Founders and co-directors Mary Gervase and Claudio Ruben got the idea for the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival in March 2005. Six months later, the launched the first ever festival in conjunction with the Dalai Lama's visit to the Wood River Valley.Year-one showcased films solely about Buddhism and the response was so great, they decided to make it an annual event. Over the years, the focus has shifted from just Buddhism to all aspects of spirituality. In its third season, the number of applicants has doubled from 140 in 2006 to 280 in 2007. Twenty-seven films were selected for this year’s festival, covering everything from a young surfer recovering from a shark attack to the story of a spiritual healer in Macedonia. Not only are there films, but several fantastic speakers as well.Three awards will be given out to filmmakers. There are awards for Best Spiritual Documentary, Best Spiritual Short Film and the Frida Award, a cash prize for first time filmmakers, sponsored by local filmmaker Bex Wilkinson. Films will be screened at the Sun Valley Opera House and the Liberty Theatre in Hailey from Friday September 14 through Sunday September 16; speakers will be at the theatres as well. For a complete schedule and more information, please visit www.svspiritualfilmfestival.org
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