First Annual Scottsdale International Bahá'í Festival
featuring eleven documentaries and short films
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As the world suffers from the divisive forces of strife and intolerance, a new Faith advocates the oneness of humanity’s major religions as a path toward world peace.The Gate: Dawn of the Bahá’í Faith is the groundbreaking documentary that tells the amazing, true story of the Prophet Herald known as The Báb, His message and the origins of anew era in world religion.
"The Gate" documentary was created by collaboration of a number of known producers, director, writer and historian expertise . To name a few:
Bob Hercules ~ Director/Producer/Writer
Bob Hercules is an independent filmmaker and co-owner of Media Process Group—a Chicago-based production company. Hercules’ work has been seen widely on PBS, Discovery Channel, IFC, The Learning Channel and in film festivals around the world.
Edward A. Price ~ Producer/Writer
Edward A. Price is a former atheist from a Jewish background who became a Baha’i in 1973 at the University of Virginia. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Psychology and Religious Studies, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National University in California, and doctoral level training from Florida State University in the field of Instructional Systems Design.
Steve Sarowitz ~ Executive Producer/Writer
Steve Sarowitz is Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), a leading U.S. provider of payroll and HR solutions. In addition, Steve also serves as CEO of Blue Marble, an international payroll provider, and as Director of Payescape, a UK payroll provider. He is also an international philanthropist with an interest in promoting unity and promoting universal education and advocating for the elimination of racism, sexism, nationalism and religious prejudice.
Dr. Nader Saiedi
Nadar Saiedi was born in Tehran, Iran and currently teaches Baha’i studies at UCLA. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Pahlavi University in Shiraz and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin. For over 25 years he was a professor of sociology at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 2013, he became the Taslimi Foundation professor of Baha’i History and Religion in Iran.
His main interests include Babi and Baha’i studies, social theory, Iranian studies, and peace studies. Among his published books are: The Birth of Social Theory (1993), Logos and Civilization (2000), and Gate of the Heart (2008).
Layli Miller ~ Founder of Tahirih Justice Center
Layli Miller is the Founder and CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, which provides free legal services and engages in advocacy on behalf of immigrant women and girls fleeing human rights abuses. In its 20th year, Tahirih is located in 4 cities in the United States and has protected over 22,000 women and girls courageously rejecting violence.
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson is an actor/writer best known for playing the role of Dwight Schrute on NBC’s Emmy Winning, The Office. Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company that seeks to tackle “life’s big questions” and Lidè Foundation, an educational initiative in rural Haiti that empowers at-risk women and girls through the arts.
"The Gate" documentary was created by collaboration of a number of known producers, director, writer and historian expertise . To name a few:
Bob Hercules ~ Director/Producer/Writer
Bob Hercules is an independent filmmaker and co-owner of Media Process Group—a Chicago-based production company. Hercules’ work has been seen widely on PBS, Discovery Channel, IFC, The Learning Channel and in film festivals around the world.
Edward A. Price ~ Producer/Writer
Edward A. Price is a former atheist from a Jewish background who became a Baha’i in 1973 at the University of Virginia. He has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Psychology and Religious Studies, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National University in California, and doctoral level training from Florida State University in the field of Instructional Systems Design.
Steve Sarowitz ~ Executive Producer/Writer
Steve Sarowitz is Founder and Chairman of Paylocity (Nasdaq: PCTY), a leading U.S. provider of payroll and HR solutions. In addition, Steve also serves as CEO of Blue Marble, an international payroll provider, and as Director of Payescape, a UK payroll provider. He is also an international philanthropist with an interest in promoting unity and promoting universal education and advocating for the elimination of racism, sexism, nationalism and religious prejudice.
Dr. Nader Saiedi
Nadar Saiedi was born in Tehran, Iran and currently teaches Baha’i studies at UCLA. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Pahlavi University in Shiraz and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin. For over 25 years he was a professor of sociology at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 2013, he became the Taslimi Foundation professor of Baha’i History and Religion in Iran.
His main interests include Babi and Baha’i studies, social theory, Iranian studies, and peace studies. Among his published books are: The Birth of Social Theory (1993), Logos and Civilization (2000), and Gate of the Heart (2008).
Layli Miller ~ Founder of Tahirih Justice Center
Layli Miller is the Founder and CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, which provides free legal services and engages in advocacy on behalf of immigrant women and girls fleeing human rights abuses. In its 20th year, Tahirih is located in 4 cities in the United States and has protected over 22,000 women and girls courageously rejecting violence.
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson is an actor/writer best known for playing the role of Dwight Schrute on NBC’s Emmy Winning, The Office. Wilson co-founded SoulPancake, a digital media company that seeks to tackle “life’s big questions” and Lidè Foundation, an educational initiative in rural Haiti that empowers at-risk women and girls through the arts.
Maziar Bahari initiated the campaign "Education Is Not A Crime. He is an Iranian Canadian journalist, filmmaker and human rights activist, who although not a Baha’i himself, feels that the persecution of the Baha’is in Iran (Iran’s largest religious minority) is emblematic of many of the problems Iran faces.
Maziar Bahari himself was imprisoned and tortured by the Iranian government for five months in 2009, and after he was released, he wrote his memoir called Then They Came to Me, which became a New York Times bestseller and is the basis for Jon Stewart’s 2014 film Rosewater.
The Film " Changing the World, One Wall at a Time" is about one of the world’s largest street art campaigns held over the last year to raise awareness for the thousands of young Baha’is who are barred from higher education in Iran because of their beliefs. There are interviews with young Iranian Baha’is who themselves has personal stories and experienced education discrimination. We learn not only from their lives but the way the miraculous Baha’i Institute for Higher Education helped these young Iranians get an education.
Maziar Bahari himself was imprisoned and tortured by the Iranian government for five months in 2009, and after he was released, he wrote his memoir called Then They Came to Me, which became a New York Times bestseller and is the basis for Jon Stewart’s 2014 film Rosewater.
The Film " Changing the World, One Wall at a Time" is about one of the world’s largest street art campaigns held over the last year to raise awareness for the thousands of young Baha’is who are barred from higher education in Iran because of their beliefs. There are interviews with young Iranian Baha’is who themselves has personal stories and experienced education discrimination. We learn not only from their lives but the way the miraculous Baha’i Institute for Higher Education helped these young Iranians get an education.
The Baha’i Faith Written and directed by Mary Darling and Clark Donnelly
Contrary to notions of religion as divisive or irrelevant, this film illustrates the profound impact the Bahá'í Faith has had on individuals, institutions and communities.This one-hour documentary asks viewers to consider a different perspective on religion than the one portrayed in the mainstream media. The film follows an intriguing set of individuals as they help to build peaceful, just and unified communities..
This film is produced by WestWind Pictures Ltd which is an independent television production company founded in 1989 in Regina, Saskatchewan. The company, now based ii Toronto, Ontario, is co-owned by CEO Mary Darling and President Clark Donnelly. WestWind currently has programs airing in over 80 countries around the world. The company is currently involved in scripted television series, documentaries, lifestyle programming and feature films.
Contrary to notions of religion as divisive or irrelevant, this film illustrates the profound impact the Bahá'í Faith has had on individuals, institutions and communities.This one-hour documentary asks viewers to consider a different perspective on religion than the one portrayed in the mainstream media. The film follows an intriguing set of individuals as they help to build peaceful, just and unified communities..
This film is produced by WestWind Pictures Ltd which is an independent television production company founded in 1989 in Regina, Saskatchewan. The company, now based ii Toronto, Ontario, is co-owned by CEO Mary Darling and President Clark Donnelly. WestWind currently has programs airing in over 80 countries around the world. The company is currently involved in scripted television series, documentaries, lifestyle programming and feature films.
Iran Revolution Justice : Mark Williams - BBC Persian
After Iran's Islamic Revolution secretive courts were set up to try suspected ideological opponents of the regime, with no jury, no defence lawyers and often no evidence beyond a confession extracted from the defendant by means of torture. Those who survived them still bear the psychological scars today. In this new film interviews with the people who have passed through the courts over the past thirty years, as well as to their families, to lawyers and human rights activist are documented.
After Iran's Islamic Revolution secretive courts were set up to try suspected ideological opponents of the regime, with no jury, no defence lawyers and often no evidence beyond a confession extracted from the defendant by means of torture. Those who survived them still bear the psychological scars today. In this new film interviews with the people who have passed through the courts over the past thirty years, as well as to their families, to lawyers and human rights activist are documented.
Bahá’í Black Men's Gathering - Producer Nwandi Lawson, the Chief Cultivation Officer of The Virtues Collective global consulting firm and Media producer.
The Story of the Baha'i Black Men's Gathering provides insight into an individual initiative that, over the years, has provided a framework to spiritually uplift and empower men of African descent to play their part in helping to build the "new world order" foretold by Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Bahá’í Wedding by Nan Grenier cinematographer and editor at Classic Filmworks . She has a degree in photography, video production and has been filming weddings and other events for 18 years. Nan brings a unique approach of story telling in this film.
Bahá’íwedding by Kannan Thigaranjan with a bachelor in Film & Animation bringing beautiful wedding moments of a beautiful wedding together
The Story of the Baha'i Black Men's Gathering provides insight into an individual initiative that, over the years, has provided a framework to spiritually uplift and empower men of African descent to play their part in helping to build the "new world order" foretold by Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith.
Bahá’í Wedding by Nan Grenier cinematographer and editor at Classic Filmworks . She has a degree in photography, video production and has been filming weddings and other events for 18 years. Nan brings a unique approach of story telling in this film.
Bahá’íwedding by Kannan Thigaranjan with a bachelor in Film & Animation bringing beautiful wedding moments of a beautiful wedding together