CLICK HERE to view trailer

"a heartening rarity"- Terry Teachout, WALL STREET JOURNAL

"A masterpiece about a music master.
See it, listen and fill yourself with all the beauty!"
-Kay Pollak, Film Director/Oscar-nominated As It Is In Heaven.

A Film by Michael Stillwater
Co-Produced by Doris Laesser Stillwater
A Song Without Borders Production
Runtime: 73:23
DVD Region: 0 (universal), NTSC

Winner, Best Documentary DC Independent Film Festival
Winner, Best Documentary Eugene Film Festival, OR
Winner, Audience Choice Award, Friday Harbor Film Festival, WA
Winner, Best Documentary, Asheville Cinema Festival, NC
Nominated, Best Documentary Cincinnati Film Festival
Bronze Medal Oregon Film Awards
Honorable Mention, Los Angeles Movie Awards

View streaming / download film:

Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen, the first episode of the Song Without Borders series, In Search of The Great Song, is also the first documentary made about the artist considered to be one of the greatest living choral composers. A National Medal of Arts recipient, named an 'American Choral Master' by the National Endowment for the Arts, Lauridsen has achieved the status of the most frequently performed modern choral composer.

Featuring his music performed by vocal groups in America and Europe, the film gives the viewer a rare glimpse of his life and inspiration, derived from spending time in solitude in nature. Filmed in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Waldron Island, Washington, and Aberdeen, Scotland.

"A visually ecstatic film...music which stuns"
Don Schwartz, CineSource Magazine

"...brightens what is most ancient, sacred,
and beautiful in the human soul."
Tamsin Smith, Social Entrepreneur and Writer

"Much like the composer's music-
spare, thoughtfully crafted, serene"
David Stabler, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon

"In its measured pace, reverent air, and sincere, comforting tone...Shining Night resembles nothing so much as its sincere subject and his emotionally direct, soothing music."
-Brett Campbell, Oregon Arts Watch

"...this portrait of the composer as genius/mystic/sea-shaman delivers the same delicious satisfaction as does reading an artist’s compelling autobiography, collection of letters, or coming across a hidden cache of their recordings."
- Mary Trainor-Brigham, author, Deep Cinema

"The film's success is...a long "goodnight kiss" to the notion that classical music is untouchable or separate from all other arts."
Stephanie Jones, Volti, San Francisco

"Conveys the musical legend and the gentle, introspective genius."
Eric Whitacre, composer/conductor

"Illuminates the person behind the music,
giving us a rare glimpse into its creative source."
Tim Sharp, Executive Director, American Choral Directors Association

"A world-class film documenting
an equally world-class composer. A 'must have'."
Z. Randall Stroope, American composer-conductor

"Magnificent!"
Derek Weston, Music Educator and Conductor

"Simply stunning!"
Paul W. Schulz, Artistic Director and Founder Northwest Repertory Singers

"Absolutely spellbinding"
Maureen Mayer, Film Producer

"Breathless, remarkable beauty..."
Mary Anne Brundage, Musician and Composer

"Gorgeous"
Joan Halifax Roshi, Santa Fe, NM

"Transcendent"
IMDB review

"Restorative"
Roy Salmond, Whitewater Productions, BC, Canada

"...completely blown away, touched to the core... "
Rita Glassman, Cantor, San Francisco

"A spectacular night..a stunning film"
Michael Fitzpatrick, cellist and filmmaker

"...a feast for eyes, ears, heart and soul."
Fr. John Ball, All Faith Episcopal Parish, St Michaels, Maryland

"...a thing of such beauty and stillness, it touches upon eternity"
Robert Reilly, Author, Surprised By Beauty

"...stunningly meditative"
Krista English, director, Peterborough International Film Festival

"Magnificent! A wonderfully spiritual portrait of a great artist."
Br Michael Gallagher OSB, Holy Cross Monastery, Beaumont, Texas

"Exquisitely beautiful...so stunning I wept all the way through."
Jo-Anne Silverman, Victoria, BC, Canada

"Love the movie!!! We understand Morten's music better when we hear and see him in his element. "
Jerry Blackstone, Director of Choirs, University of Michigan

CLICK HERE to view trailer

Produced by Michael Stillwater and Doris Laesser Stillwater
A Song Without Borders Production
(82 minutes / 2016)

CLICK HERE to view streaming / download film:

Winner, Best Documentary
Moondance International Film Festival, 2016
Winner, Best International Subject
Eugene International Fim Festival, 2016
Winner, Honorable Mention
International Film Awards Berlin, 2016
Winner, Award of Merit
Awareness Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2016
Official Selection
Friday Harbor Film Festival, 2016

CLICK HERE to view featured speakers & artists

From the Australian outback to the San Juan Archipelago, from South India to the Swiss Alps- the question is asked of scientists, artists, faith leaders and indigenous elders: "What is the Great Song for you?"

Infused with music from around the world, fifty remarkable responses cross boundaries of culture, faith, arts and science, weaving a timeles, multi-faceted tapestry- a cinematic testament to our common spirit.

FEATURED SPEAKERS & ARTISTS

with Angaangaq Angakkorsuaq • Angeles Arrien • Rinaldo Brutoco • Richard R. Ernst Michael Fitzpatrick • Gangaji • Dana Gioia • Amit Goswami • Gyuto Monks of Tibet Thich Nhat Hanh • Angela Hewitt • Chungliang Al Huang • Rabbi Irwin Kula • Tito La Rosa • Morten Lauridsen • Paul Mealor • Deva Premal • Br. David Steindl-Rast • David Whyte • Gary Zukav and 30 more

Music by Britten Sinfonia • Chamber Choir of Europe • Chanticleer • Ilan Chester • Michael Fitzpatrick • Angela Hewitt • Insingizi • Morten Lauridsen • Stephen Layton • Gary Malkin • Polyphony • Deva Premal • Alex Shapiro • The Singers • Stephan Thelen and others

RESPONSES:

"Beatific"
-Don Schwartz, CineSource Magazine

"Filmmaking at its most transcendent."
-Mirabai Starr, Author, God of Love / Caravan of No Despair

"Haunting, enchanting and very soothing"
-Arun Gandhi, President, Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute

"A beautiful visual reverie on 'the great song'"
-Roshi Joan Halifax, Founder/Abbot, Upaya Institute and Zen Center

"You have given us the presence of love....pure & true"
-Bruce Davis, Author, Monastery Without Walls

"A feast for the eyes, the ears, the mind, the limbic system of the brain and much more. This film is a masterpiece, an inner bridge to the Self that will leave you richer, long after you've seen it." -Shuddha Anami, MD

"A deeply textured and mystically poetic ode to the divine integration between nature, song, music and the great mystery, it will captivate your soul!"
-Ronald A. Alexander Ph.D., author, Wise Mind Open Mind

"A timeless quest, myriad replies, and the confluence resolving in one stilling sensation — this film sings with the intrinsic potency of an unstruck bell."
-Tamsin Smith, poet and social impact innovator

"An enchanted treasure trove; a multi-faceted prismatic invitation; an exquisite compendium of cultural creatives pondering...a deeper resonant awareness"
-Mary Trainor-Brigham, author, Deep Cinema

"A divine invitation for each of us to discover, harvest and sing The Great Song that is in, and connects us to, higher callings.”
-Dr. Ken Druck; Author, The Real Rules of Life

"This noble, heart-centered, moving exploration penetrates to the depth of the life that breathes us, the song that sings us. Sit back, relax, and let your soul be sung. Here is a gift for the spirit."
-Alan Cohen; Author, A Deep Breath of Life

This is the second release in an ongoing film series co-produced by Michael Stillwater and Doris Laesser Stillwater. Their previous release, Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen was deemed ‘a heartening rarity’ in Wall Street Journal and received four Best Documentary awards.

CLICK HERE to view trailer

A Film by Michael Stillwater
Co-Produced by Doris Laesser Stillwater
A Song Without Borders Production

Winner, Moondance Int'l Film Festival (2019)
Winner, Hollywood Int'l Independent Documentary Awards (2018)
Winner, Royal Reel Award, Canada Int'l Film Festival (2019)
Winner, Kodiak Award, Alaska Int'l Film Awards (2019)
Official Selection, Switzerland International Film Festival (2018)
Official Selection, Lift-Off Online Film Festival (2019)
Official Selection, Friday Harbor Int'l Film Festival (2019)

CLICK HERE for streaming / downloading film

“You can’t resist singing, after watching this film. Highly recommended!”
-Nicol Matt, Conductor, Chamber Choir of Europe

“The fear of singing is a worldwide epidemic. This exquisite film offers the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the cure.”
-Nancy Salwen, Author The Fear of Singing Breakthrough Program

"For many years, I didn't sing. A music teacher had told me I can't sing. I hadn't realised I was deprived of my voice, but it affected my confidence in expressing myself in so many areas of my life. This film reminded me of that basic human instinct. I saw that I was not alone in this. It's beautiful to see so many who have reclaimed their power from old stories. Like it's said in the film, "it's not about singing, it's about the voice"

• Thejasvi Parthasarathy, Bangalore, India
  
  

In a society where people are measured according to the prowess of their performance, early childhood criticism of our sound or comparing our expression to others may contribute to hiding our own voice and creativity.

“Your voice is the muscle and messenger of your soul.
This is an essential film for discovering the profound role
sound and singing plays in transforming communication in all realms of life”
-Chloe Goodchild, singer, voice pioneer
author & founder of The Naked Voice

After a lifetime of hiding one's singing voice, the passage of 'coming out of the cave' is a personal journey often requiring profound courage and self-acceptance. Filmed in North America, Europe, Australia and India, this is the third feature from In Search of the Great Song, the award-winning documentary series exploring and celebrating the music that lives in all of us.

"Another triumph!" -Morten Lauridsen, National Medal of Arts recipient

As told through spoken insights and original music of voice educators, artists and people on 'the road of vocal recovery', a global epidemic of silenced song is being met by an irrepressible uprising of the primal urge to sing.

"So much more than its title describes. If you are on any form of spiritual path, I highly recommend experiencing this movie." - Joe Marshalla, author

Whether you adamantly believe you can't sing or absolutely love the sound of your own voice, a diversity of perspectives brings hope, humor and possibility to this intimate yet universal phenomenon, with imagery of flowing water and birdsong woven throughout, echoing the natural flow of creativity.

"See this film. Sing your song." -Don Schwartz, CineSource Magazine

Performers and ‘non-performers’ share their experience while vocal educators from around the world invite viewers to ‘come out of hiding’.

"Magnificently drives home how important it is for people to discover the depth of their own voice in the most human terms." - Adam Huber, author

"the film is an invitation to remember that music is a never ending stream, for everyone" -Jan Kortie, voice liberator, Amsterdam

"Spectacular! Made me weep. A celebration of the unquenchable song in every heart and the courage it can take to emerge from hiding." -Ondrea Levine, author

This is the third release in the original film series co-produced by Michael Stillwater and Doris Laesser Stillwater. Their first film, Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen was deemed ‘a heartening rarity’ in Wall Street Journal and received four Best Documentary awards. Their second release, In Search of the Great Song, received two film awards in its first month of release.

"A penetrating and healing journey into the part of all of us that wants to sing--not just vocally, but to sing our soul's song on the magnificent majestic stage of life. If you have ever felt shy about showing up, this film will give you a welcome boost to your next masterful expression." - Alan Cohen, author

CLICK HERE for streaming / downloading film