HEAVEN ON EARTH CREATIONS Presents Copyright 2007 Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas, Producers THE INSPIRING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT MEVLÂNA JALÂLUDDIN RUMI (as seen on more than 330 PBS stations), the Sufi mystic beloved by audiences around the World! www.rumireturning.com Please see our website for additional images from Rumi Returning from those contained within and to view a Preview Clip. If you need a higher resolution image, please contact the producers at (toll free) 1-877-585-7864.
Is the one I love everywhere? Rumi from RUMI RETURNING (as seen on PBS) co-produced by Kell Kearns and Cynthia Lukas Copyright 2007 Heaven on Earth Creations I have no name for that which circles so perfectly. Rumi from RUMI RETURNING (as seen on PBS) co-produced by Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas Copyright 2007 Heaven on Earth Creations
Heaven on Earth Creations RUMI RETURNING Film Synopsis Rumi combines the philosophical greatness of Plato, with the soul force and realization of a Jesus or Buddha, with the literary gifts of a Shakespeare! Thus does acclaimed Rumi scholar and author Andrew Harvey begin Rumi Returning: The Triumph of Divine Passion (as seen on PBS), the epic biography of the most popular poet of our times and one of the great sages of history. The documentary engages commentator Akbar S. Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, who is described by the BBC as the leading authority on contemporary Islam, to explain the return of Rumi in the 21st century that encouraged UNESCO to declare 2007 The International Year of Rumi, and The Washington Post to exclaim on August 30, 2007, Rumi is hot! Reviewers have consistently praised the rare beauty of this documentary. Shot mostly in Turkey, where, 800 years ago, the great Persian mystic lived, composed in Farsi, and taught, Rumi Returning weaves a tapestry of the past, the present and the timeless. It uses ecstatic Sufi music, stunning HD visuals of the Whirling Dervishes Rumi inspired, and the architectural and artistic masterpieces of medieval Islam to draw the viewer into the transcendent beauty of The Golden Age of Sufism. Dramatic tableaus of the great mystic s life are performed by actual dervishes from Rumi s Mevlevi order, garbed in traditional costumes. Rumi s rapturous poetry is often visualized in exquisite gardens where he may have walked amidst the kaleidoscope of flowers and birds in spring. The onscreen commentators are rounded out by Coleman Barks, the University of Georgia Professor of Poetry Emeritus whose translations have made Rumi the best-selling poet in the United States, and Üzeyir Özyurt, a dervish who lives across the street from the site of Rumi s home and whose family has tended his shrine for generations.
In the opening minutes Barks stands in the ruins of Rumi s birthplace in ancient Balkh, now Afghanistan, and proclaims Rumi to be, the only planetary poet we have. While he was still a child, Balkh was destroyed by the army of Ghengis Khan. The documentary follows the boy and his family as they escape and flee across the Persian Abbasid empire. The decade-long flight would instill a sense of cosmic homelessness that informs Rumi s work for the rest of his life. The course of the family s journey allows the film to introduce some of the great learning centers of Sufism s golden age Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, Mecca, as well as the lineage of famous Sufi mystics, such as Rabia and Ibn Al Arabi, whose teachings influenced the precocious young sage. Rumi s migration ends in Konya, Anatolia (now Turkey), where upon his father s death, he inherits the mantle of Shaykh, and founds a school and Sufi order. He becomes known throughout Islam as a learned teacher. But, it is his meeting and subsequent union of the heart at the age of 37 with a mysterious wandering dervish named Shams of Tabriz that utterly transfigures Rumi, initiating him into the highest realizations of ecstatic union with the divine through the annihilation of the ego. The climactic moment occurs three years into their Allah-obsessed relationship when Shams, in whom Rumi no longer sees any separation with himself, suddenly disappears, probably murdered by Rumi s jealous disciples. Desolated, Rumi begins to pour forth his masterpieces, the volumes of unequaled poetry of union with the Beloved, and begins the turning in meditative yearning for the heart s divine home that would later become the practice of the whirling dervishes. Now, Rumi sees the unity of all humankind, of all paths to God, and ultimately becomes a wayshower for the 21 st century. Professor Ahmed concludes that Rumi s universal, tolerant mysticism, beloved by both Islam and the West, is an answer to the fearful clash of civilizations facing humanity. Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas, Producers, www.rumireturning.com 2007 All rights reserved. CONTACT: Cynthia Lukas, Co-Producer (505) 501-2600 (cell) or CynthiaLukas345@msn.com
RUMI RETURNING: Short Film Synopsis HEAVEN ON EARTH CREATIONS Evidence of the 800-year-old phenomenon of Rumi: his poetic presence atop America s bestseller lists, the declaration by UNESCO of 2007 as The International Year of Rumi (800th anniversary of his birth) and The Washington Post s exclamation on August 30, 2007 that Rumi is hot! All this is explored --and more-- in Rumi Returning (as seen on PBS). Rumi combines the philosophical greatness of Plato, with the soul force and realization of a Jesus or Buddha, with the literary gifts of a Shakespeare, begins acclaimed Rumi scholar and author Andrew Harvey. Commentator Akbar S. Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and the leading authority on contemporary Islam, according to the BBC, adds historical and theological context to the epic biography of the most popular poet of our times and one of the great sages of history. Rumi saw the unity of all humankind, of all paths to God, and ultimately has become a voice for the 21st century. Professor Ahmed concludes that Rumi s universal, tolerant mysticism, beloved by both Islam and the West, is an answer to the fearful clash of civilizations facing humanity. Reviewers have consistently praised the rare beauty of this documentary. Filmed in Turkey, where the great mystic lived and taught, Rumi Returning weaves a tapestry of the past, the present and the timeless. It uses ecstatic Sufi music, stunning HD visuals of the Whirling Dervishes Rumi inspired, and the architectural and artistic masterpieces of medieval Islam to draw the viewer into the transcendent beauty of The Golden Age of Sufism. Rumi s family s journey allows the film to introduce some of the great learning centers of his time Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, Mecca, as well as famous Sufi mystics such as Rabia and Ibn Al Arabi, whose teachings influenced the precocious young sage. Rumi s union of the heart with a mysterious wandering dervish named Shams utterly transfigured him and inspired his masterpieces, the volumes of unequaled poetry of union with the Beloved. Other commentators are Coleman Barks, whose translations have made Rumi the best-selling poet in the United States, and, Üzeyir Özyurt, a dervish who lives near Rumi s home and whose family has tended his shrine for generations. www.globalizedsoul.org Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas, Producers 2007 All rights reserved.
Mini-synopsis Rumi Returning (as seen on PBS) explores the history and tolerant mysticism that have made the great sage of Sufism the best-selling poet in the United States with a motto for our post 9/11 world. Following Rumi from childhood as his Muslim family fled Afghanistan as war refugees to the present as the planet s great voice for universal love and tolerance. Filmed in HD in Turkey, it s a stunning tapestry of the past, present and the timeless. With Coleman Barks, Andrew Harvey and Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed. www.globalizedsoul.org Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas, Producers 2007 All rights reserved. Mini-mini synopsis The phenomenon of the 800-year-old poetic bestseller, the history and the tolerant mysticism surrounding the great sage of Sufism are explored in Rumi Returning (as seen on PBS) with answers for the cultural tensions facing humanity. With Coleman Barks, Andrew Harvey and Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed. www.globalizedsoul.org Kell Kearns & Cynthia Lukas, Producers 2007 All rights reserved.
Bio for Cynthia Lukas WWW.RUMIRETURNING.COM HEAVEN ON EARTH CREATIONS About Rumi Returning, Professor of Philosophy at Cal State University, L.A., Joseph Prabhu proclaimed, "Rumi's spirit indeed sings and soars in Rumi Returning, the exquisitely beautiful documentary Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns have made for the 800th anniversary of Rumi's birth." Cynthia Lukas is a film producer and writer of documentaries that educate and inspire, stressing the oneness of humanity. Rumi Returning, completed for the 800 th anniversary of Rumi s death, was filmed on location in Turkey and had its global premiere at the Universal Forum of Cultures in Monterrey, Mexico (Sept., 2007). They have presented it to sold-out audiences at the National Cathedral in Washington D. C., Santa Fe Film Festival, Council for a Parliament of the World s Religions (CPWR) in Chicago and Festival of Sufi Culture in Fes, Morocco. Cynthia is a featured speaker at screenings, conferences, workshops and inter-faith gatherings around the world in conjunction with the spiritual documentaries she co-produces with her partner in Heaven on Earth Creations, Kell Kearns. For example, she delivered the lecture "Why Is Rumi Returning Now?" at the Rumi Alive Festival in Prague, Czech Republic (Nov., 2007). She presented Rumi Returning to the Middle East Studies Association in Montreal, Canada (Nov., 2007) and at the AWAKEN! Spiritual Film Festival in Morristown, New Jersey (March, 2009). In conjunction with the Let s Talk About It: Love and Forgiveness Series co-sponsored by the American Library Association and the Fetzer Institute, Cynthia led a workshop on Rumi: Love and Forgiveness at the Three Rivers Library in Michigan (May, 2009). She presented Rumi Returning and led a discussion on The Return of Rumi at the Unity Center of Columbia (Missouri) and the Centers for Spiritual Living in Aurora and Boulder Valley, Colorado and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Lukas has a Master's degree in Communications and has been a college educator and journalist for more than 25 years. Her latest book, The Spirit of the Owl, was a finalist for the USA 2006 Book Awards and the 2007 Nautilus Book Awards. A poem from that book won the National Arizona Authors Assn. poetry Contest (2005). Cynthia is also co-producer and a videographer for two films Kearns directed that told the story of Jesus of Nazareth as portrayed in the Gnostic gospels: The Consciousnessof The Christ: Reclaiming Jesus for a New Humanity, filmed on location in the Holy Lands, and The Coming of the Divine Child of Humankind. Cynthia is co-producer, writer, and narrator of T h e L e a d e r s h i p o f Love, describing the new "companion leadership" emerging globally and the key role of women and the feminine. The Leadership of Love is partially based on Cynthia's extensive community service, which includes two-terms as a City Councilwoman for Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to being co-producer of Rumi Returning, Cynthia is co-writer and narrator. Since September, 2008, it has been broadcast on more than 330 PBS stations. Her most recent co-production is Globalized Soul, a celebration of global oneness filmed on five continents with commentary by spiritual leaders such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Sister Joan Chittister and Roshi Joan Halifax. It soars on the music of Enya, Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass. There is stunning photography of the Whirling Dervishes at Rumi s tomb in Konya, Turkey; the Jain holy city of Palitana, Gujarat, India; and the Jerusalem Peacemakers in Nazareth. Contact: Cynthia Lukas CynthiaLukas345@msn.com Heaven on Earth Creations Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA Toll free 1-877-585-RUMI (7864)
Bio for Kell Kearns www.rumireturning.com HEAVEN ON EARTH CREATIONS In January of 1987 the television reviewer for the Dallas Times Herald wrote of Kell Kearns groundbreaking biography of Martin Luther King, Jr that it works on almost too many levels to talk about. The phrase captures the essence of the truth and beauty Kearns has brought to the screen in 14 independent productions, and now brings to Rumi Returning. Kell began as a radio talk show host at the age of 23 while attending Dallas Baptist University. Since then he has conducted hundreds of broadcast interviews with the most notable people of our time to include Ronald Reagan, Muhammed Ali, and Archbishop Tutu. In 1977 Kearns took his first position as TV news reporter with the CBS affiliate in Boise, Idaho. He returned to Dallas in 1979 to anchor local news and host a weekly entertainment broadcast magazine. In 1984 Kearns quit local news and formed Idanha Films, a national television and film production company. The Arms Race Within about a Gandhian community that, through the power of Love, stopped a train carrying 160 nuclear bombs, was broadcast nationally on PBS. In Remembrance of Martin, Kearns biography of Dr. King, set a new standard for television documentaries. The review by The Washington Post was prophetic: A genuine jewel that should be shown regularly in every home and school. Twenty years after its national debut on PBS, it is still broadcast every year on cable during the King holiday. The home video resides in thousands of schools and libraries.
The Healing of Brian Willson was about war in Central America. Another masterpiece of nonviolence, wrote Fellowship magazine. In 1990, Kearns directed Breakthrough, a visionary concert film with Kris Kristofferson. First broadcast on PBS through the Central Education Network, it was re-released on home video in 2004 by OH Boy Records. November, 2005 marked the release of The Consciousness of the Christ:: Reclaiming Jesus for a New Humanity, written, directed and narrated on the screen by Kearns. This documentary, coproduced with his partner in Heaven Earth Creations, Cynthia Lukas, was booked into more than 100 churches, conferences, and schools across the United States with Kearns lecturing at many of those. In 2006 he followed with a sought after sequel about the new, expansive Christianity, The Coming of the Divine Child of Humankind. He completed the epic biography, Rumi Returning, in 2007, filming it in HD on location in Turkey. It has been broadcast on more than 330 PBS stations from 2008-2011 and seen around the world. His most recent documentary is Globalized Soul, a celebration of global oneness filmed on five continents with commentary by spiritual leaders such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Sister Joan Chittister and Roshi Joan Halifax. It soars on the music of Enya, Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass. There is stunning photography of the Whirling Dervishes at Rumi s tomb in Konya, Turkey; the Jain holy city of Palitana, India; and the Jerusalem Peacemakers in Nazareth and Jerusalem. Contact: Kell Kearns www.heavenearth.net globalizedsoul@gmail.com cell: 505-501-5918
A Few Quotations about RUMI RETURNING: We screened Rumi Returning at the New Dawn Center for Spiritual Living and our community loved it! What made the showing even more special was the presence of Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns and their passions for Rumi and his poetry. New Dawn is still talking about that exciting evening! Rev. Mark Gilbert, New Dawn Center for Spiritual Living, Aurora, CO The spirit of Rumi is the intangible gift this movie offers viewers of every sacred tradition. Where once we valued religious tolerance, and then interfaith understanding, now in the timeless mystical witness of Rumi, we are able to experience the spiritual unity we all so much hope to awaken in civilization. Rev. David Hodgson, Scottsdale Congregational UCC, AZ A work of extreme visual beauty, exhibiting immense passion and conveying a profound, spiritual message certain to resonate deeply with viewers." Jon Bowman, Executive Director, Santa Fe Film Festival "Of the several films I had the opportunity to see at this year's festival, Rumi Returning was the most beautifully filmed, and the most thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating. For the first time in my life I truly began to sense the broad importance and beautifulness of the Islamic religion. Rumi Returning is simply a magnificent movie that people of all cultures should see and discuss." Bob Ross, Talk Show Host, NPR Radio, Santa Fe "Rumi's spirit indeed sings and soars in Rumi Returning, the exquisitely beautiful documentary that Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns have made for the 800th anniversary of Rumi's birth. That transcendent music and poetry are more needed than ever in our violence-drenched world." Joseph Prabhu, Professor of Philosophy, California State Univ., Los Angeles and Trustee, Parliament of the World s Religions " Of all the films made about Rumi to date this is the only one I would show to my university students without any reservations. Art Buehler, Senior Lecturer, Religious Studies, Victoria University Wellington, New Zealand A fascinating film...a joyful celebration. Katherine Marshall, Senior Fellow, Berkley Center, Georgetown University and Director, World Faiths Development Dialogue I am particularly pleased with the film because it not only portrays the wonderful inclusive spirituality of Rumi, but it also includes enough history and geography to be invaluable for my Spirituality in the Arts class. Donna Swaim, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Univ. of Arizona Every Muslim should see RUMI RETURNING it s a reminder of the tolerance, love and inter-faith spirit which resides in Islam. Dilara Hafiz, Co-Author, The American Muslim Teenager s Handbook
A Very Short List of Screenings of RUMI RETURNING: March 6 and 7, 2008 Washington, D. C. The National Cathedral March 31, 2008 Chicago, Illinois The Council for a Parliament of the World s Religions Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies April 3, 2008 Annandale, Virginia Hosts: Four Annandale congregations: Ravensworth Baptist, First Presbyterian, Hope Lutheran, and St. Barnabas Episcopal April 4, 2008 Washington, D.C. George Washington University April 15, 2008 Tucson, Arizona University of Arizona Hosts: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Religious Studies Department, and the Department of Near Eastern Studies April 16, 2008 Fes, Morocco Fes Festival of Sufi Culture
May 4, 2008 Middletown, Connecticut Wesleyan University American Muslim Peace Initiative and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life April/May, 2008 Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv Spirit Film Festival July 15-17, 2008 Albuquerque, New Mexico The Guild Cinema October 16, 2008 Atlanta, Georgia American Islamic Fellowship November 19-21, 2009 Sun Valley, Idaho Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival March 14, 2009 Middletown, New Jersey Center for Spiritual Living-Middletown AWAKEN! Spiritual Film Festival May 15, 2009 Irvine, California University of California-Irvine Center for Persian Studies and Culture June 28, 2009 Columbia, Missouri Unity Center of Columbia