The concept behind a program that closely examined physical and spiritual challenges we face in life was first conceived in late 2010.  The primary interest was programming with inspirational, thought-provoking and educational films that promoted a more conscious approach to how we live and would highlight the courage and triumph of the human spirit.  Entitled the Life and Death Matters Festival (also known as LADmatters), the 4-day event premiered in September 2011 at the historic Nomad Theatre in Boulder, Colorado. A year later after overwhelmingly positive responses the second edition of the Festival started under a new name that captured the empowering and uplifting spirit of the event: The BolderLife Festival was born.

Diane Feliciano is not only one of the founders of LADmatters/BolderLife Festival. She is supporting the Festival 2013 as a sponsor.

BolderLife Festival: Diane, we would love to learn something about you since you are a founding partner of BolderLife Festival. Would you introduce yourself with some sentences, please?

Diane Feliciano: After spending over 30 years working in global corporations, I recently decided to step off that merry-go-round and pursue things that were truer to my personal interests, need for creativity and sense of entrepreneurship.  I relocated to Northern California from Chicago and am developing 2-3 business ventures that will allow me to have an impact in a couple of different areas.  To that end, I am developing an online magazine, have established a Strategic Marketing Consulting Business and am developing a partnership with another consultant to deliver Organizational Diversity and Inclusion Workshops.  Something that has not changed is my love for the arts, in particular, independent films which carry messages of social relevance and substance.  I enjoy supporting all artistic endeavors whether as a patron, sponsor or donating my time and resources.

BolderLife Festival: Can we hear something about the beginning of BolderLife Festival? And how you did you get involved to BolderLife?

Diane Feliciano:  My involvement began back in 2011 when Erin Kelly asked me to be on the Management Board and to serve as the Marketing Director for a first year festival that later was to become the launching pad for the BolderLife Festival.  I loved the idea of a festival that featured films that were inspirational, thought-provoking and educational and I jumped in wholeheartedly. When it was over, both Erin and I shared a strong passion to see this type of programming evolve and continue on a larger scale.  I also knew that, in Erin, there was an inherent talent and an exceptional level of sensitivity/awareness for in-depth programming of this type and I wanted to support or enable this coming to fruition in any way I could.  We chose the name BolderLife because we believed it reflected the fearless and authentic approach to life we wished to inspire in our festival audience members and all of the people we could potentially touch through virtual platforms.  And with that, the BolderLife Festival was on its way and continues to evolve into bigger and greater things.

BolderLife Festival: This year our Artistic Director Erin Kelly created a pathbreaking vision/mission. What do you think about this vision/mission statement?

Diane Feliciano:  I’m not being facetious when I say that I think it’s pretty damn bold.  This festival is not afraid to “go there” when it comes to socially relevant topics and will take audience members along for the ride in a safe environment.  At the same time, the vision/mission statement serves as an open invitation to a much-needed platform for all of the filmmakers, artists, writers, directors and actors who are courageous in their expression of the “infinite ways in which life is embodied”….sometimes pretty and, other times, not so pretty.  There’s a very honourable goal in mind here with BolderLife and it is to have a positive impact on people, communities and the world.

BolderLife Festival:  You are supporting BolderLife Festival as a sponsor. Please introduce your company blk mrkt. What are you doing? Who is blk mrkt? And what are your current projects?

Diane Feliciano: blk mrkt is the Strategic Marketing Consulting Business I mentioned earlier.  I built my corporate career by successfully identifying, developing and launching new business units and ventures.  I wanted to take that expertise in marketing and business strategy and help start-ups and established small-to-medium size companies achieve top- and/or bottom-line growth while optimizing operational efficiencies along the way.  I’m currently focusing on organizations of this size in the Northern California Bay Area which is rich in start-up activity.  A large percentage of blk mrkt’s projects to date have been for technology-based companies where we have worked on developing 3-5 year business plans, annual marketing plans, branding strategies and more.  I am the Principal Consultant in this company and pull in marketing, communications and other business partners as required on a per project basis.

BolderLife Festival:  What do you expect from the festival films and plays this year? Will you come to the event?

Diane Feliciano:  Based on the updated vision/mission statement, I know that Erin and the BolderLife Team are hitting their stride this year and zeroing in on the caliber of film and theatrical programming that will embody the true intent of the festival. So, my biggest expectation has to do with what the audience members will experience and take away as a result of these films and plays. I expect this programming to trigger a great deal of conversation, introspection, empowerment, awareness, compassion and activism within the audience on a number of relevant topics, including those that are controversial and sometimes not so easy to face or address.  I do hope to attend and am currently coordinating my schedule to try and make that happen.

BolderLife Festival:  What would you say to the world:  Why should people come to the festival?

Diane Feliciano: Each of us is filled with a complex mix of emotions, life experiences, knowledge, predispositions, talents and, for good measure, some passions, hopes and dreams.  It really can be electric putting people with these diverse backgrounds together and utilizing the arts to set the stage for an exploration of any or all of those elements.  Your experience can be highly personal but there is also the opportunity to interact in a group within the supporting educational programming.  If you are someone who likes to dig down deep and revel in unique experiences, this is the festival for you.

BolderLife Festival: Do you live a bolder life? What do you personally think how to live a bolder life?

Diane Feliciano: For me, living a bolder life means being true to yourself, confronting your fears head-on, having the courage to follow your dreams, being open-minded and non-judgemental, handling life events no matter how adverse with grace and dignity and being proactive in terms of the positive impact you can have on the people and communities that surround you.  It’s funny, for many, many years I thought I was a real cowboy and was living a bolder life with a capital “B”.   When I finally stopped and took the time to be introspective, I realized I wasn’t being very bold at all.  Now I can say with confidence that I am and I’m sure that capital “B” is for real.

Thank you very much, Diane! We hope to meet you in December at BolderLife Festival!