New Film Releases Index | Spirituality & Practice

Awake: The Life of Yogananda Directed by Lisa Leeman, Paola di Florio A rounded portrait of the Father of Yoga in the West that celebrates his practical and uplifting art of spiritual living. Being Present

A Celtic Pilgrimage with John O'Donohue Directed by Betsy Scarborough A beautifully filmed documentary in which John O'Donohue explains the importance of landscape in Celtic spirituality. Imagination

Monk With a Camera Directed by Guido Santi, Tina Mascara The life and work of a Western abbot in a Tibetan monastery in India who serves as a bridge-builder. Attention

Daughters of Dolma Directed by Adam Miklos Visits to two Tibetan Buddhist nunneries where girls and women blend tradition with large dollops of the media and the secular world. Devotion

Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler Directed by Anisa Mehdi, Bosie Vincent, Jeremy Jeffs, Wayne Derrick A six-part series that focuses on the motivations and reactions of pilgrims at sacred places around the world. Questing

The Wisdom to Survive: Climate Change, Capitalism & … Directed by Anne Macksoud, John Ankele By far, the best and most inspiring, enlightening, and creative social issue documentary on climate change. Transformation

Rabindranath Tagore - The Poet of Eternity Directed by Partha Bhattacharya A uplifting tribute to this truly extraordinary Indian poet, polymath, and philosopher. Meaning

When the Iron Bird Flies: Tibetan Buddhism Arrives … Directed by Victress Hitchcock An invaluable history of the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to the West and its continuing evolution. Teachers

Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey Directed by Wendy J. N. Lee A documentary about a 450-mile pilgrimage through the Himalayas to spread the message of environmental compassion. Compassion

Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago Directed by Lydia B. Smith A documentary about six pilgrims' responses to this daunting and enlightening journey. Transformation

Free the Mind Directed by Phie Ambo An enlightening documentary about using mindfulness, breathing techniques, and yoga to reprogram the brain and ease the mind. Peace

Band of Sisters Directed by Mary Fishman A heart-felt documentary celebrating the incredible achievements of activist Catholic nuns in the United States. Justice

Bodhisattva Directed by Mark Elliot An introduction to the Seventeenth Karmapa, the 23-year-old leader of the oldest reincarnation lineage in Tibetan Buddhism on a tour of America. Teachers

Bill Moyers: Faith & Reason Directed by Elena Mannes, Mark Ganguzza, Pamela Mason Wagner Bill Moyers once again sets the gold standard for intelligent conversation on television. Faith

In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan: A Model… Directed by Jayasri (Joyce) Hart A documentary about the fruitful encounter of Francis of Assisi, a Catholic monk, and Sultan al-Kamil, a Sufi Muslim. Hospitality

Jesus & Buddha: Practicing Across Traditions Directed by John Ankele A timely, soul-stirring mapping of Christians enriching their faith with insights from Zen Buddhism. Faith

Crazy Wisdom: The Life and Times of Chogyam Trungpa … Directed by Johanna Demetrakas An edifying documentary on the controversial Tibetan Buddhist spiritual teacher. Teachers

Wake Up Directed by Chloe Crespi, Jonas Elrod An intriguing documentary about a young man, his close encounter with the world of spirits, and his quest for peace and transformation. X-The Mystery

Tears of the Buddha Directed by Joel Lesko A group of Buddhists teachers on the meaning and value of the emotions in a spiritual life of meditation. Teachers

Prajna Earth: Journey into Sacred Nature Directed by John Bush A visually stunning portrait of the devotional lives of Buddhists and Hindus in Cambodia, Bali, and Java. Devotion