Religion/Spirituality/Philosophy

Esther Harris, a devout young woman praised for her virtue and devotion to Warren F. Vanderbilt’s Prophetic Watchman Ministries, has been given the opportunity of a lifetime – to attend Vanderbilt’s Kingdom Bible College.

The film, loosely based on writer/producer Andie Redwine’s own experiences, traces Esther’s story living with the fundamentalist pastor's family until she is banished for a committing a “sin” in the eyes of the church.  She takes up with her new-found friends and co-workers who reveal a brand new and more lighthearted world to her…

For 12 years, Leonard Retel Helmrich has followed an Indonesian family from the slums of Jakarta and continues to show us the underlying patterns of life in Indonesia, both literally and metaphorically, with his revolutionary camera work. 

Like The Beatles and David Lynch before him, young German filmmaker David Sieveking sets off on a journey of enlightenment to better understand the teachings of Transcendental Meditation (TM), a controversial spiritual movement that's been criticized by some for using financially manipulative practices.  Travelling from Fairfield, Iowa (a founder Maharishi center), to India to Berlin, this artistic pilgrimage showcases Sieveking's charm in this tale on the fallibility of his idols, among them cult filmmaker and TM devotee David Lynch. Scenic backdrops and a playful musical score add to the depth of Sieveking’s whimsical and provocative documentary.