It is with sincere humility and growing excitement that we announce to you the convening of the first annual InterFaith Film Festival in 2011CE (“IFFF 2011CE”).
The IFFF 2011CE is an opportunity for all of us, as an international and intrinsically interreligious community on Earth, to share our respective stories with each other in order to gain better understanding, respect, and compassion for each other. The IFFF 2011CE features short films (of less than ½ hour) that inform and inspire. These short films convey respective religious/secular experiences, beliefs, principles, and teachings. It is our intention that the IFFF 2011CE build bridges between our respective religious/secular communities, and particularly amongst our respective youth, for the prospect of better cooperation and a more enduring, bountiful, and mutually experienced prosperity. For this to work, we need your stories.
We are soliciting contributions of short films that inform and inspire, including: amateur or professional videos, documentaries, short stories, fables, lectures, sermons, parables, comedy, interviews, speeches, animation, slide shows, variety programmes, musical performances, poetry readings, Scriptural recitations/chanting, and additionally. We are particularly interested in securing contributions from our respective youth.
The IFFF 2011CE is being convened through the internet via YouTube. This is done without monetary compensation to us, the organisers, and without monetary cost to our contributors and audience. We screen each entry for appropriateness before including the short film within the IFFF 2011CE account on YouTube. The result is a mosaic of stories where we each maintain our own respective religious/secular identity and learn from each other’s respective religious/secular identities and experiences. We are dedicated to providing a welcoming forum for our respective beliefs and Faith. The InterFaith Film Festival is convened on the honour system and in Good Faith on the part of all participants.
We, the conveners of the IFFF 2011CE, are a modest group of interFaith activists, from around Earth, who share an interest in enhancing understanding, respect, compassion, cooperation, productivity, Peace, prosperity, and Happiness amongst our many religious communities throughout Earth and the Universe. Many of us meet at a gathering of the North American InterFaith Network this past Northern Summer. Since that time, we begin to consider how we may share our respective stories in a manner that is relevant to our contemporary circumstances. And thus, the idea of the InterFaith Film Festival is formed. We are officially endorsed by the World Peace Prayer Society and the International Movement for a Just World.
Admittedly, this correspondence is a form letter specifically designed to be received by many different leaders and adherents respectively from many different religious communities; thus it is comparatively generic. We look forward to learning more about each of you and your respective endeavours as you learn more about us and each other. The methodology in identifying you, specifically, as a recipient of this correspondence involves a comparatively expedient process of searching within your organisation for an interFaith liaison, and then for the person who is ultimately responsible for the daily affairs of your organisation.
We humbly request that you share this information regarding the InterFaith Film Festival with your respective constituencies: our respective Congregations, Shuls, Sanghas, Ummas, Churches, Gurdwaras, Temples, Synagogues, Masjids, and additional affiliates, organisations, communities, and gatherings. We humbly request that you encourage your respective constituents, our respective families and friends, to contribute short films of our respective beliefs and Faith.
We are accepting short film contributions through 31 January 2011CE and we are planning to convene the actual InterFaith Film Festival in April 2011CE. I am attaching two documents with this correspondence: 1.) a flyer that may be posted on the bulletin boards/walls of our respective Houses of Worship and Meditation, community centres, and additional gathering places; and 2.) a description of the general guidelines of the IFFF 2011CE.
Any questions, concerns, comments, can be forwarded directly to me via this email address, ifff2011ce@gmail.com.
We thank you for your time and consideration.
May we all continue to flourish together with enlightened spirits, healthy minds, and strong bodies, as an international and interreligious community of Earth that acknowledges and respects our differences whilst building upon our commonalities.
Love and Peace,
Peter
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PS: The proceeding is a basic listing of the recipients of this correspondence, including leadership and adherents respectively from Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, the Baha’i, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and additionally. If you are aware of any additional organisations or religious communities that are omitted from this listing, you are welcome to share this information with such an organisation/religious community and/or notify me directly.
African Hebrew Israelites, www.africanhebrewisraelitesofjerusalem.com, Ben Ammi (Anointed Spiritual Leader)
International Council of Jewish Women, www.icjw.org, Mary Lilling (Chairperson, InterFaith and Intercultural Committee)
Orthodox Union, www.ou.org, Rabbi Steven Weil (Executive Vice President)
Union for Reform Judaism, www.urj.org, Naomi Abelson (Social Action Specialist)
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, www.uscj.org, Rabbi Steven C Wernick (Executive Vice President)
United Synagogue Youth, www.usy.org, Jules Gutin (Director)
World Jewish Congress, www.worldjewishcongress.org, Isabella Nespoli (Director of InterFaith Affairs)
World Union for Progressive Judaism, www.wupj.org, Steve Bauman (Chairman)
World Zionist Organisation, www.wzo.org.il
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, www.jrf.org, Rabbi Shawn Zevit (Director of Congregational Relations, Outreach, and Tikkun Olam)
Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organisation, www.brahmakumaris.org, BK Karuna (Director of Public Relations and Communication)
Hindu Student Council, www.hindustudentcouncil.org, Sarath Velagaleti (President)
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, www.sivananda.org, Swami Mahadevananda (Executive Board Member)
Sri Aurobindo Society, www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in, Vijay,
Vishva Hindu Parishad, www.vhp.org, Sarvpalli Radhakrishnan,
Hindu Global Electronics Network, www.hindunet.org
Shamayita Math International Women’s Religious Centre, www.shamayitamath.org
Ramakrishna Math and Mission, www.belurmath.org, Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj (President)
Divine Life Society, www.divinelifesociety.org
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, www.swaminarayan.org, Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Buddha Dharma Education Association, www.buddhanet.net, Venerable Pannyavaro
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, www.bpf.org, Sarah Weintraub (Executive Director)
Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, www.fwbo.org, Urgyen Sangharakshita (Founder)
Soka Gakkai International, www.sgi.org, Daisaku Ikeda (President)
World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth, www.buddhistyouth.org, Anurut Vongvanij (President)
World Fellowship of Buddhists, www.wfbhq.org
Sakyadhita: International Association of Buddhist Women, www.sakyadhita.org, Christie Yuling Chang
Rissho Kosei Kai, www.rk-world.org, Nichiko Niwano (President)
International Network of Engaged Buddhists, www.inebnetwork.org, Sulak Sivaraksa (Founder and Chair)
Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, www.drba.org, Bhikshu Wondrous Dharma
Dharma Drum Mountain, www.dharmadrum.org, Venerable Guo Dong (Abbot President)
Association Zen Internationale, www.zen-azi.org/en
Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey, www.throssel.org.uk, Reverend Master Daishin Morgan (Abbot)
Honolulu Diamond Sangha, www.diamondsangha.org, Michael Kieran,
Rochester Zen Center, www.rzc.org, Roshi Kjolhede (Abbot)
Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, www.dalailama.com
Lama Gangchen World Peace Foundation, www.lgpt.net/lama_found.htm
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, www.fpmt.org, Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Dechen Community, www.dechen.org, Karma Thinley Rinpoche
Rigpa, www.rigpa.org, Sogyal Rinpoche
Shambhala, www.shambhala.org, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Rokpa International, www.rokpa.org, Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche (President and Founder)
Gampo Abbey, www.gampoabbey.org, Ani Pema Chodron
Diamondway Buddhism, www.diamondway-buddhism.org, HH 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje
Friends World Committee for Consultation (Religious Society of Friends), www.fwccworld.org, Nancy Irving (General Secretary)
Global Fellowship of Christian Youth, www.globalfellowship.net, Leif Rasmussen (Chief Executive)
Pax Romana, www.icmica-miic.org, Javier Maria Iguiniz Echeverria (President)
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/index.htm, Cardinal Jean-Louis Pierre Tauran
Society of Jesus, www.sjweb.info, Father Adolfo Nicolas (Superior General)
Unitarian Universalist Association, www.uua.org, Gini Courter (Chief Governance Officer)
World Council of Churches, www.oikoumene.org, Reverend Dr Olav Fykse Tveit (General Secretary)
World Young Women’s Christian Association, www.worldywca.org, Susan Brennan (President)
World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations, www.ymca.int,
United Methodist Church, Dr Bart Shaha (Secretary General)
Lutheran World Federation, www.lutheranworld.org/lwf/, Dr Kathryn Johnson (Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Affairs)
Order of Saint Benedict, www.osb-international.info, Noktar Wolf (Abbot Primate)
Comunita di Sant Egidio, www.santegidio.org, Professor Andrea Riccardi
Anglican Communion, www.anglicancommunion.org, Reverend Rana Youab Khan (International InterFaith Dialogues Assistant)
International Presbyterian Church, www.ipc-presbytery.com, Graham Weeks (Presbytery Moderator)
United Church of Christ, www.ucc.org, Reverend Geoffrey A Black (General Minister and President)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, www.lds.org, Thomas S Monson (President)
Worldwide Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses, www.watchtower.org
African Methodist Episcopal Church, www.ame-church.com, Dr Clement W Fugh (General Secretary and Chief Information Officer)
International Baptist Convention, www.ibc-churches.org, Jimmy Martin
Islamic Cultural Centre and London Central Mosque, www.iccuk.org, Dr Ahmad Al Dubayan (Director General)
Islamic Development Bank, www.isdb.org, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al Madani (President)
Motamar Al Alam Al Islami, www.motamaralalamalislami.org, Dr Abdullah Bin Omar Nasseef (President)
Muslim Student Association, www.msanational.org, Iman Sediqe (President)
Muslim World League, www.themwl.org/Profile/default.aspx?l=en, HE Dr Abdullah Bin Abulmohsen Al Turki (Chairmen)
Organisation of the Islamic Conference, www.oic-oci.org, Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Secretary General)
Federation of Muslim Women, www.fmw.org, Zahida Murtaza (Chair)
Council on American Islamic Relations, www.cair.com, Nihad Awad (Executive Director and Co-Founder)
International Association of Sufism, www.ias.org, Shah Nazar Seyyed Dr Ali Kianfar (Co-Founder)
Threshold Society of the Order of Mevlevi, www.sufism.org, Kabir Helminski
Islamic Society of North America, www.isna.net, Sayyid M Syeed (National Director of the ISNA Office for InterFaith and Community Alliances)
World Subud Association, www.subud.org, Luke Penseney (Chair)
Susila Dharma International Association, www.susiladharma.org, Virginia Thomas (Executive Director)
Baha’I International Community, www.bahai.org, Albert Lincoln (Secretary General)
World Sikh Council, www.worldsikhcouncil.org, Dr Tarunjit Butalia (Chairperson of the National InterFaith Council)
Sikh Youth Federation, www.sikhyouthfederation.com, Gagandeep Singh (Founder and President)
World Zoroastrian Organization, www.w-z-o.org, Darayus S Motivala (Chairman)
Digamber Jain Sangh of North America, www.djsna.org, Dr Mahendra Pandya (Coordination Committee)
Jaina: Federation of Jain Associations in North America, www.jaina.org, Arvind Vora (InterFaith Activities Committee)