This event was Europe’s first international spiritual film festival, and festival sponsors ‘Spirit Cinema’ created a truly beautiful event to mark the occasion. The line up of films included: Peaceful Warriors, Conversations with God, The Celestine Prophecy, Illusion, 2012 The Odyssey, Timewave 2013, The Moses Code, Louise Hay: You Can Heal Your Life, Deepak Chopra’s 7 Laws, Dalai Lama Renaissance among others, and filled four days of the festival. Spiritual Warriors premiered on Saturday night of the festival at 6pm, prime time, and was well attended. Free Spiritual Warrior books were given to all guests, and Zoe Golightly did the audience Q&A. A second screening of Spiritual Warriors was held on Monday night to close the festival, and meetings with potential buyers and distributors for Germany and Europe were held during the weekend.
Day 1
I arrived early evening into Hamburg Airport, greeted by 6’7″ Jacob, son of the German Film Festival’s director, and my personal concierge for my brief stay. Having traveled extensively himself, Jacob and I found much to chat about: his travels across the US, his many encounters with Aussie drunks, and his father’s spiritual bookstore and new spiritual film company. We drove across town through peak hour traffic, which felt more like Sunday morning traffic in LA by comparison. Vibrant yellow, amber and red leaves colored our drive, and I quickly fell in love with this quaint little European city lit up by the Fall colors. Along our drive was the Aussenalster, a river running through the city that, with its large bridges dissecting it at points, gives the illusion of being a series of lakes sitting conformly and comfortably next to each other. Lining the Aussenalster, were a mix of late eighteenth century cathedrals and buildings, modern museums and picture perfect parks. After checking in, we walked to the theatre, a 5 minute stroll from the hotel, for a brief meeting with Festival Director Juergen and Event Director Frank. Food, phone calls, and a few emails later, I was asleep the moment my head touched the pillow.
Day 2
OPENING NIGHT
Day 2 began at the theatre, setting up posters, books and a few initial photos, with the help of Inken Kempf – fellow ‘Spiritual Warrior’ whose initial invite to her home city of Hamburg and the festival was the catalyst for this adventure, inspired by joining us for all three screenings we’ve held in London over the last two years. Inken and I have kept in touch over email following our screening in 2006, she serendipitously found herself at the Premiere in London in October 2006. She fell in love with us, the energy, and of course our beloved J-R. So it was so great to see her again, and to be greeted so warmly by the local ‘hamburger’. Inken and I attended screenings interspersed with meeting both publishers and distributors of spiritual movies for both Germany and Europe. Friday’s highlight for me was a movie called ‘Illusion’ by well-known actor Michael Goorjian, starring Kirk Douglas. The day concluded with the Opening Night Cocktail Party. I met and chatted with many, among photos and drinks. Note to Paul Kaye: (who attended a Russian Martial Arts Seminar with Dan Millman earlier this year) unfortunately I didn’t follow through on my plan for surprising Dan Millman with my newly acquired martial moves; they were exchanged for the more mundane but perhaps more effective rubbing of shoulders.
Day 3
SPIRITUAL WARRIORS PREMIERE
I had a business breakfast at the hotel to start the morning with the festival team, and Sharon Rose and Jay Wiedner, creators of 2012 The Odyssey and 2013 Timewave; both of whom I have met a couple of times now at Expos and Fairs over the past two years, and exchanged around one hundred emails during that time. Was wonderful to catch up, exchange ideas, compare screening stories. Then walked over to the theatre with Frank – our festival angel, aka Event Director – to test the movie. After the all clear, I headed to the Aussenalster, to walk the perimeter of the larger of the ‘lakes’. A narrow and never-ending park lines each part of the bank, encompassing both the ‘lake’ and its many sailing and rowing boats. Fall colors (aaah, Fall colors) created an almost continuous shelter for my hour and a half walk around the lake, with the perfect amount of sun rays breaking the canopy for appropriate warmth yet minimal glare, as I walked this meandering park to the sound of J-R on iPod. Heaven. Pure Hamburg Heaven.
I had a quick bite along the walk back to the theatre before getting ready for the Spiritual Warriors Premiere. Greeted by my trusty companion and Spiritual Warriors Sidekick, Inken and I took care of set up, while the festival team gave each guest a Spiritual Warrior book as they entered the theatre. Despite not having German subtitles, the audience laughed in the right places, and had many questions for me to follow. Having listened to Jsu do over 100 Q&As now, I was in no shortage of the right information, and with J-R close at heart, found more that the answers came from within, and from the experience we’ve shared taking this movie around the world. I chatted with some enthusiastic new fans following the film, one already having read part of the book on the toilet directly after seeing the film — and wanting to know all about J-R. Another film and more schmoozing, before parting with Inken just before midnight, before some room service, phone calls, emails then bed.
Day 4
FREE DAY
Shopping in the morning, another walk around the Alster and lunch with a friend. Afternoon workout and sauna, followed by some kind of intense stomach bug / clearing. Angel Inken came to nurse me through the night. This is Europe … not South America?!?!
Day 5
SPIRITUAL WARRIORS CLOSES FESTIVAL
I awoke feeling fine, and glad to be over the night’s fever and bathroom challenges. Late breakfast before a stroll to the Alster, lunch at Cliffs on the water, before meeting Inken for more walking and sightseeing around town. A quick coffee by Town Hall, before heading back to the hotel for some SEs, before our final Spiritual Warriors screening to close the festival. Neale Donald Walsch’s movie Conversations with God screened before us, and Neale did a Q&A at the conclusion of his film. I had the pleasure of chatting at length with Neale and wife Em afterwards, before starting to help the festival team pack up the theatre.
So it’s 2.30am, and I fly back to LA tomorrow morning. Tired yet full of gratitude for the blessing of sharing our beloved Traveler’s Teachings with the world, and of sharing with so many beautiful people over these past 5 days. I’d like to send a very special thank you to Inken for her love, Light, and for holding for this event with such a clear intention and purpose. And for all the ways you supported me personally Inken – you are an angel.
Beloved J-R thank you for holding my hand, every moment, and for the sweet serendipity and synchronicity that blessed this trip. And Zeus, we did good.
Much Love and Light to you all,
Zoe Golightly
