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November 2, 2022 33 mins

Let’s support and watch this world award winning documentary, Carving the Divine!  HERE IS THE LINK: https://igg.me/at/Carving-the-Divine

Check out an endorsement review of Carving the Divine by Martial Artist Teacher, Author, Speaker An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes!

"Can a traditional Japanese sacred art form based on generations of selfless apprentices studying with stern masters survive into the 21st Century? Has Japan retained enough reverence for the demanding learning process that takes years of thankless dedication to just begin to develop mastery? I sat breathlessly through “Carving the Divine”, silently cheering on those few committed artists as they approached gaining the exquisite skill of depicting through carved wood the most sublime of Buddhist sacred images. Will they make it? Can they accept the firm and relentless coaching from their masters? Filmmaker Yujiro Seki pulls aside the curtain and shows us nakedly the disciplined world of the busshi, master carvers of Buddhist wonder. An amazingly touching film!"
- An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes, Teacher, Author, Speaker

What is Carving The Divine about?
Carving the Divine is a documentary film that offers a rare look into a 1400-year-old Buddhist woodcarving tradition and the practitioners struggling to preserve its legacy in a rapidly changing Japan.

Carving the Divine has become the official selection for 30 film festivals, showing in a total of 22 countries, and won awards at 13 festivals worldwide, such as winning the Best Director Award of a Foreign Language Documentary at World Cinema Milan and premiering at the famous Raindance Film Festival in London.

Carving the Divine Awards: 

World Cinema Milan Festival 2019 - Best Director of a Foreign Language Documentary Award 
Art Quake Kyoto 2019 - Best Feature Length Film Award 
Helsinki Education Film Festival International - Best Historical Feature Award 
Australia Independent Film Festival 2019 - Jury Award 
Arte Non Stop Festival 2019 - Best Screenplay Award 
Religion Today Film Festival 2019 - In the Spirit of Faith Award and commendation Award 
Japan Indies Film Festival 2020 - Best Documentary Feature Award 
Puerto Rico International Film Festival ENFOQUE 2020  - The mention of Honor of Best International Documentary Film 
New York Interfaith Film & Music Festival  2020  - Best International Documentary award 
Rhode Island International Film Festival Roving Eye 2021 - Best Documentary First Prize  
Rhode Island International Film Festival 2021 -  Flickers International Vision Award: First Prize 
World Independent Cinema Award (WICA) 2021 - Best Cinematography in a Documentary - Best Director of a Foreign Language Documentary 
Buddhist Arts and Film Festival 2022 - Best Documentary Award, Boulder Colorado

The art of Busshi is one of the most significant cultural legacies of Japan.  Yet at this point, this tradition is virtually unknown to the Western World.   These statues have been an integral part of Japanese culture for 1400 years for a reason.  And it will be my great pleasure and privilege that Carving the Divine will be the first experience of these cultural treasures for many people around the world.

More information please visit: 
http://www.carvingthedivine.com
https://www.facebook.com/CarvingTheDi...
https://www.instagram.com/carvingthed...
https://twitter.com/CarvingDivine

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