Cynthia Connop
Directing
Biography
Cynthia Connop has over 20 years experience in the film and television industry as a writer, producer and director. Her feature documentary ‘Sacred Sex’ (ABC/Channel4/Miramax) achieved a highly successful theatrical, television and video release worldwide. Other credits include producer/director ‘Rajneesh: Spiritual Terrorist!’ (Dendy Award finalist/ABC TV/Learning Channel). The provocative and inspiring documentary ‘Bloodlines’ is her latest film in a series of documentaries exploring human relationships. Cynthia teaches documentary filmmaking and is the Chairperson of the board of the regional film organisation, Screenworks. Cynthia is the founder and co-facilitator of the Living Love workshop program. Cynthia has been exploring transformational work for over 25 years, is a personal growth facilitator and documentary filmmaker. She has facilitated numerous workshops – including the Heart of Woman, Meeting the Muse and culminating in the Living Love program for Men and Women, which is inspired by author and teacher David Deida. Cynthia is passionate about creating an awakened, loving planet. Her pioneering film projects include the feature documentary SACRED SEX, the David Deida video SPIRIT SEX LOVE, AND SPIRITUAL TERRORIST on the Indian mystic, Osho. Her most recent film BLOODLINES (ABC TV) explores a healing encounter between two women from both sides of the Holocaust. In her private consultations Cynthia draws on her skills in masculine/feminine polarity, sacred sexuality, voice dialogue, creativity coaching and the yoga of love. (8/14)
Known For
The tantric tradition of sensual spirituality was an esoteric and mystical religious tradition which flourished in Ancient India and China. The tantric rites of sexuality are now finding a new wave of adherents among the “new agers” of the post-industrial West. This video explores the sexual research and experimentation taking place in cities such as Berlin, New York, Aspen and San Francisco by western people attempting the difficult reconciliation of erotic desires and spiritual fulfilment when they have been raised in a Christian culture which fundamentally opposes the spirit and the body. From a “Sluts and Goddess” workshop hosted by famous dominatrix Annie Sprinkler, to a “Rebirthing and Sexuality” conference in Hawaii, “Sacred Sex” explores the new forms of pagan and Eastern philosophies being popularised in the West.
Sacred Sex
A moving meditation on guilt and reconciliation, Bloodlines explores the unwritten cost of war and genocide on future generations - of both victims and perpetrators. As Bettina Goering, grandniece of Nazi war criminal Herman Goering, searches for a way to come to terms with her heritage, she meets Ruth Rich, a painter and daughter of Holocaust survivors. At a time when seemingly irreconcilable divisions between groups are tearing the world apart, this deeply hopeful film is a beautiful testament to the power of dialogue and post-conflict reconciliation.