematically rich, beautifully mounted, and emotionally resonant.  Hosted by film critic,  activist, and failed Irish comedian Gareth Higgins, and theologian, musician, and renaissance man Barry Taylor, and open to a maximum of 40 people, Cinema Spirit aims to provide space to reimagine ourselves through reflecting on extraordinary films, and encountering other people passionate about film and spirituality.

When? Friday 22nd January, 7pm – 10pm; Saturday 23rd January, 10am-10pm.

Where? 506 N Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

What? Screenings of the following movies:

This Way of Life (Dir. Thomas Burstyn, Barbara Sumner Burstyn; 84 mins): A NZ family live off the land, and seek to resist technological stresses, while being nurtured by the spirituality of nature.  We hope to have the co-directors participate in a conversation at the event.  Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival, 2010.

Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky (Dir. Dmitry Trakovsky; 90 mins): 24 year old Russian film maker Dmitry Trakovsky travels across Europe to search for traces of his spiritual mentor and near-namesake Andrei Tarkovsky.  Dmitry will be at the festival and we’re looking forward to the public conversation with him.

Gaia (Dir. Jason Lehel; 100 mins): A woman recovers from abuse on a Native American reservation.  Director, producer, and lead actor will be coming to the whole gathering too and will do a Q&A.  Official Selection, Toronto Film Festival 2009.

Journey from Zanskar (Dir. Frederick Marx, 90 mins approx. work-in-progress): Tibetan Buddhist monks bring children on a treacherous journey to the schools where they will live for a decade.  We hope that film-maker Frederick Marx (producer of ‘Hoop Dreams’ may be with us.

Who? Anyone, from any faith background or none.  We’ll watch four feature length movies, facilitate some conversation, have Q&As with film-makers, and provide creative space for spiritual interaction including meditation.  But no faith background will be assumed or expected.

How much? $99 sliding scale depending on means (honor system), including dinner on Saturday night (we’ll go out for lunch on our own or in groups).

Places are limited to 40 participants, so if you want to be there, please sign up as soon as possible using this link.  You can also contact us through the link if you have any questions.  For now, we hope you’ll be able to join us.

*Details are correct at the time of posting, but subject to change due to scheduling.