As old Hollywood evolves, we're entering a powerful era of creative rebirth, and we're excited to announce our second annual Higher Realm Film Festival, taking place on October 28th & 29th, 2026, at Burns Court Cinema in Sarasota, Florida. In partnership with FilmFreeway, our festival aims to connect with emerging filmmakers and showcase inspiring, impactful stories that uplift, raise awareness, and offer hope. Award-winning films will be honored with laurels and premieres on The Higher Realm TV Network, where they’ll continue reaching broader audiences. Our mission is to support conscious creators and share stories that truly matter.
2026 Films
As a teenager in 1970's Sweden, Eva is drawn away from a rigid school system after encountering a group of Hippie's at a festival near her home. Finding the sense of belonging she had been missing, she leaves Sweden on 'The Yes Bus', traveling east through Afghanistan to India, and later joins the Osho movement and it's relocation to Rajneeshpuram in Oregon. In the film we meet Eva at 70, reflecting on an education system shaped by testing and evaluation rather than creativity, and on how the hippie movement came to define her life.
Four Artists impacted by breast cancer channel their experiences into poignant works of art. Their stories invite viewers on a journey to explore the symbolism and deeper meaning within their paintings, mixed media, and installations.
A beautiful short film for all those who have walked the cancer experience, or know someone who has.
Followed by a very special Q&A afterwards.
The Consciousness Connection examines the phenomena of near death experience. A very commonly reported event when a person comes close to a fatal experience. Every person will one day face that moment when this life will end; yet a growing body of experiencers and researchers suggest this isn't the end, but a profound new beginning. This film explores the Near~Death~Experience ("NDE") as a window into a possible afterlife.
Combining compelling personal testimony, groundbreaking science, and visual re-creations, "Near Death Experience" challenges the materialistic view of consciousness as a creation of the brain and delves into NDE's as potentially positive, transformative, and consciousness~expanding events, often with startling evidence of the seemingly impossible!
Followed by a very special Q&A afterwards.
Filmed over 4 years, Still I Rise, the Parker Byrd Story, follows the remarkable true journey of a promising Division 1 college baseball player whose life changes forever after a devastating boating accident costs him his leg. Facing a long painful road of surgeries and rehabilitation, Parker refuses to abandon his dream of playing baseball. With unwavering determination, faith, and the support of his family and teammates, he fights his way back to the diamond; Proving that losing a limb doesn't mean losing your purpose.
Followed by a very special Q&A afterwards.
Film Festival Schedule
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Wednesday October 28th, 2026
1:30pm ~ Doors open
2pm ~ Welcome speech & announcements
Showing: "A Hippie's Diary" ~ 2:20pm~2:45pm / runtime 25 mins
Showing: "Art As Hope" ~ 2:45pm~2:55pm / runtime: 10 mins
Followed by a 30 min Q&A
3:25pm ~ 4pm : Break
Showing: "Near Death Experience: The Consciousness Connection" ~ 4pm~5:30pm / runtime: 90 mins, Followed by a Q&A from 5:30pm~6pm
6pm~7pm - 60 min break
Showing: "Still I Rise: The Parker Byrd Story" ~ 7pm-8pm / runtime: 60 mins
Followed by a Q&A.
Thursday October 29th, 2026
5:30pm ~ Doors open
5:30pm ~ 6:30pm Red Carpet / Photographs
6:30pm ~ 7:15pm ~ Award Show
7:15pm ~ onwards ~ After Party
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Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
Rachael O'Meara, MA, MBA, PCC
Leadership & Exec Coach, TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author
ENTER
NOW
2026
DEADLINE DATES
To Enter, Submit through Film Freeway!!
THRTV
October 01, 2025
Opening Date
April 10, 2026
Earlybird Deadline
July 15, 2026
Regular Deadline
August 15, 2026
Late Deadline
September 4, 2026
Extended Deadline
September 27, 2026
Notification Date
October 28 – 29, 2026
Event Date
Categories to Enter
There's still time to enter.
Movies
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Short Film: 0-59 min
Full Length Feature Films 60-120 min
Children/Teens
Our network is expanding to children and teens and we invite any content for our youth demographic
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Short Films: 0-59 min
TV Pilot/Episodic: 0-70 min
Full Length Feature Films: 55-90 min
Spirit
Inspirational Talks
Channelings
Teachings
Guided Meditations
Animation
Animation Short Film: 0-59 min
Animation Feature Film: 60-120 min
Animation Pilot/Episodic: 5-70 min
Television/Web/New Media
Talk Show: 15-180 min
Podcast: 0-180 min
TV Series: 5-60 min per episode
Experimental
This section will include anything outside the boundaries of the boxes herein. We are open to all sorts of creativity and expression. If your content fits this then experimentation is your category.
Become an Official Sponsor
We would love to invite you to join our team as an Official Sponsor of The Higher Realm Film Festival as we bring stories of Love, Hope, Inspiration, Transformation, and Healing, in the beauty of the Historic Burns Court Cinemas in downtown
Awakened - $50
Enlightened - $100
Transformed - $250
Ascended - $500 +
If you like, you can download the Sponsorship Form, fill it out, and mail it with your check.
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All donations are tax exempt! You will be featured in our programs, promoted at the Film Festival, AND you and your company will receive free tickets for the entire event.
For more information, visit: filmfreeway.com/TheHigherRealmFilmFestival Or email us at: thehigherrealmtv@protonmail.com
Support LOCAL here in Sarasota 💜
Location
Burns Court Cinema
506 Burns Lane
Burns Court
Sarasota, Florida 34236
Parking
Recommendations for Hotels
Embassy Suites
202 N Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, Florida
Art Ovation
1255 N Palm Ave
Sarasota, Florida
The Westin
Our Mission
The Higher Realm Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing transformative storytelling that uplifts, inspires, and brings meaningful awareness to the world. We champion films that illuminate important issues, offer hope, and promote solutions, with the goal of empowering creators and helping audiences reconnect with purpose, compassion, and possibility. Through our platform, we strive to support conscious filmmakers and help others live their dreams through the power of impactful cinema.