about the filmmakers
The story behind the story.
behind the scenes
We are a trio of visionary artists, moved by the spirit and intelligence of eros, woven together in service to telling the story of our regenerative culture.
about re/culture films
part 1 - the beginning
In the aftermath of the 2011 Occupy movement and the release of the short films 'The Revolution Is Love' and 'Sacred Economics' filmmaker Ian Mackenzie paired up with John Wolfstone.
Both were invited by Tamera in Portugal to make a film about the project’s approach to building an alternative culture founded on “the liberation of eros.”
On the Spring Equinox in 2015, Ian and John launched an initial crowdfunding campaign for the film “Healing of Love” and successfully raised and exceeded their funding goal ($23K). They immediately flew to Tamera and participated in the Global Love School, a 10 day experiential deep dive into this new culture - and they were profoundly altered by what they found.
Upon returning to California & Vancouver to edit the film, they quickly realized the potency of the material needed a longer format to share faithfully with the world.
Instead of the intended short, the film would now become a feature documentary.
TWO becomes THREE
global pandemic
evolving the project
▸ TWO becomes THREE
the bloom
the insight
part 2 - two becomes three
The following year, Ian and John returned to the Global Love School and were joined by Bay area filmmaker Julia Maryanska, who had already been working on her own film about love (Union). All three found a shared resonance in co-creating a film about Tamera and began their journey of collaboration under the newly formed alliance RE/CULTURE FILMS.
In May 2017, Julia and Ian returned to Tamera for a third round of shooting and screened an initial cut of the film for the Tamera community. Upon returning to North America, all three dedicated themselves to multiple immersive work retreats and rounds of feedback from numerous elders and advisors - each time distilling further the core message of the film.
global pandemic
evolving the project
▸ TWO becomes THREE
the bloom
the insight
part 3 - evolving the project
In 2018, both Ian and Julia welcomed the birth of their first children (with separate partners) and were initiated across the threshold as new parents. Meanwhile John returned to Tamera for a 3-month education journey that fall, culminating in a make-over of the film's main story-line and title.
In May 2019, Ian and Julia returned to Tamera and the Global Love School one final time, this time with their babies and partners along for the ride - and gathered the remaining footage and interviews needed to complete the film.
In July 2019, the film team launched their second Kickstarter campaign to raise completion funds, ultimately hitting 120% of their goal ($64,000).
In December 2019, acclaimed filmmaker Marc Francis (Walk With Me) joined the team as a story consultant and led the directors through an immersive creative process to distill the most powerful frame to focus the film.
Ultimately, the team decided to invite Julia to weave her personal narrative that had begun with her film Union into the documentary. They proceeded with the new title Love School.
global pandemic
▸ evolving the project
the bloom
the insight
TWO becomes THREE
part 4 - global pandemic
In early 2020, the world stopped.
Within the uncertainty, the filmmaking trio continued to diligently work on the project, even without knowing what the future would bring, or even if they would be able to release the film to in-person audiences.
Meanwhile the experiment of weaving Julia’s personal narrative throughout the film was not bearing fruit. The styles were simply too different - as the original film was not shot as a personal narrative and so they didn’t have the material to make it work.
Ultimately, they decided to split the projects once again, though both had been energized by the co-mingling.
Julia would be empowered to continue expanding her film, keeping the (tentative title)
Love School. Ian & John would begin once again from the ground up, re-approaching the central narrative that would provide the “red thread” connecting the many hundreds of hours of interviews and footage.
The answer lay in the very beginning.
During their original Kickstarter, before even attending the Global Love School, it was clear that the theme of TRUST ran throughout Tamera. Their commitment to “love free of fear” was only possible through the work of generating a “greenhouse of trust” and solidarity amongst the participants.
And so the central question now became: what does it take to regenerate trust?
▸ global pandemic
the bloom
the insight
evolving the project
TWO becomes THREE
global pandemic
the bloom
▸ the insight
In the summer of 2021, a new edit began for the film, this time progressing much more quickly as the central question was clear.
Marc Francis continued to provide valuable insight as well as connected the filmmakers with his post-production team including editor Andrew McGee in London.
The film remained without a committed title until one morning, Ian was greeted with a dream.
Charly Rainer, one of the co-founders of Tamera had died a year after his interview was captured by John for the film.
Having spent hours and hours with Charly’s words retelling the origins of the Tamera project, these words came to Ian again at dawn:
“Dieter Duhm came to me and said I want to build this village… this village of lovers, how he called it.”
And from there it was clear. The film would be called The Village of Lovers.
part 5 - the insight
TWO becomes THREE
evolving the project
global pandemic
evolving the project
the insight
In December 2022, the filmmaker team held an online screening event called Reimagining Village to raise funds for the tour. This was the very first opportunity for a global audience to access a sneak preview of the documentary.
They applied to various film festivals and began garnering very accolades and honours.
In late Winter, the filmmakers began initial theatrical & community screenings, dubbed The Pollination Tour, to inspire, stir, and activate these initial regions.
And now, we have arrived at the Global Streaming Premiere and summit A Cry From the Future.
THE BEGINNING
▸ the bloom
part 6 - The bloom
TWO becomes THREE
Co-Director / Producer / Editor / Director of Photography
Ian MacKenzie
Ian MacKenzie is an award-winning filmmaker & media activist based near Vancouver, Canada. His work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic TV, CBC Documentary, The Globe and Mail, Adbusters, and film festivals around the world. He is the director of the recent short Lost Nation Road (2019) featuring Stephen Jenkinson and is the co-director of Amplify Her (2018) following the rise of the feminine in electronic music. He co-produced Velcrow Ripper’s feature film Occupy Love (2013), and directed the short films Reactor (2013) and Sacred Economics (2012). Ian’s short The Revolution Is Love (2011) was named one of the top 10 Occupy films to watch that year.
filmmakers
Assistant Director / Producer / Cinematographer
JULIA MARYANSKA
Julia Maryanska is a Polish-American filmmaker and producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area focused on creating media and events at the intersection of justice, eros and culture building. She has worked on award winning films such as “My Reincarnation”, and “Regarding Susan Sontag,” and is the Director of the feature doc, “Love School” currently in production. Julia has been selected as one of 10 women internationally to be part of the next CIRCLE Doc Women ACCELERATOR based in Europe. She has directed and edited short films and music videos that have won awards at festivals, been featured on Uplift.TV, Gaia TV and The Shift Network. She is the co-founder of the media collaborative, Re/Culture Media, which produces stories and immersive theatrical events in service to a regenerative culture. She is also multi-lingual, a photographer, violinist, a master NLP practitioner and a mother to a young girl.
Story Consultant
MARC J FRANCIS
Marc J. Francis is a director, cinematographer and producer of independent film whose films have been shown throughout the world in cinemas and on television. He was chosen by Harper’s Bazaar magazine as one of their top “Household names of the future”, and named by the Observer newspaper as one of Britain’s “Rising Stars”. His current directorial work includes the Benedict Cumberbatch narrated film about Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh entitled 'Walk With Me’, and “Here I Am” a feature documentary about living, loving and dying well. Marc's early directorial work includes the Sundance hit 'Black Gold', and the award-winning BBC/ARTE feature documentary 'When China Met Africa’. Marc also produces and amplifies stories of global significance through his production company Speakit Films where he is Creative Director.
Narrator
JACOB FORTUNE-LLOYD
Jacob is an English actor known for his roles in The Queens Gambit, Brooked House, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker and See How They Run. He is also a theatre actor that has played roles in a number of Shakespeare plays and other productions including The Importance of Being Earnest and The Merchant of Venice. . He was named Screen International's “Star of Tomorrow” for all this work in film, television and theatre productions.
DIGITAL MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
ABBY J GOERTZEN
Abby is a passion-driven creative living in Calgary, Alberta who has been making waves in the social media space with her digital marketing agency, Kittykat Media.
Specializing in conscious content creation, she offers her skills to help visionary creators be seen by the world and expand their audience online. Her mission is to bring meaning to marketing and cultivate community in the digital world for intentional brands and social-impact organizations that are seeking to make the world a better place.
the team
EMAIL MANAGER & SUMMIT COORDINATOR
DAN RUDOLPH
Dan is the founder, and chief developer of Unified Playfulness. He has been facilitating play-based interventions, for individuals and groups, for over ten years, including working with schools, teams, and individuals.
Dan is especially passionate about the transformative potential of play-based practices. While training at the monastery and studying ancient wisdom texts, he was constantly struck by the overlap between the wisdom that comes through play/clown practices and traditional contemplative practices.
Associate Producers
with support from
Grace Foundation
Namaste Foundation
mentors
additional funding
Frank Phoenix
Naomi Jason
Greg Clayton
Ethan Hirsch-Tauber
Joshua Craver
Matt a Myers
Justin Rosenstein
Raj Lahoti
Executive Producers
Gigi Coyle
Win Phelps
Maurizio Benazzo
Kate Bunney
Kickstarter Campaign
Funders
Producers
Melani Bolyai
Matthias Jackel
Veronique Pittman
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