RUMI-Turning Ecstatic

Film Synopsis

Rumi-Turning Ecstatic:

"A Voice of Peace from Within Islam..." Mevlana Jelalludin Rumi was a 13th C. Mystic and Poet. He was born in Balkh Afghanistan and lived out his life in Konya Turkey. His two signature literary works "The Mathnawi" and the "Divani Shams i Tabriz" are considered second only in importance to the Koran in the Middle East.

In the West, he has outsold Shakespeare in the English language for 2 decades, becoming the best loved poet in America today.

Canadian filmmaker Tina Petrova shares her extraordinary encounter with Rumi ( a true story) as she leads us on a road trip of discovery across America to the shifting sands of the Middle East - seeking out scholars who animate his works in the world today. Featured are: UN award winning architect Nader Khalili, who builds emergency shelters in the Mohave Desert , the worlds most popular translator of Rumi - Coleman Barks , activist and author Andrew Harvey , the hypnotic spin of the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey and Shaikh Kabir Helminski , who heads up Rumi’s spiritual order today.

To both the initiated and uninititated alike, Rumi -Turning Ecstatic propels the viewer deep into the heart of Sufi mysticism, with thought provoking and informative interviews, stunning stock footage from around the globe and a haunting soundtrack of ecstatic Sufi Music.

There are numerous readings of Rumi’s poetry throughout and a historical background of his life is given. Strong Interfaith elements make it suitable for discussion. ( It is currently being used as a teaching tool for selected Toronto High Schools.)

Religious studies, Poetry, Islam, Middle Eastern studies and World Literature

Official Selection: Santa Cruz Film Festival 2006
Cinema of the Spirit, New York
San Francisco Chronicle: 4 Star Review- 2006.

The Cast & Crew

Tina Petrova: Producer, Writer, Director

Tina has been part of the Canadian film, television and stage scene for over 20 years, as an award winning actress, a writer, producer and director.

She first studied theatre and dance at Ryerson University, later returning to study film in the mid 1990's. Her film debut “The Lost Years” garnered nationwide interest after being honoured by the Golden Sheaf Awards. It was produced with the assistance of the National Film Board of Canada. She is an alumni of the Canadian Film Centre, founded by Norman Jewison.

Film critics have dubbed Tina a "driving force" and "visionary," creating works of "faith and healing." Her primary passion over the years has being jumping feet first into projects of a social justice nature, including "Secret Survivors," and "Employment Equity- the Challenge."

CBC Radio is the exclusive distributor of her radio documentary -" Rumi, spoken by Coleman Barks.

Her current projects include travelling across America on a good will ambassador tour, exhibiting and promoting Rumi-Turning Ecstatic and publishing her first book, entitled "Passion for Rumi."

Stephen Roloff: Director, Writer, Producer

With an honors degree in Engineering from Queen's University and professional experience in Architecture, Stephen moved into the media some 18 years ago.

His work as a production designer and then producer and writer covers the creation of over 250 hours of filmed entertainment, working with clients such as Alliance Atlantis, Fireworks, Paramount, Universal, Lucasfilm Television and IMAX. Selected projects include the feature film "Foolproof", IMAX 3D "First City in Space", "Gene Roddenberry's Earth", "FX", "Traders", "Tekwar", "A Child's Christmas in Wales", "Maniac Mansion", "White Fang", "Heaven on Earth", and one rock video: the Rolling Stones' "Love is Strong". His 12 award nominations and wins include Emmy, Gemini, Ace, and Broadcast Design Awards.

Stephen has a reputation for visionary conceptual creation, inspired leadership, and technical innovation. Fascinated with the evolution (or non) of our species in general and the media in particular, he is currently working in partnership with Jim Banister (former head of New Media at Warner Brothers) on the development of a number of independent projects.

www.stephenroloff.com

Coleman Barks: Author

Coleman Barks is a poet, author and Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia.

Following his first encounter with Rumi’s poetry , through celebrated poet Robert Bly, Coleman began translating literal versions of Rumi’s poetry into modern day verse. Today, Coleman is considered one of the premiere translators of Rumi’s poetry, with the Essential Rumi ( Harper Collins 1996) topping sales of 500,000. Other titles include “The Illiminated Rumi” ( with Michael Green), “The Glance”, “Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion” and “Open Secret” .

Coleman Barks has performed Rumi’ s poetry to ecstatic audiences around the world accompanied by renowned musicians. He has been featured on several PBS specials including “Fooling with Words” hosted by Bill Moyers

www.colemanbarks.com

Andrew Harvey: Author

Andrew Harvey was born in India and educated at Oxford, where he became the youngest fellow of All Soul’s College in its history. A prolific writer , Andrew has authored over 10 books, including “ The Way of Passion” – A Celebration of Rumi, “Journey To Ladakh” and the best selling “Tibetan Book of Living and Dying” which he co-authored with Sogyal Rinpoche. Andrew has been deemed a “gentle apocolyptarian, ” urging those of us on the planet who have a conscience- to “transform the spiritual barreness at the heart of Western life” to change the trajectory of devastating global consequences we are plunging into. Andrew, through his translations of Rumi’s poetry and his public lectures, transmits “the urgency, passion and intensity of Rumi’s message to our times-Rumi is a stern awakener and a doctor of souls…”

www.andrewharvey.net

Camille Helminksi: Author

Camille Adams Helminski is the co-founder and co-director of the Threshold Society in Aptos , CA, along with her husband, Shaikh Kabir Helminksi. The Threshold Society is an educational organization, dedicated to preserving and disseminating the teachings of Mevlana Jelalludin Rumi, in the authentic Mevlevi tradition. With “The Light of Dawn” she was the first woman ever to translate a substantial portion of the Koran. Amongst her other titles are “The Mevlevi Wird,” “Rumi Daylight,” and Jewels of Remembrance (with Kabir Helminski). Camille has also collaborated with Refik Algan on a translation of Ahmet Hilmi's classic, Awakened Dreams. She is currently at work on a book on women in Sufism. Camille and Kabir are closely associated with Sufi teachers from other tariqats in Turkey and Syria, all of whom are committed to integrating the classical methods with modern needs.

www.sufism.org

Kabir Helminski: Author

Kabir began his Mevlevi training as a student of the late Shaikh Suleyman Loras. In 1990, he was appointed A Shaikh by the late Dr. Celaleddin Celebi of Istanbul Turkey, head of the Mevlevi ( Tariqa ) Order and twenty first generation descendant of Mevlana Jelalludin Rumi. Under Kabir’s direction, the Mevlevi Order in North America works to apply traditional Sufi principles to the heart of modern day Western life. Among Kabir’s book titles are “Living Presence,” A Sufi Way to Mindfulness and the Essential Self,” and “The Knowing Heart.” Together with his wife Camille, they travel around the world, leading workshops on the teachings of Rumi and presenting at conferences.

www.sufism.org

Nader Khalili: Architect, Author, Founder of Calearth Institute of Earth Architecture

Nader Khalili, California architect and author is the mentor of Cal-Earth Institute . Inspired by the mystic poetry of Rumi in his native Persian language, he has created the Ceramic Houses and Superadobe technologies to build disaster resistant, self-help, and spiritual architecture with the universal elements of earth, water, air and fire. As a consultant to the U.N. (UNIDO) and a contributor to NASA for his designs for lunar and planetary habitation, he has received many awards and recognition for his terrestrial and space-related works. He has published five books including translations of Rumi's poetry in "Rumi, Fountain of Fire" and "Rumi, Dancing the Flame".

Khalili received his philosophy and architectural education in Iran, Turkey, and the United States. He has been a licensed architect in the State of California since 1970, and has practiced both in the U.S. and abroad.