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Mindfulness in the Classroom and Beyond
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May I Be Happy reveals the significance of mindfulness practice in transforming the lives of young people.
Through poetic cinematography and sequences of teachers leading sensitive or boisterous practices to kids from different backgrounds, the film brings awareness to the benefits of mindfulness as a way out of violence and suffering, and as an attainable solution for younger generations. This full-length feature documentary captures the very real challenges American children face, whether in elite private schools, public schools, on the streets, or in juvenile detention centers. Hearing the frustration of dedicated educators who find ways to teach from the heart, and seeing their optimistic work with youth is an uplifting experience. Interviews with teachers and leaders in the field of mindfulness research and education, including Dr. Dan Siegel and Vinny Ferraro, offer insights into the growing practice of mindfulness in education. Covering varying approaches to mindfulness by a range of San Francisco Bay Area programs, May I Be Happy reminds us of children's natural capacity for wellbeing, resilience and happiness. |
OUR INTENTION
Our inspiration for this independent film was to broaden awareness about the practice of teaching mindfulness to youth.
We left the corporate world to jump into this project. We invested our love and energy, our own funds and about 2 years of our time.
We want the film to be seen by as many eyes as possible and to spread interest so more kids can have access to this wonderful tool.
Our wish is that the film is made available to the numerous educators out there already doing a wonderful job with children and mindfulness, and to those who are curious to find out more.
For our next projects, we want to continue documenting the emergence of mindfulness by capturing a large variety of mindfulness programs in different settings.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
THE NATIONAL THEATRICAL RELEASE OF THE FILM IN ITALY LAST SEPT 11 & FRANCE OCT 30!
SELECTIONS AND AWARDS in 2018
Jury Prize Award Eye Opener - Awareness Film Festival - Los Angeles, USA
Official Selection - Ojai Film Festival - California, USA
Official Selection - Transitions Film Festival - Melbourne, Australia
Spirituality and Consciousness Series - Porto Alegre, Brazil
Official Selection - Illuminate Film Festival - Sedona Arizona, USA
Official Selection - Manifesto Film Festival - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Official Selection - Learning By Film Festival - Paris, France
Official Selection - Global Peace Film Festival - Orlando, Florida
Official Selection - Another Way Film Festival - Madrid, Spain
Official Selection - Spirit Film Festival - Tel Aviv, Israel
Official Selection - Human Rights Film Festival - Barcelona, Spain
Official Selection - Anima Film Festival - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Screening at the Inaugural Educating Mindfully Conference - Chicago area - March 2019
Film made by us: https://vimeo.com/325470562
Screening at EDxED conference on education in New York City - June 2019
HOST A SCREENING
Price of licensing fee for public screening + library use:
(Including 20$ DVD shipping + transaction fee from France)
K-12 school 250 $
College & University 300 $
Community & Non profit organization 270 $
We’ll find the right way to make your screening possible!
Please read the Path to Follow Page and contact me helene@tamaproduction.fr
Price of licensing fee for public screening + library use:
(Including 20$ DVD shipping + transaction fee from France)
K-12 school 250 $
College & University 300 $
Community & Non profit organization 270 $
We’ll find the right way to make your screening possible!
Please read the Path to Follow Page and contact me helene@tamaproduction.fr
TESTIMONIALS
I was fortunate to meet Jon Kabat-Zinn at a conference in Strasbourg this summer and gave him a copy of the film. I received a wonderful long personal email a few days later and this is what he said about the film:
"I watched it the other day and was very impressed by how terrific it is, and how many wonderful people you interviewed and featured from so many different schools and programs. Mes felicitations! You mentioned briefly that you decided to make that movie in California because you felt how difficult it was to bring mindfulness into public schools in France, given the major concerns about it perhaps being subtly or not so subtly religious or even spiritual. (Also not an insignificant issue in the USA!). Your movie seems to answer that beautifully—and most powerfully just from the shots of the students sitting quietly and also being so articulate, as well as their teachers and principals, of course."
I was fortunate to meet Jon Kabat-Zinn at a conference in Strasbourg this summer and gave him a copy of the film. I received a wonderful long personal email a few days later and this is what he said about the film:
"I watched it the other day and was very impressed by how terrific it is, and how many wonderful people you interviewed and featured from so many different schools and programs. Mes felicitations! You mentioned briefly that you decided to make that movie in California because you felt how difficult it was to bring mindfulness into public schools in France, given the major concerns about it perhaps being subtly or not so subtly religious or even spiritual. (Also not an insignificant issue in the USA!). Your movie seems to answer that beautifully—and most powerfully just from the shots of the students sitting quietly and also being so articulate, as well as their teachers and principals, of course."
Lovely documentary. We had a full house for the screening. An interesting collective experience: My own breathing automatically shifted - and I could sense people's breathing change around me - during scenes that involved guided meditations.»
Michael McLeod, Journalist for Orlando Magazine writing about the Global Peace Film Festival.
« This film will inspire and inform you in unexpected ways. Through gorgeous footage of dedicated teachers bringing the gift of mindfulness to youth from every strata of society, I found myself uplifted by the hope that these practices offer the world. MAY I BE HAPPY makes you believe that love and peace can and will ultimately prevail. »
Kate Savage, Art & Mindfulness Teacher, Brentwood School, and Founder, Open Window Mindfulness - Los Angeles
...Just my way of saying that I love your film; it resonated deeply with me! I am just learning about the wonderful mental and physical health benefits of mindfulness, which your film depicts so well. I am eager to share your film with others. I believe students and people in the broader community could benefit so much from your film.“
David Saunders-Scott, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Viterbo University, MRC
« May I be Happy is a world changing movie. It shows how mindfulness impacts children, teenagers and adults in a profound and long lasting way. It helps set up the foundation of a meaningful, peaceful and mindful life. It shows how it changes a community or a school with issues of violence to kindness, happiness and inner peace. May I be Happy should be seen by every educator in the world starting in the United States since we have so many guns and murders issues. A mindfulness project should be implemented in all schools as a daily practice influencing the next generation to create a better world. »
Brigitte Benchimol, Creative Mind Preschool CEO & Children’s book author - Los Angeles
May I Be Happy is a film that brings mindfulness in education to life and shows the power and importance of this movement. The film provides an opportunity for people to experience with deep integrity the work students, teachers, leaders, and nonprofits are doing to bring mindfulness to youth of all ages, backgrounds, races, socio-economic status, and more. It's amazing to see how the life changing work being done has been represented with heart, compassion, truth, and clarity! This is a must watch for all as the world is counting on this movement of mindfulness spreading wildly!! May this film lead to creating happier, healthier, and more loving learning environments around the world!"
JG Larochette, Founder and Director, Mindful Life Project, Richmond California
« This documentary film brings some tears to my eyes as I share some similar experiences.
The movie also provides very useful and practical information and strategies to all educators of all ages.
I will certainly be using some of the great strategies introduced.
A must re-watch film again and again!
Thank you so, so much for making this documentary! »
Carina Huynh, Early Childhood Educator, viewer at the Transitions Film Festival, Melbourne Australia
ABOUT US
Eric Georgeault and Hélène Walter are independent directors and producers from France.
Eric Georgeault has 15 years of experience in directing, shooting, and editing documentaries in Paris for French national television.
As a news reporter and cameraman he filmed numerous documentaries for "Envoyé Spécial" (France 2 national television network) and for Franco-German television network Arte. He has covered social issues, culture, sports, and news for the French networks Canal Plus, France 5, and Paris Première as a director. At the same time, Hélène Walter was flying around the world as a flight attendant. From her own long-term personal practice, Hélène discovered the meaningful path of teaching mindfulness to children and completed her Mindful Teacher Training Program from the renowned Mindful Schools. The work of many of her classmates served as inspiration for this film.
In 2006 they moved to Spéracèdes, a small village in the South of France and founded their production company Tama Production to create international-standard videos for corporate and private entities.
With the intention of bringing awareness on the benefits of mindfulness for youth, Eric and Hélène decided to self produce this independent film.
For more about Eric’s career, see www.tamaproduction.fr
Eric Georgeault and Hélène Walter are independent directors and producers from France.
Eric Georgeault has 15 years of experience in directing, shooting, and editing documentaries in Paris for French national television.
As a news reporter and cameraman he filmed numerous documentaries for "Envoyé Spécial" (France 2 national television network) and for Franco-German television network Arte. He has covered social issues, culture, sports, and news for the French networks Canal Plus, France 5, and Paris Première as a director. At the same time, Hélène Walter was flying around the world as a flight attendant. From her own long-term personal practice, Hélène discovered the meaningful path of teaching mindfulness to children and completed her Mindful Teacher Training Program from the renowned Mindful Schools. The work of many of her classmates served as inspiration for this film.
In 2006 they moved to Spéracèdes, a small village in the South of France and founded their production company Tama Production to create international-standard videos for corporate and private entities.
With the intention of bringing awareness on the benefits of mindfulness for youth, Eric and Hélène decided to self produce this independent film.
For more about Eric’s career, see www.tamaproduction.fr
May we all be happy !
