An Illuminating Evening

The Music Academy’s Hahn Hall was socially gridlocked when the ILLUMINATE Film Festival, a leading event for evolutionary cinema, celebrated its 10th anniversary and move to Santa Barbara from Sedona, Arizona.

The fun fest included an exclusive screening of The Monk and the Gun, a charming and provocative feature film set in Bhutan in 2006, that recently premiered at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals, followed by a Q & A with the movie’s writer and director Pawo Choyning Dorji.

“We are thrilled to celebrate a major anniversary and move to Santa Barbara,” says Téana David, the festival’s executive director.

Among supporters turning out were Anne Towbes, Judi Weisbart, Danette Wolpert, Belle Hahn, Xorin Balbes and Truman Davies, Rinaldo and Laila Brutoco, and Jerry Eisenberg and Caroline McDougall.