Part sympathetic portrait and part exposé of the absurd, Your Higher Self dives into the world of life coaching – a modern phenomenon in full swing – embodying the quest of our individualistic society: to be oneself, only better.

In an era of social media influencers and self-help gurus, understanding self-meaning in our individualist society seems more elusive than ever. InYour Higher Self, Quebecoise filmmaker Annie St-Pierre takes an unconventional and playful look at the booming phenomenon of life coaching.

The film offers intimate windows into coaching sessions, observing as coaches guide clients through therapeutic experiences to achieve spiritual awakening. Rather than investigating effectiveness, St-Pierre quietly observes clients’ quests for self-betterment without judgment, exploring questions of belief and meaning in our hyper-individualistic society where many people feel lost in the excesses of capitalism, and where spirituality has become increasingly commodified.

Annie St-Pierre is an apostle of Canadian independent cinema, having collaborated with Denis Côté, Matthew Rankin, and Monia Chokri. Her work has earned Canadian Screen Award nominations and an Academy Award shortlist. Your Higher Self screened at SXSW, RIDM, and Visions before coming to PIF. -PLANET IN FOCUS