All Roads 2006 is officially upon us. With tonight's intimate launch event high in the secluded Hollywood Hills, the seeds of new lifelong friendships were forged. This year's special assembly of filmmakers, photographers and NGS staff gathered together In the spirit of this country's indigenous traditions for a special Welcome event. Festival director Francene Blythe ceremoniously welcomed all in attendance, some traveling thousands of miles from almost every continent across the globe to participate in the upcoming week's activities. All Roads Advisory board member Bird Running Water then proceeded to lead the group in an official smudge of cedar and sandlewood for purification. In the evening's climax, group elder Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman (Dances With Wolves, Dharma & Greg) offered a spiritual message of hope, inspiration and history to a captivated audience of budding story-tellers. 
At the conclusion of the traditional indigenous Welcome ceremony, spirits of the liquid variety flowed freely has attendees shared stories of films, culture and ideas. Filmmaker Cherien Dabis (Make a Wish), born to a Palestinian father and Jordanian mother, joined intellectual forces with Elle Flanders, (Zero Degrees of Separation) raised in Israel, to solve the Palestinian/Israeli crisis. With such an amazing international breakthrough on only the first night, one can imagine the scope of collaboration yet to come.
(All images courtesy of Becky Hale, National Geographic Society)
