2010 PARANORMAL SYMPOSIUM AND FILM FESTIVAL
AT ANGEL FIRE RESORT
SEE LIST OF FINALISTS AND TRAILERS BELOW
Honoring excellence in films with paranormal themes
WINNERS DECIDED BY AUDIENCE VOTES
PAUL DAVIDS, FILM FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN
Many thanks to noted film producer, writer, and director Paul Davids for serving as Chairman of the inaugural Sir Arthur Film Festival. Davids, who served in 2008 and 2009 as Chairman of the EBE Awards Film Festival at the IUFOC, is well known for his controversial films which often include paranormal themes, including the 1994 Golden Globe nominee “Roswell,” starring Martin Sheen, Kyle Maclachlan and Dwight Yoakam. Other Davids films popular with paranormal buffs include “Timothy Leary’s Dead,” “Starry Night,” “The Artist and the Shaman,” and “The Sci-Fi Boys,” which won the Saturn Award as Best DVD of 2006. Davids is currently in production on a feature documentary called “Curtain Calls: The Life After Death Project,” and the recently completed a new feature film, “Before We Say Goodbye,” that deals in part with the miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Before he began producing and directing his own films, Davids co-wrote six Star Wars sequel novels (with Hollace Davids) for Lucasfilm and Bantam Books, including the award-winning Mission from Mount Yoda. Davids began his career in film and television in 1985 as a writer and production coordinator of the original “Transformers” television series for Marvel Productions.
The Sir Arthur Awards presented to winning entries are an homage to the lifelong study and dedication of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to spiritualism and the paranormal. Although best known for creating the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, Doyle also authored a number of articles and books with paranormal themes, was a member of the British Society for Psychical Research, and promoted spiritualism in public lectures.
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Most people hail Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for being the celebrated author of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, yet are unaware that he devoted the major part of his lifetime to studying the paranormal.
Living as a child in a Catholic family, Doyle also embraced spiritualism, studying with the spiritualism mavens of the day, including the famous Fox sisters and the great Houdini.
Even though Doyle’s support of spiritualism compromised his professional reputation, he was never one to back away from a fight and he continued studying Spiritualism until he died. A few days before his death in 1930, Doyle wrote, “The reader will judge that I have had many adventures. The greatest and most glorious of all awaits me now.”
In his book There is a Psychic World, Horace Westwood tells of a visit from his friend Doyle during a séance years after his death, giving credence to the spiritualism Doyle subscribed to in life. ASPE is pleased to dedicate its film festival award to paranormal research pioneer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
2010 SIR ARTHUR FILM FESTIVAL FINALISTS
FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS CEREMONY TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 11
Sir Arthur Film Festival Winners
2010 Paranormal Symposium • September 9-12 in Angel Fire, NM
ANGEL FIRE, NM – New Paradigm Films “The Day Before Disclosure” and “The Portal” were the big Sir Arthur award winners at the 2010 Paranormal Symposium and Film Festival held September 9-12 in Angel Fire, NM. Norwegian filmmaker Terje Toftenes, who produced and directed both films, and New Paradigm Films art director Trules Toftenes traveled from Norway to accept Sir Arthur awards in the Best Film Over 60 Minutes category the Best Film Under 60 minutes category.
“The Day Before Disclosure” documents the growing awareness and buildup to the day UFO and ET presence becomes a world-wide accepted reality. “The Portal” documents decades of mysterious lights and objects which have been observed in the remote valley of Hessdalen, Norway.
Paul Davids, Terje Toftenes, Trules Toftenes, Suzanne Taylor (photo by Janet Sailor)
“What On Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery” won in the Best Anomalous Footage category, with producer/director Suzanne Taylor present to accept the award. Shot in England, “What On Earth” deals with how determining crop circles are made by extraterrestrials would help solve global problems.
“7 Weaks,” an animated film in which an artist finds his mind can no longer be trusted with reality, won in the Best Animated category. The film was produced by Caroline Thompson and Steve Nicolaides, and was directed by Evan York. “Bloodline,” produced by Rene Barnet and directed by Bruce Burgess, won in the Best Historical category. “Bloodline” reveals recent discoveries sure to re-ignite the controversy over whether Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children.
A special Sir Arthur award was presented to Governor Bill Richardson honoring his activities promoting the growth of New Mexico’s film industry. In a statement read at the awards ceremony by Symposium director Janet Sailor, Richardson expressed his gratitude and accepted his Sir Arthur in absentia, noting, “Of the many achievements of the past eight years, one of the things I’m most proud of is the extraordinary growth of our film industry. From a handful of less than 100 crew members in 2003, we now have over 3,000 – the largest professional crew base outside of Los Angeles and New York. Over 10,000 total jobs and $3.5 billion in economic activity are attributed to this industry during my administration.”
Ten outstanding films were selected as finalists in five categories at the inaugural Sir Arthur Film Festival. The festival featured films with paranormal themes, and was a major element of the 2010 Paranormal Symposium at Angel Fire Resort September 9-12 in Angel Fire, New Mexico. Noted producer, writer, and director Paul Davids served as Chairman of the event. Davids is well known for controversial films which often include paranormal themes, including the 1994 Golden Globe nominee “Roswell.” Other Davids films popular with paranormal buffs include “Timothy Leary's Dead,” Starry Night,” “The Artist and the Shaman,” and “The Sci-Fi Boys,” which won the Saturn Award as Best DVD of 2006. Davids recently completed a new feature film, “Before We Say Goodbye,” and is currently in production on a feature documentary called “The Life After Death Project.”
Davids, who was also a featured speaker at the Symposium, expects to include interviews filmed at the Symposium in “The Life After Death Project” documentary.
Best Animated Film
Coyote Tales: Mystery’s Night
Producer: Frederick Aragon
Director: Frederick Aragon
A short animation which tells the tale of Coyote, who has never been able to make someone love him – and his journey to change that.
7 Weaks
Producer: Caroline Thompson, Steve Nicolaides Director: Evan York
An artist finds his mind – the wellspring for all he creates – can no longer be trusted with reality. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbR4Oz-VJI
Best Historical Film
Bloodline
Producer: Rene Barnett
Director: Bruce Burgess
What it the greatest story ever told was a lie? Discoveries revealed exclusively in Bloodline are sure to re-ignite the controversy over whether Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44x52Yvhefs
The Day Before Disclosure
Producer: Terje Toftenes
Director: Terje Toftenes
A film documenting the growing awareness and the build up to what can potentially be the single, most important event in human history – the day the UFO and ET presence becomes a world wide accepted reality. This is the story of the witnesses who were laughed at, the researchers and reporters who weren’t believed and the governmental and military personnel who were sworn to silence. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmITaOSrxh4
The Portal – The Hessdalen Phenomenon
Producer: Terje Toftenes
Director: Terje Toftenes
For generations, mysterious lights and objects have been observed in the remote valley of Hessdalen, Norway. The phenomenon has been reported as large as a house or as small as a basketball. Both Norwegian and international researchers are involved in trying to reveal the true nature of the phenomenon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFRLJ8FmOU&feature=player_embedded
Utopia on the Rio Grande
Producer: Robin Riley
Director: Robin Riley
In the 19th century a group of spiritual pilgrims were inspired to create an idealistic community in the New Mexico Territory. This is the story of how that colony came into being, flourished, and was absorbed back into the desert wilderness. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3JVkR67pYg&feature=player_embedded
What on Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery
Producer: Suzanne Taylor
Director: Suzanne Taylor
Shot in England, this film features “croppies” who’ve been profoundly touched by the circles. It deals with how ascertaining the circles come from elsewhere would help us think as a planet which would give us our best chance to solve global problems. Trailer at http://vimeo.com/7281668
Best Film Under 60 Minutes
Utopia on the Rio Grande
Producer: Robin Riley
Director: Robin Riley
In the 19th century a group of spiritual pilgrims were inspired to create an idealistic community in the New Mexico Territory. This is the story of how that colony came into being, flourished, and was absorbed back into the desert wilderness. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3JVkR67pYg&feature=player_embedded
7 Weaks
Producer: Caroline Thompson, Steve Nicolaides Director: Evan York
An artist finds his mind – the wellspring for all he creates – can no longer be trusted with reality. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbR4Oz-VJI
Rose
Producer: Michael Silberman
Director: Hoku Uchiyama
Rose is a fictional rural American tale about a little boy’s friendship with the ghost of a murdered girl who haunts the woods near his house. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4autP7C52Uo
Cosmic Granny
Walk-In Film Production
Producer: Jody McNicholas
Director: Jody McNicholas
This is a playful film with a delightful message of inclusivity and fearlessness. Over homemade jam our hearts and minds open to the naturalness of our interconnectedness. We are not alone, but part of a huge multi-dimensional family that extends way beyond our little planet. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR2jJHjRoi0
Coyote Tales: Mystery’s Night
National Geographic All Roads Film Project
Producer: Frederick Aragon
Director: Frederick Aragon
A short animation which tells the tale of Coyote, who has never been able to make someone love him – and his journey to change that.
The Portal – The Hessdalen Phenomenon
Producer: Terje Toftenes
Director: Terje Toftenes
For generations, mysterious lights and objects have been observed in the remote valley of Hessdalen, Norway. The phenomenon has been reported as large as a house or as small as a basketball. Both Norwegian and international researchers are involved in trying to reveal the true nature of the phenomenon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFRLJ8FmOU&feature=player_embedded
Best Film Over 60 Minutes
Bloodline
Producer: Rene Barnett
Director: Bruce Burgess
What it the greatest story ever told was a lie? Discoveries revealed exclusively in Bloodline are sure to re-ignite the controversy over whether Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44x52Yvhefs
The Silent Revolution of Truth
Producers: Michael Horn and Jack Gerlack
Director: Jack Gerlack
In 1958, Billy Meier predicted the Iraq Wars, AIDS, global warming and terrorism; and . . . he’d already been to the moon. Is it the biggest hoax . . . or the most important story in human history? Now you can decide for yourself! Now, for the first time, you’ll see and hear Billy Meier’s life story in his own words! Trailer at http://www.livevideo.com/video/FD5FB7F10DE643EBB5B87712E77F6536/ufo-billy-meier-the-silent.aspx
The Day Before Disclosure
Producer: Terje Toftenes
Director: Terje Toftenes
A film documenting the growing awareness and the build up to what can potentially be the single, most important event in human history – the day the UFO and ET presence becomes a world wide accepted reality. This is the story of the witnesses who were laughed at, the researchers and reporters who weren’t believed and the governmental and military personnel who were sworn to silence. Trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmITaOSrxh4
What on Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery
Producer: Suzanne Taylor
Director: Suzanne Taylor
Shot in England, this film features “croppies” who’ve been profoundly touched by the circles. It deals with how ascertaining the circles come from elsewhere would help us think as a planet which would give us our best chance to solve global problems. Trailer at http://vimeo.com/7281668
Best Anomalous Footage
The Portal – The Hessdalen Phenomenon
Producer: Terje Toftenes
Director: Terje Toftenes
For generations, mysterious lights and objects have been observed in the remote valley of Hessdalen, Norway. The phenomenon has been reported as large as a house or as small as a basketball. Both Norwegian and international researchers are involved in trying to reveal the true nature of the phenomenon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFRLJ8FmOU&feature=player_embedded
What on Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery
Producer: Suzanne Taylor
Director: Suzanne Taylor
Shot in England, this film features “croppies” who’ve been profoundly touched by the circles. It deals with how ascertaining the circles come from elsewhere would help us think as a planet which would give us our best chance to solve global problems. Trailer at http://vimeo.com/7281668
The Silent Revolution of Truth
Producers: Michael Horn and Jack Gerlack
Director: Jack Gerlack
In 1958, Billy Meier predicted the Iraq Wars, AIDS, global warming and terrorism; and . . . he’d already been to the moon. Is it the biggest hoax . . . or the most important story in human history? Now you can decide for yourself! Now, for the first time, you’ll see and hear Billy Meier’s life story in his own words! Trailer at http://www.livevideo.com/video/FD5FB7F10DE643EBB5B87712E77F6536/ufo-billy-meier-the-silent.aspx
Bonus Film (Not in Competition)
Examination
Producer: Paul Davids
Director: Paul Davids
Your film festival chairman, Paul Davids, has resurrected from the mothballs of a previous life the 24-minute film, “Examination,” which he wrote, produced, and directed while he was one of the first fellowship students at the American Film Institute Center for Advanced Film Studies, not seen since the 1970s. A lost classic starring Paul Picerni (of “The House of Wax”) as the scientist who tries to play God as he takes the most paranormal examination ever devised (which was only passed once in all of time!).
FILM FESTIVAL COCKTAIL PARTY AT HISTORIC HAUNTED
LAGUNA VISTA LODGEWAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!
CLICK FOR LIST OF 2010 SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS
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