INSPIRATION FILM FESTIVAL 2006 AWARDS PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

2006 SECOND ANNUAL INSPIRATION FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR DRAMATIC SHORT, DOCUMENTARY AND FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION

Festival Announces Dates for 2007: April 27th-29th
(Santa Monica, Calif.) May 1, 2006

The Inspiration Film Festival (IFF), which showcases films that inspire us to expand our awareness and pursue positive change in our lives, announced the winners of its second annual competition in the Dramatic Short and Feature films categories at its closing session in Santa Monica, California.

Winner of both the 2006 GAIA Feature Film Award with a cash prize of $15,000, and the Audience Award for Feature Film: PEACEFUL WARRIOR

Directed by Victor Salva, “Peaceful Warrior,” swept awards, taking home the glamorous new signature GAIA Award statuette. “Peaceful Warrior” is a moving tale about the power of the human spirit. Based on the semi-autobiographical book “Way of The Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman, the story centers on a gifted young athlete (Scott Mechlowicz) bound for Olympic gold. But his world is turned upside down when he meets a mysterious stranger (Nick Nolte) in a gas station who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. The young man discovers that he has much to learn, and even more to leave behind.

The Inspiration Film Festival kicked off this year with the first public screening of “Peaceful Warrior”. The star-studded evening included appearances by the film’s principals, Nick Nolte, Scott Mechlowicz and Amy Smart, along with writer Dan Millman and director Victor Salva. They were joined by Lions Gate Entertainment Vice-Chairman and Producer Mark Amin, Lions Gate Entertainment Vice-Chairman Michael Burns, and “Peaceful Warrior” Producers Cami Winikoff, Robin Schorr, and David Welch.

Winner of both the 2006 GAIA Documentary Film Award with a cash prize of $5,000, and the Audience Award for Feature-Length Documentary: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET

Directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton and Linda Hawkins Costigan, this film is a behind-the-scenes look at the unexpected dynamics of producing the most-watched children’s television show in some of the world’s political hotspots.

Winner of both the 2006 GAIA Short Film Award with a cash prize of $5,000, and the Audience Award for Short Film: SPIN

Writer/Director Jamin Winans swept the Short Film category with both awards. His film “SPIN” is a highly energized eight minutes about a mysterious DJ sent from Heaven to mend a chain reaction of mishaps.

Last year’s festival winners included the highly successful documentary “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” which won the Gaia Documentary Award, and “Illusion,” which won the Gaia Feature Film Award. Both of these winners were picked up from the festival for national distribution and will be in theaters later this year.

The presenting sponsor of this year’s festival was once again Gaiam, the lifestyle media company that caters to people who value personal development, natural health, and inspirational entertainment.

Jurors for the Second Annual Inspiration Film Festival include founder and former Editor Los Angeles Weekly Jay Levin, founder and partner of Inferno Distribution Bill Johnson, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Yogi Times Sophie Parienti, award-winning actor and director of “Illusion” Michael Goorjian, and award-winning composer, musician and founding member of Tangerine Dream Christopher Franke.

About The Inspiration Film Festival:

Now in its second year, the Inspiration Film Festival is presented by Conscious Media and Awakened Media, and took place in Santa Monica, California, April 28-30, 2006. An Inspiration Film is a movie that inspires us to expand our awareness and pursue positive change in our lives. An Inspiration Film honors the belief that simple choices we make every day can change the world and make a difference.

PRESS CONTACT:

Una Morera, Inspiration Film Festival (renamed Gaia Film Festival), info@gaiafilmfest.com