In what hopes to be a spiritual and intellectual week, OLLU’s 2007 Literary Festival is promising to do just that, if not even more. From April 14-20, everyone is invited to attend some of the events that will be held throughout the week.

“La Vida Consciente/The Conscious Life” is this year’s theme. “This was chosen as a theme with the belief that institutions of higher learning must create platforms for dialogue about spirituality in art and the global significance of those artistic choices,” says Assistant Professor Nan Cuba, who is in charge of this year’s festival.

Since taking over the literary festival, Cuba has secured outside funding and worked closely with the Communications and Marketing Department to advertise the festival across the city. Not only that, but Cuba would like to see more students get involved and says she is doing this by “designing events that would interest biologists and sports enthusiasts.”

Biologists? Sports enthusiasts? How is this done at a spiritual and intellectual literary festival? One name comes to mind: Michael Anderson. Anderson is a first amendment lawyer in Boston, and is also a goalkeeper for Wayland United, a 40-and-over soccer league.

Anderson will kick off the festival on April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room with “Soccer Nightmares, Soccer Dreams.” Anderson is hoping that sports enthusiasts will come and see his high energy one-man show, which will display emotions, conspiracies, theories and dreams.

“I want people to have a blast, laugh their heads off, and only later realize that this was really deep,” says Anderson.

“A truly spiritual person never feels satisfaction in success, just in love, humor, joy, and good Chinese food,” he added.

Another speaker at the festival will be Douglas Brode, who is one of the most internationally read film historians, ranking alongside Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert. Brode said he just considers it an honor to be even named among such great people.

He’ll be part of a panel on film and spirituality with Communication Arts Professor Antoinette Winstead, and writer John Philip Santos and Steven G. Kellman, on April 16 at 10:30 a.m. in Thiry Auditorium.

Already a well-known author for his books, Brode mentions that his books “were inspired by my lifelong love of the movies and in each book I get to present my interpretation of a body of work that means a great deal to me.

“In my mind, it's almost impossible to make a great film that doesn't have spiritual content,” says Brode.

Brode said he hopes to make the discussion panel lively, as the topic is going to be on God and film, a complex issue. He intends on giving people a great discussion to leave with. “If I do that, then that's precisely what I'll gain: giving,” he said.

With people like Anderson, Brode and Cuba, this year’s literary festival is offering something different for everyone to enjoy.

“I just anticipate that our students and faculty will become more aware of the events and make a point to attend,” says Cuba.