Finding joy can be a challenge but is critical to a rich and full life according to the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. ↓

Our personal pursuit of joy can be complicated, layered and difficult. The thoughtful and uplifting documentary Mission:Joy wants to understand how to face this multi-layered challenge by exploring the unique friendship between Desmund Tutu and the Dalai Lama. The two holy men gathered in Dharamsala for several days of conversation and the film, directed by Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos, consists of never-before-seen footage paired with beautiful animations. These two world religious leaders from vastly different backgrounds found hope, laughter and mutual companionship, offering lessons on how we can spread joy throughout our own lives.Co-directors Peggy Callahan and Louie Psihoyos join Sonja Lyubomirsky who studies happiness and is the author of The How of Happiness in conversation post-screening. LEARN MORE

As we emerge from the pandemic, how do we create a smarter and more equitable world? ↓

The past 18 months have provided a real opportunity for many people to reexamine and recalibrate what they want from society. With that in mind, how do we move forward with intentionality and thoughtfulness, while at the same time disrupting, if not, dismantling age-old systems and constructs that do not serve our humanity and environment? Jean Oelwang is head of Virgin Unite and has delved deeply into understanding partnerships, which she believes is the key to creating a new paradigm. Engine No. 1 is a hedge fund, focused on climate change, that recently took on Exxon in an effective way that could have enormous ramifications on the future of our planet. Joining these speakers will be an array of festival guests who will briefly share their own big idea of how we build a new world that works for everyone. LEARN MORE

What happens when a radical group of nuns takes on the Catholic Church patriarchy by deciding to live their truth through marching in Selma, creating protest art and trying to change the sexism and broken infrastructure of this hidebound institution? ↓

In the late 60’s, social change percolated across America including in one unexpected precinct - the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary convent in Los Angeles. The feature documentary Rebel Hearts, directed by Pedro Kos, tells the riveting and rollicking story of these bold and defiant nuns who knew that the world was changing and they had to be part of it. The women went on to make art, march in Selma and push back against the sexism and broken infrastructure within the Catholic Church. As one might expect, they were met with deep and formidable opposition from the patriarchy in the Catholic Church, even though what the nuns were doing were acts of faith. Their resistance caused all sorts of turmoil for the Catholic Church and their impact continues to resonate today, inspiring a new generation of rebel hearts who are committed to love and equality. LEARN MORE

How do we lead a life of purpose that results in its own unique and indelible story? ↓

We are each leading a life that results in its own unique story. Some of us stumble through this narrative finding intention along the way, while others move with purpose, on a mission to make a difference. That is certainly the case with Pat Mitchell who has long been a cultural force at PBS, CNN and Sundance Institute, while also being the editorial director of TEDWomen, but she only really found her full freedom when she embraced her story and recognized herself as a dangerous woman, which she explores in her memoir Becoming a Dangerous Woman. Harold O’Neal is an exceptional storyteller and musician whose own personal story became the basis for some of the ambitious Pixar film, Soul. Princess Lockeroo is a dancer who has shaped her own narrative through her indelible physical movements. Understanding these stories will help us understand our own purpose and how the two are explicitly intertwined. LEARN MORE

Trauma manifests itself in so many ways - how can it be disrupted? ↓

The pandemic both exacerbated old issues and sparked all sorts of new stressors for people across the world. That was certainly what Tiny DeCory saw on the Pine Ridge reservation, where teen suicides more than tripled despite her best efforts to stem this tide. Tiny’s suicide prevention efforts are captured in the short documentary, The Bears on Pine Ridge. Dr. Halleh Sedigazzedah encounters the same thing in her work as a forensic traumatologist, where she focuses on survivors of human trafficiking, war, terrorism, genocide, gender-based violence and ecclesiastic abuse and offers a holistic approach to healing. Unfortunately, there is too much demand for the work of Dr. Halleh and Tiny, two women determined to disrupt trauma wherever they see it. LEARN MORE

The attacks on truth are real and deeply dangerous so how do we stop this scourge? ↓

“Truth decay” is a phrase President Obama used to describe the current state of truth in this country, saying “not only do we not have to tell the truth but the truth doesn’t even matter.” This growing scourge is fueled by social media and other disreputable entities. Mick West is the founder of Metabunk.org, which investigates a cross-section of conspiracy theories. He is also the author of Escaping the Rabbit Hole, in which he outlines the ways that he helps people see actual facts more clearly and that starts with communication. We Have Reached the Moment is a short documentary about an ongoing conversation between Vic Barrett who is a 21 year-old climate activist and plaintiff in the landmark legal case Juliana vs. United States and his father who is not convinced climate change is happening. This isn’t an easy conversation yet one that seems ever more essential as the assault on truth is real and deeply problematic. LEARN MORE

As we emerge from the pandemic, how do we create a smarter and more equitable world? ↓

The past 18 months have provided a real opportunity for many people to reexamine and recalibrate what they want from society. With that in mind, how do we move forward with intentionality and thoughtfulness, while at the same time disrupting, if not, dismantling age-old systems and constructs that do not serve our humanity and environment? Jean Oelwang is head of Virgin Unite and has delved deeply into understanding partnerships, which she believes is the key to creating a new paradigm. Engine No. 1 is a hedge fund, focused on climate change, that recently took on Exxon in an effective way that could have enormous ramifications on the future of our planet. Joining these speakers will be an array of festival guests who will briefly share their own big idea of how we build a new world that works for everyone. LEARN MORE

When the renowned artist JR says that “art can go places”, what does he mean? ↓

JR has installed site-specific artworks around the world that capture humanity in a way few artists do. He is a photographer but has deep roots in street art that is working to “give a voice to what’s been silent.” This is a line from the new documentary about JR called Paper and Glue that follows him around the world as he installs artworks in prisons, favelas and other environs that do not see a lot of art, especially work that is about these often forgotten folks. As he says, “Art can go places” and with JR, that means it can go the most unexpected places. LEARN MORE

All around us are memorials, streets and parks but what happens when we find out who those places are named for and it honors a dark side of history? ↓

How we memorialize our past tells us so much about our present. This show explores that through two films that complement each other nicely. Change the Name is a short documentary that looks at a Chicago park that was named after a slave holder until a teacher and her students diligently worked to rename it. CJ Hunt’s unforgettable feature film, The Neutral Ground, examines the removal of statues in New Orleans that honored Confederate generals and other people who upheld the pernicious slave state that existed there long ago. Hunt is a comedian so he approaches this fraught material with humor but also bravery as he goes to talk to people who believe that the Confederate South was well-intentioned and misunderstood. It is tricky ground to walk and while the title has its point, which you will find in the film, Hunt is far from neutral and really working to explain to us how complicated history can be. LEARN MORE

Afghanistan is a radically different country than it was 20 years ago so now with the Taliban in charge again, will the country revert to how it once was? ↓

Watching the end of a war should bring some sense of relief but for many, the end of the American presence in Afghanistan was challenging and painful. There were no easy answers in the region but the messy and chaotic ending will likely haunt the U.S. and more importantly, Afghanistan, for decades. Correspondent Jane Ferguson has covered this conflict closely for much of her career and was one of the last Western reporters to leave the country before the U.S. exited and what she saw was heart-breaking. Saad Mohseini is a media executive from Afghanistan who started TOLO TV, which brought all sorts of new programming to the country from Afghan Star (a singing contest show) to robust news coverage. Rina Amiri was born in Afghanistan and now works in New York advocating for human rights and conflict resolution. LEARN MORE

Musicians spend their lives mastering not only when to play a note, but when not a single note will do. ↓

Musicians spend their lives mastering not only when to play a note, but when not a single note will do. Space — or the absence of sound — is to be treasured as much as sound itself in the making of melody, rhythm and vocalisation. But the purpose of music is to fill space, both physical and existential, connecting people to each other and to a wider universe. This presentation explores space as not only the conduit of music, but its natural home. LEARN MORE

Live Music to Open Shows ↓

We are thrilled to have talented musicians Linzy Plotkin, Brigid Kaelin, Kiran Oohmen and Tiffany Thompson to open shows with 30 minute sets. Chris Pierce will showcase a concert and story during our OT Spotlight series. LEARN MORE

Experiences that blend the boundaries of story, conversation and art across an in-person and virtual format. ↓

The OT Spotlight Series will showcase various original thinkers in a distilled environment - diving deep into their unique experiences and outlooks through the lens of story, conversation and art. LEARN MORE