LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) —The first-ever World Culture Film Festival (WCFF) will take place in Los Angeles from July 25-28, 2024. This new film festival aims to elevate human consciousness through cinema, showcasing stories from around the globe.
Inspired by the humanitarian vision of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who advocates for a violence-free world, the festival promises a rich tapestry of films and events.
The festival opens with The Monk and The Gun, directed by Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji, known for his 2019 Oscar-nominated film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom. Over 60 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Tibet, Japan, Germany, and Brazil, are participating, with more than 60 films in competition. Screenings will be held at USC’s Ray Stark Theater, the newly-reopened former-Downtown Independent Theater, and online via EOFlix.
Notable films include Justin Grant and Laurens Goud’s Our Voice, Our Heart, Radha Mehta’s Dosh, Julio Palacio’s Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World, Dash Kolos’ Crown, Harry Holland’s Last Call featuring Tom Holland, and Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, which will close the festival.
Leading the festival are executive directors Anabelle D. Munro and Sej Saraiya. Munro, CEO of the ETHOS Film Awards and Institute, is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. Saraiya is a celebrated visual artist and filmmaker known for her focus on indigenous narratives.
“We are thrilled to be launching the inaugural World Culture Film Festival, hosted by the Art of Living Foundation and in partnership with USC,” Munro and Saraiya said in a joint statement. “The response from filmmakers worldwide has been truly inspiring. We warmly welcome everyone to join us in celebrating film as a powerful medium for envisioning a better tomorrow.”
The festival will feature several notable events, including a live table read of “Logic of Love” with director Barnet Bain, industry panels on filmmaking and storytelling, and a binaural beats music experience with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and composer Stephen Hilton.
In its debut year, the festival is dedicated to showcasing films that inspire, educate, and celebrate cultural diversity, aiming to foster unity and understanding among global communities through compelling narratives and artistic expression.
