Daniel Dávila’s ‘The Child of Plomo’ Awarded Best Psychedelic Feature
Matthew Modine’s ‘I Am What You Imagine’ Named Best Psychedelic/Transpersonal Short
The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival has announced the award winners for its sixth annual event, which featured a lineup of science fiction, horror, and fantasy films, music videos, and panels with filmmakers. Screenings were from October 20-22 at the Producers Club Theaters in Midtown Manhattan. Exploring the influence and breakthroughs of the psychedelic community, the event recognized 10 official selections for outstanding filmmaking, storytelling, and music. For more information on this year’s lineup, visit https://www.psychedelicfilmandmusicfestival.com.
Congratulations to the winners of The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival:
BEST PSYCHEDELIC FEATURE
The Child of Plomo (2021)
Director: Daniel Dávila, Chile, 67 min
Waking from a mysterious dream, Mateo drags Scarlett, his babysitter, away from the Andean ski resort where he’s spending the holidays with his parents in search of an unknown place. His quest becomes Scarlett’s as the call of the mountains intensifies. Pristinely poetic, the film illustrates a major Inca ritual, bridging past and present.
BEST TRANSPERSONAL DOCUMENTARY
Biognosis (2022)
Director: Greg Hemmings, Canada, 32 min
The McKenna Academy’s BioGnosis project aims to renovate and digitize an immensely important collection of 150,000 biological specimens currently housed at the Herbarium of the Amazon in Iquitos, Peru. The herbarium includes vital knowledge on how the indigenous people use the plants for healing.
BEST PSYCHEDELIC DOCUMENTARY
Onanya (2022)
Director: Paris Tume, UK, 63 minutes
In the verdant, lush jungles of the Amazon, a tribe of indigenous people has lived in harmony with their surroundings for millennia. The Shipibo tribe has learned the secrets of the earth, honing their knowledge to transform the native flora into powerful medicines that can cure any sickness. But their peaceful existence is threatened.
BEST PSYCHEDELIC HORROR
Alone Together (2023)
Director: William Kresch, USA, 94 min
After fleeing their pandemic-ravaged city for the safety of a remote family cabin, a physically and emotionally abused woman and her volatile boyfriend are forced to face the vengeful spirit that haunts it — and each other.
BEST PSYCHEDELIC/TRANSPERSONAL SHORT
I Am What You Imagine (2023)
Director: Matthew Modine, United States, 7 min
This short film is a sensual exploration of the unexplainable. Featuring the voice talents of Ruby Modine and long-time Kubrick collaborator Leon Vitali in his final performance, the short uses sound, music, and expressionistic imagery to take viewers on a journey of the heart and mind.
BEST PSYCHEDELIC SCI-FI/SUPERNATURAL SHORT
Lux Chroma (2022)
Director: Kwokyong Ng, Malaysia, 11 min
Zac is not just an ordinary digital colorist who color grades videos, he is able to see human’s aura and “color grade” their aura to heal them.
BEST ANIMATION
Dying on Amanitas (2023)
Director: Charlie Goulet, USA, 15 min
Experiencing death by a gunshot, while on the Amanita Muscaria mushroom.
BEST FOLK/TRANCE SONG
Polychron Plus feat. Anna Domino’a Pocketknife (2022)
Director: Domenico Morreale, Italy, 4 min
“Pocketknife” is the music video for Polychron Plus’ song featuring Anna Domino, taken from the album Polychron+ “She’s always been there.”
BEST PSYCHEDELIC BAND/SONG
Acid King – Beyond Vision (2023)
Director: Dalan McNabola, United States, 8 min
Inspired by “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Carl Sagan, and LSD, the video asks what would happen if instead of the Voyager Golden Record, the new Acid King record was sent off into space?
BEST PSYCHEDELIC TRANSPERSONAL SCREENPLAY
The Messiah Machine
Writer: Thomas Mercer, United States
Two former lovers, Thea Marias (an accomplished neuroscientist) and Juan Baptista (an anthropologist and shaman’s apprentice) navigate a world of political and religious intrigue, where the fate of an A.I. super-computer holds the promise of unlocking extraordinary powers and profound spiritual enlightenment.
About The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival:
The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival explores the altered states of consciousness and psychedelia created by film, music, art and other forms of media. Founded in 2018, the event has showcased independent feature films, shorts, music videos and documentaries, and panels with distinguished guests, and pushes the boundaries of psychedelic and noetic realities to give audiences a unique and visceral experience.
Connect with Us:
Website: https://www.psychedelicfilmandmusicfestival.com
