Mantra: Sounds into Silence, a new feature-length documentary on the growing musical and social phenomenon of chanting, is being picked up by movie theaters across the country on the strength of a grassroots word-of-mouth campaign. Released in the United States on March 16, the film shares the stories of people who find healing and a sense of inner peace by singing mantras together.

“Mantra is a film about spirituality, not religion—about people reconnecting with their true selves and with others,” says the documentary’s director, Georgia Wyss. “As our characters’ stories about their connection to the music unfold, we meet the musicians who have inspired them and brought them together. Through these encounters, we discover how Deva Premal and Miten, Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Lama Gyurme, Jai Uttal, MC Yogi and others came to this music themselves and to the practice of kirtan, and how, over the years, it transformed their lives as well.” 

The US distribution model relies heavily on a grassroots audience to bring the film to theaters all over the country, Wyss says. Anyone can host a screening for free by becoming a Movie Captain. (Learn more by visiting CallAndResponseFoundation.org.) Those who wish to attend a screening are encouraged to reserve tickets and spread the word to ensure the screening gets confirmed.

For more info, visit MantraMovie.com/USRelease.