Baha’is believe in the power of prayer and you’ll find Baha’is and their friends, throughout the world, getting together to pray. This is often referred to as a ‘devotional gathering’ or ‘devotional meeting’, and they happen in diverse settings, whether in cities or villages. These gatherings are open to all and are intended to embrace that attitude of prayer and practice of devotion that is universal to all religions.
I had the fortune of taking part in the 2022 World Conference which recently took place in Brisbane, Australia, and on the opening night of the conference, a short film was shown called A Deeper Calling: Reflections on the Transformative Power of Prayer. The film features five young people from Brisbane, and it shares their personal reflections of how prayer has affected their lives.
I found out that the film was created by my friend, Devina Saberi, who also happens to have taken part in some of our very first Baha’i Blog Studio Sessions (“Shine Ye” and “Sorrow Shall Pass“), and she agreed to publish the film on Baha’i Blog’s Youtube channel, and also answer some questions about the film. Here’s what she shared:
Baha’i Blog: Hi Devina! Can you tell us about the video and what it’s about?
Filmmaker Devina Saberi
This film tells the stories of five young people from Inala, a small neighbourhood in Brisbane, Australia. In the film, these youth share what they have learnt about the power of prayer. They talk about how they use it as a tool for reflection and guidance, how it has aided them in their search for spirituality and meaning, and how they have seen it affect their daily lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Baha’i Blog: How did the video come about?
The video was created for the Brisbane strand of the Baha’i World Conferences. On the opening night of the Brisbane conference there was a grassroots arts evening where groups shared art pieces that reflected the transformation their communities had experienced through various Baha’i activities. The original plan for this piece was for the five young people in the video to get up and read out their stories accompanied by clips of nature projected on a screen behind them. However, some of the youth felt shy to get up on stage, so voice recordings of their stories and clips of each of them were added to the original nature footage, and edited together to create the film.
Baha’i Blog: Why was this video important for you to make personally?
I find the stories that these five young people share really inspiring and uplifting, so I was excited by the opportunity to accompany those stories with tranquil imagery.
Baha’i Blog: What do you hope viewers take away from this film?
I hope the film gives those who view it a feeling of peace and tranquility. I also hope it creates an opportunity for people to reflect on how prayer and mediation can enrich our daily lives!
Baha’i Blog: Great job with this film, Devina, and thanks again for taking the time to answer these questions, and for sharing the film on Baha’i Blog. We’re all looking forward to seeing your next creative endeavour!
Naysan is passionate about using the arts and media to explore the teachings of the Baha’i Faith. Back in 2011, Naysan started up the Baha’i Blog project, channeling his experiences in both media and technology companies to help create a hub for Baha’i-inspired content online.
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