The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival is happening this weekend, October 20-22, at the Producers Club Theaters in Midtown Manhattan. Its the sixth annual event, with a lineup of science fiction and fantasy films, documentaries, music videos, and a screenplay competition.
The Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival will open the following weekend, October 27-28 at the L’Hybride theater in Lille, France. The two-day event held from will showcase films with themes of scientific and technological advancements, extraordinary events, and dystopian worlds.
We’ve been sharing news from these fantastic festivals for years now, and couldn’t pass up an opportunity to take a closer look into them. Fortunately we got to talk about these fests with the festival director of both of them, Dan Abella. Please check out the interview below, as he talks about what fans can expect, makes some recommendations for us horror fans, and more…
PH: Lets start with the Psychedelic Film and Music Festival. The festival “accept films short and features that cover the non-ordinary reality experience and altered states of consciousness.” Can you expand on what that means and the mission of the festival?
DAN ABELLA: Many of us feel we are trapped by our lives, living in a kind of self imposed prison. The mission of the festival is to raise awareness about various practices that can free us from our prison of limitation, ego and insecurity. These practices include meditation, chanting, drumming, psychedelics, visualization, vision quests, horror films and so on. Psychedelic in its original meaning is, “That which is revealed to the mind”, hence the festival lives up to its original meaning by offering a variety of ways to do so. Alejandro Jodorowsky, the famous surrealist director of films such as EL TOPO and the HOLY MOUNTAIN, wanted to create a film that would simulate an LSD trip. Let’s not forget that some films such as Ken Russell’s ALTERED STATES or Gaspar Noe’s ENTER THE VOID can be viewed as visionary horror. So we present a menu of things that people can choose from.
PH: Is it a challenge to find films that fit the mission?
DAN ABELLA: Not at all. Many films that fall under the “psychedelic moniker” include experimental, surrealist, sci-fi, horror, and transpersonal films.
PH: One of your special premieres is the East Coast premiere of Matthew Modine’s I Am What You Imagine. What does it mean to the film to host this premiere, and what should fans expect from the film?
DAN ABELLA: Modine’s film is a lyrical exploration of the unexplained. The short features the voice talents of Ruby Modine and Stanley Kubrick’s collaborator, Leon Vitali in his final performance. The short uses film and sound on an expressionistic journey to their heart and mind.
PH: We have an audience of horror and sci-fi fans so are there any films that you would suggest to them?
DAN ABELLA: Absolutely, we have three blocks in this festival devoted to horror and sci-fi. Two blocks screened on Friday night focuses on horror. Then we have the NYC feature premiere ALONE TOGETHER about a couple who flees a pandemic ravaged city for the safety of a remote cabin, only to be haunted by a vengeful spirit that has been waiting for them. This film works with intergenerational trauma and abuse and is set within a horror context similar to William Friedkin’s classic horror, BUG. Another feature is JIMMY ALFREDO about a cynical introvert on his quest to meet Satan using LSD. On Saturday afternoon, we have another two-hour block exclusively focused on horror and sci-fi. Some of the gems include HEARING VOICES about a young woman battling her inner demons, TEARS OF THE WITCH, which focuses on a group of traveling women during three time periods which reveal their horrifying past, and SHADOW ON THE TERRACE about a young man who moves in with his girlfriend into a new house. Shortly later, she disappears and he finds her frozen in a lake nearby. Will he be next?
PH: This is more than just a film festival. Can you talk a little about the music side of things at this year’s event?
DAN ABELLA: Over the years we have had live psychedelic bands and music videos from upcoming bands touring the U.S. One of the music videos this year is from the stoner band ACID KING, featuring their new song BEYOND VISION. We also have a documenatary direced by Matt Levin interviewing the members of famous shoegaze band SLOW DIVE during a recent tour.
PH: And how about other events and workshops going over the weekend. The Phoenix Process seems like an interesting workshop. What can festival goers expect from it?
DAN ABELLA: We all have a dark side, a shadow, this is why we are so much attracted to horror. The Phoenix Process is a free multimedia immersion workshop where we get in touch with the shadow and chaos we all carry inside of us, and to begin to develop a working relationship with them. We all have many aspects that are often ignored or neglected or shut away. By beginning to experientially accept their existence and welcoming into the larger family, we can grow in a more integrated way. The Phoenix Process will use music videos and dark imagery. For example, the Nine Inches Nails song “Hurt” as a way to underline the messages from our shadow and how to engage with it runs our lives.
-PH: Now to the PKD European Sci-Fi Film Festival. How exciting is it to be in France for this year’s festival?
DAN ABELLA: This is our eighth season screening the PKD European Festival there. It is always refreshing to return and notice the cultural differences between the two countries.
PH: So this festival is focused on sci-fi films. What is it about sci-fi films that connects with the European audience?
DAN ABELLA: I want to start off by saying that Philip K. Dick was a huge H. P. Lovecraft fan. Lovecraft’s concept of Comic Horror intertwines very well with PKD’s concept of the Matrix. Basically, we are in a prison being manipulated by forces we don’t understand. In France, they love PKD since his writing was influenced by the French literary cannon such as Proust, Flaubert, and Balzac. People are very enthusiastic about PKD since his warning of a coming dystopia, both technological and ecological, resonates with many.
PH: The festival is separated into blocks of short films. Can you talk a little about the connection the films have within a block?
DAN ABELLA: Each block is focused on a theme that runs through PKD’s works. What is the nature of reality? Who are we? What does it mean to be human? FUTURE SHOCK focuses on the intersection of technology and humanity and how is changing us. A SEPARATE REALITY, focuses on films that explore the parallel realities that exist right next to our own. A THE MOUNTAIN OF MADNESS, focuses on the “illusion of normality” and how the characters are one step away from falling into cosmic horror.
PH: The Signal seems to be a popular title for sci-fi films, and to no surprise you have a short playing called The Signal. Reading the synopsis for it had me curious about it so what can fans expect from this one?
DAN ABELLA: What first struck me about THE SIGNAL, was that it was shot in Zimbabwe with a fully native cast. The movie’s director Daniel Lasker appeared in Ridleys Scott’s Raised by Wolves a few season ago. The plot of THE SIGNAL is a signal from outer space, possibly alien, forces people to kill each other and commit horrible acts of cruelty. The main leads are strangely immune, and we later find out why.
PH: While they are sci-fi films, do any other ones tilt in the direction of horror?
DAN ABELLA: Yes quite a few, here are some that fall into pure horror: THE SIGNAL, WELCOME TO CANDY’S, a modern day retelling to the vampire story, ESCALATION, about a man who self mutilates during the pandemic, WAKE UP LITTLE GIRL, about a young girl trapped in her home with an evil presence and lastly, the very chilling piece, THE HANGMAN, about a mysterious upside down figure stalks a young man at night.
PH: And will festival goers get to hear from and interact with some of the filmmakers?
DAN ABELLA: Yes, in both festivals we have Q&A following the screenings with many directors attending.
PH: Finally, is there anything else you would like to mention about either festival, films to recommend, or even tips for anyone attending the festivals for the first time?
DAN ABELLA: If there is one message from the Psychedelic Film Festival, it is that life offers a variety of ways to evolve. The key is to pay attention and let that moment change you. Whether watching a horror film or partaking in drumming ceremony or taking a botanical is all about attention and knowing when is the moment to break free from our own prisons. Let life initiate you into the mysteries. I am proud the Philip K. Dick Film Festival is drawing submissions from all over the world. In the upcoming festival in France, we are screening two films from Africa, The Signal and Red Gaia. Science fiction particularly through the lens of PKD is a universal language where we can communicate our concerns with each other, and pave the way for a safer and more accepting world.
We would like to thank Dan for taking the time to answer our questions. Hopefully this gave you a better idea of what to expect from the festivals, and convinced you to attend. Speaking of attending, more information and links to ticket information is below.
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.
Festival Passes:
Festival passes are available at https://www.psychedelicfilmandmusicfestival.com
Website: https://www.psychedelicfilmandmusicfestival.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/psychedelicfes1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychedelicfilmfestival
About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival:
“The core of my writing is not art but truth.” – Philip K. Dick
The Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival launched in October 2013 and has held events in Lille, France, Cologne, Germany and Łódź, Poland. Organized by individuals and filmmakers who understand both the challenges and rewards of telling a unique story in an independent environment, the festival represents the deep analyses and philosophical views of internationally renowned novelist Philip K. Dick, whose work has inspired generations of writers, filmmakers and fans around the world.
For more information on passes and films, visit https://www.thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com/francepkd
Website: https://www.philipkdickfilmfestival-europe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/philipkdickfest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipkdickfest
