Moondance Film Festival

Terminator or American Pie are two films that were not shown at the Moon Dance Film Festival.

The Moondance Film Festival promotes non-violent films that encourage the audience to make a difference in social issues around the world. Prema Rose, the recipient of the “Spirit of Moondance” award in 2005, agrees with the focus of the festival. “I feel like we need to really make conscious media that uplifts and enlightens humanity,” Prema said.

“United by Music” by Michel Drenthe is a film about an orchestra in Curacao. This film is just one of the many submitted into the festival from around the world. “United by Music” is an example of entertainment without the focus on sex, drugs, and violence that much of the world’s media is currently focused on.

“After people saw my film, they all said ‘Oh Michel, this film makes me so happy’ and ‘I got a good feeling after seeing this film.’ If you can do that with a film then you are on the right track,” Drenthe said about his film.

Elizabeth English founded the Moondance Film Festival ten years ago. Her motives for starting the festival come from her idea that film and television can change perceptions of everybody who sees certain films.

The festivals mission states that it hopes to “entertain, inform, inspire, encourage and educate. [They] honor those artists who, through their creative work, actively increase awareness, provide multiple viewpoints, address complex social issues, and strengthen ties between international audiences.”

English and her staff will start accepting submissions for next year’s film festival in January. For more information visit moondancefilmfestival.com.