Now available on DVD and On-Demand
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Georgia Wyss
An award-winning editor of feature documentaries including The Light Bulb Conspiracy and A Crude Awakening, this is her first film as a director. Here is what she had to say on making it her debut:
“In our always –on, supposedly connected world, people are increasingly losing the most important connection of all: the one to themselves. I have also experienced this disconnection and chanting, also known as Bhakti Yoga or Kirtan, allowed me to not only reconnect on a deeper level with myself, but also recently helped me through a difficult event in my life, letting go of someone very close to me. As I learnt more about the beneficial effects the practice was having on other people from all walks of life, I resolved to make a film to communicate just that: Kirtan is for anyone and everyone regardless of background, it is the universal language of the heart.”
How the project came together
Ever since she discovered the world of mantra in 2004, Georgia Wyss began developing her ideas on how to make a film recognising the importance of the practice of chanting mantras as a means of healing, a practice which she felt could benefit the lives of many.
In 2012 she arranged to meet Deva Premal and Miten during their first visit to Barcelona, and shared her ideas with them for a film about mantra chanting. They loved the idea and wanted to contribute, so the first filming started with them in 2013. That same year opportunities also arose to film and interview Krishna Das and Snatam Kaur in Barcelona, followed by the peace festival in Paris with a concert given by Lama Gyurme and Jean Philippe Rykiel. By now the project was officially born.
Continuing from this, with the valuable support of our core creative team, including co-director and cinematographer Wari Om, we set out to explore today's Kirtan movement both in the East and in the West.
Then in 2015, thanks to the support of our many generous crowd funders, we expanded the project to visit some of the most important Kirtan gatherings around the world, in the US, Greece and even Russia where we captured the phenomenon of people coming together to chant. Also, thanks to Wari's many trips to the East, we were able to capture the essence of the origins of Kirtan in Vrindavan, Rishikesh and Kathmandu.
We discovered the beauty of people from a diversity of spiritual paths, coming together all over the planet to chant mantras in a variety of musical styles, and the potential this has for creating a more peaceful and loving world.
Our heartfelt gratitude
In a project of this magnitude with so many wonderful people involved, it is sometimes difficult to give our individual heartfelt thanks to everyone. It is also incredibly inspiring to be involved in a project where everyone is so willing and determined to contribute.
We really cannot thank enough all those who have been involved as this project would never have become a reality without them donating their time, creativity and funding. The investors, the crowdfunders, the artists and the musicians who play along with them and the mountains of people behind the scenes who helped us, and continue to help us along the way.
Core production crew
Here are just some of the wonderful talents behind the production, all of whom have donated their time and efforts to the project.
CO-DIRECTOR & CINEMATOGRAPHER
Wari Om
The world's best known Yoga videographer and photographer.
CINEMATOGRAPHERS
Jordi Azategui, Ismael Joyera & Daniel Arvizu
PRODUCERS
Raymond McCormack & Georgia Wyss
CO-EDITOR
Daniel Arvizu
CO-PRODUCER & ART DIRECTOR
Mick Walsh
PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE
Steffi Haberstroh, Meg Evans
PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR, USA
Jennifer Canfield (Call and Response Foundation)