February 16 – 21, 2021

February 16, 2021 19.00 – 22.00

Mary Darskaya «Mom knows better» (Russia)

The film almanac of Maria Darskaya “Mom knows better” consists of 6 short stories, a prologue and an epilogue. These are stories about finding their place in the family system, about conflicts between generations, about the struggle between love and duty, about complexes and a thirst for change. The connecting link of the almanac is the main character Sasha (played by Marina Vainpres), who works as a journalist and often interviews different characters, going through her stages of realizing important values. Also, the heroine, on the instructions of the editorial board, undergoes psychological trainings, plays transformation games, and in the finals, on her own initiative, participates in family constellations according to Hellinger – all this helps her overcome her fears and recharge the energy of the family. Will the other heroes of the almanac be able to find harmony and happiness? The audience will have to answer this question.

Yaro A lex «The Spot_» (Russia)

“The Spot“ is a live action animation series based on Carlos Castaneda books made by fans. The first episode is equal to the 1-st chapter of the “The teachings of Don Juan: a Yaqui Way of Knowledge” book about a challenge given by Don Juan to Carlos to find a spot,a special place where a man can feel good, strong and at peace…

Anna Antonova «On the Verge of ___» (Russia)

February 17, 2021 19.00 – 21.00

Christianne van Wijk «The Blueprint» (United Kingdom)

Planet Earth in 2040. There are two timelines co-existing simultaneously. One ruled by a New World Order A.I. uncivilisation. The other a 5th dimensional luscious green world based on love and spirit. A world that can only be reached through an invisible barrier. When Christianne finds her way in and is reunited with her childhood friend Karen, she is shown the sheer Utopia that humanity is capable of creating.

February 18, 2021 15.00 – 21.00

Hemantkumar Mahale «Kaali Maati» (India)

This is a biopic of a farmer, who yield harvest of gold from the black soil. Leaving his secured government job he tried his luck with determination in farming and with hard labor and complete dedication he tilled the soil so well that a loss making farmland transformed into successful turnover of 400 Crores. We have seen stories of farmers committing suicide but this inspires all farmers they can change the course of life with sheer will and courage.

Keith Edward Barnfather «Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor» (UK)

SIL is worried, very worried, which doesn’t keep his reptilian skin in the best condition! Confined in a cold detention cell on the moon, awaiting a deportation hearing for trial on drugs offences on Earth, he faces a death sentence if the application is successful and he is found guilty. And his employers at the Universal Monetary Fund aren’t pleased either. Not at all. As time runs out and friends desert him, SIL must use all of his devious, vile, underhanded, ruthless, and amoral business acumen to survive. Can he possibly slime his way out of this one?

Tom Murphy «Purgatopia» (USA)

clashes with the atypical. Purgatopia presents the world and its over abundance of information and ideologies as chaos. A radio show host and a twisted media mogul, are held to a mysterious force personified by an obscure being that is as omniscient as radiowaves. Purgatopia is a topsy-turvy world of flickering lights, crossed signals, and idealogical division mirroring the current struggles of the Information Age. The ‘telephone game’ of public opinion takes the form of a self-repeating formula that feeds back on itself to expose the illusive yet omniscient presence of the collective unconscious.

Arvind Pandey «Grihalakshmi – The Awakening» (India)

The film explores the concept of ‘Sahaja Yoga Meditation’ on the big screen through the story of two young sisters, Sheetal and Samaira, who encounter a deep inner awakening called Self Realization. Their life takes a turn for the better. They experience a life full of happiness and contentment.

Robert L. Pepper «The Great Work in 33 Steps» (USA)

A surreal, art film journey in learning the Tarot and the occult by making ones own Tarot deck which blurs the distinction between reality and fiction.

Laura Hirch «Womenbodiment – Women Healing Women» (Germany)

‘The future is female’ – this famous contemporary slogan seems like a call for women worldwide to trust that there is hope for a better future for us and our beloved Mother Earth. But it’s also a call for action, to start that journey from within. How powerful it can be to work with the womb space and immerse in a women’s circle, uniting with women worldwide in sisterhood – this is what conscious filmmakeress Laura Hirch wants to show in her first feature lengths film WOMENBODIMENT. She met with four modern medicine women and female empowerment leaders in Ibiza, Berlin and Munich to portray their work and create inspiration for the healing journeys of women around the world.

Vick Campbell «Black Roses Symphony» (Spain)

a family is a victim of the satanic rites of one of the members

Gabriel Torres Morandi «Epifhany» (Venezuela)

Epiphany is a video-art in which the body, nature and metaphors form a visual, sound and poetic story. Our artists are shamans, sorcerers, healers, alchemists, contemporary researchers of the cities, using the wisdom and power of the body manage to expand the states of consciousness, elevate the spirit. May he look back upon us and expand the richness of our existence.
A tribute to the teachers Juan Carlos Linares, Carolina Avendaño and Karl Bertelsen in dedication to the philosopher and writer Jonuel Brigue. Epiphany

Antonio Molfese «Medicine and Magician in Basilicata» (Italy)

The video shows how healthcare was practiced in the agricultural areas of Basilicata in the 1930s-1940s; it also shows how medicine has evolved with scientific progress. Magic assisted medicine in the treatment of people, especially for the poorest, for whom the magician was consulted first and then the doctor, if necessary.

Tárkányi János «The Silversmith» (Romania)

A historical feature film from Transylvania. In early XVII’th century, A talented young silversmith (Johannes Banfi Hunyades) from the Transylvanian city of Baia Mare, immersed himself in alchemical studies 400 years ago and came into conflict with the most powerful man in the area. In a parallel act in the present time, an entrepreneur from Baia Mare is investigating after he accidentally found the unknown alchemist in his hometown.

Ben Mathie «Just a Ride» (USA)

A bicyclist is cast into an imaginative journey of the soul. What is the meaning behind the cyclical nature of existence, or perhaps, the duality of life and death? Finding the answers are as easy as riding a bike. Though, in the end/beginning, it’s Just A Ride.

Alessandra Arcieri «My Life With Osho – Tales from Ustica» (Italy)

While describing his adventurous journey, Dr Azima sheds light on contemporary spirituality and presents a seven-steps path for seekers. The author is one of the few European disciples who had the good fortune and the courage to stay with Osho through a series of tumultuous events.

Fabio Penna «The picture of Anna Göldi» (Switzerland)

An Italian girl emigrated in Switzerland reads the real story of Anna Göldi, the last woman executed in Europe for witchcraft, and decides to make a painting of her.

Ellery Bryan «Other Methods of Bearing Weight» (USA)

In response to grief following the suicide of a loved one, “Other Methods of Bearing Weight” is a collaborative performance practice that mediates the problem of absence as it pertains to creating visual documents, and the ceremonial study of transcending partnership without the body of the other. It focuses on relationships as translucent sensory cooperations and shared imaginary spaces, and on the invincible relativity of intimacy between two, something symbiotic and yielding captured without seeing–experimenting at togetherness.

Lee Foster, Tito «Guillen On A List» (Canada)

On A List is a short content series that’s a rom-com about vulnerability and relationships

Anatoly Pasichnik «Long road home» (Russia)

The film tells about a young man named Sergey, who lives an ordinary life. Suddenly he starts seeing weird things, the meaning of which he cannot understand. To his surprise, some of these things soon begin to come true. Neither the young man nor his relatives are not ready to accept the fact that starts happening around. Soon Sergey will need to find out the essence of these phenomena, to reconsider the way he sees the world and realize what is the true meaning of our unpredictable, mysterious, and sometimes frightening life…

Claudio D´Attis «Holy Wood» (Germany)

Giacome is going around Dresden with a cross, nobody want it so he is going to dress and protect his own cross, his holy wood.

Marc Bielli «The Passion of Mary Magdalene» (France)

The film ‘The Passion of Mary Magdalene’ is a documentary-fiction on the biblical character of Mary Magdalene.

Rajele Jain «Annapakta – One who can digest food. Yoga and Ayurveda – Science of Life» (Portugal)

This film uncovers some of the foundations that make up yoga and Ayurveda, and which have been diluted in the course of their worldwide spread. Yoga scholars and teachers, yogis, Ayurveda scholars and doctors, all of whom were chosen for their decades of honest and profound practice and experience, respond to common misconceptions and prejudices: does Ayurveda mean vegetarian? Is Yoga a religion? What is a yogi? What is knowledge? What does science mean? What is life?

Vick Campbell «Black Roses Symphony» (Spain)

A family is a victim of the satanic rites of one of the members.

Pina Brutal Seven Levels Deep (Germany)

Seven Levels Deep is a short movie that explores the possibilities of a therapy session going deeper than intended. A visual depiction of a heroines journey through her own darkness. All the shadows are familiar, still threatening. Is there a catharsis after the breaking point?

Jesse Petrick «Bridge Escort: Modern Tale Of Charon» (USA)

If fear, doubt or remorse prevents you from your final destination, a bridge escort officer will see you home safe.

19 February 2021 from 16.00 till 22.00

Alessandra Arcieri MY LIFE WITH OSHO – Tales from Ustica (Italy) 01:40:00

While describing his adventurous journey, Dr Azima sheds light on contemporary spirituality and presents a seven-steps path for seekers.
The author is one of the few European disciples who had the good fortune and the courage to stay with Osho through a series of tumultuous events.

Horia Dumitra Ego Death (Ireland) 5:46

A man wants to meditate but is interrupted, at first by external events, then by images in his mind. As he persists, he undergoes a mystical experience.

Ben Mathie Just a Ride (USA) 4:44

Nora Wendt JAJO (Germany) 19:43

In the mythology of the Sorbs, a slavic minority in the area of Lusatia, the `Mittagsfrau´ (engl. noon woman) upholds the virtues of rest and is the keeper of the cyclical wisdom of the soil. According to the legend, she comes to the field at noon armed with a sickle and beheads those who fail to take a break. Aron chooses to work on a holiday instead of practicing the ritual of Sorbian egg painting with his partner Anna. Whilst he is in the field, Anna embarks on a sensual journey into the inner seasons of her menstrual cycle as she meditates on the symbolism of the Sorbian egg; an adventure that brings her closer to the spirit of the Mittagsfrau…

Claudio D´Attis HOLY WINE (Germany) 25:00

In Hollywood wine is holy and it tells the deepest struggles of the human beings. 2000 Angel met Jorge at the shelter of sister Irina and both get drunk, 2009 Angel drunk went into a bar and lost his girlfriend, everyone left him alone. Today Angel has to deal with his son, a talented dancer. Sister Irina still wishes all the best for the little dancer, born from Angel.

Paul MacGowan «Wandering…But Not Lost» (UK) 01:29:05

Under cover of darkness and with no word of his plans, much-beloved Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche walked away from his life on the international stage to live that of a wandering yogi. Unheard of among eminent teachers today, such a practice is rife with hardships. For Mingyur Rinpoche, these challenges—begging, finding food and shelter, illness, and all the attendant risks of wandering incognito from place to place with the barest of possessions—present fertile ground for deepening insight into the true nature of the mind.

Rajele Jain «Annapakta – One who can digest food. Yoga and Ayurveda – Science of Life» (Portugal) 01:48:38

20 February 2021 from 16.00 till 22.00

Arisa Wakami, Azuru Isshiki, Ayaka Kawasaki «Birth – The cycles of life» (Japan )

There is a drama for every childbirth. An omnibus of animated documentaries that visualize experiences about childbirth.

Alexandre Mottart «Icare» (Belgium) 10:00

A man escapes from his underworld prison. When he wakes up, he has no more memories.
The valley he is in is surrounded by mist and darkness. Only the top of the mountain is lit by the sun, so he sets out to reach it. On his way, a black monolith pursues him and forces him to hide in a cave if he wants to sow it. There, he discovers a hidden passage and comes out through another world. There he sees his dead wife again and begins to recover his memories. The black monolith then finds him and he must take his way back to the top, his memories come back to him with each step he takes, until he understands why he chose to forget.

Anne Charrin, Lise Charrin, Aude Charrin, Jean-Marie Gatin The Secret Walls (France) 14:25

A theatre in the rain, people outside crowding to get in. A tired man comes through the stage door where a child -the master of the place- has been waiting for him. Engulfed in that theatrical machinery and caught up in the beguiling cogs of time, guided by some unknown force, the man plunges deep into a maelstrom of many faces…

Giacomo Pugliese, Lusso Luca PIETRO NEGGIO – THE KING OF CHARLATANS (Italy) 01:16:00

What is time and how does it transform the quality of our desires? Can our actions affect the lives of our ancestors? Can war and other accidents poison our souls? Where does a soul end and where does an ego start? Can death teach us love? These are just some of the questions that the characters in the cinematic story ask us: Pietro the anarchist theatrical who in 1917 tries to make his fellow villagers desert and his nephew Angelino who in 2017 joins the vast army of unemployed thanks to insane economic choices. Will the two be able to help each other beyond the boundaries of time?

Carey Burtt Corpus Chaosum (USA) 01:15:25

Corpus Chaosum is a musical. A horror film. An experimental film. A trance film. A stupid film. A brilliant film. A film that lies. A film that tells the truth. Involving ideas culled from anxiety, depression, addiction, chaos magick, tarot, jewish mysticism, christian mysticism, catharism, process church of the final judgement, burroughs, jim jones, junk science etc.

Robert L. Pepper The Great Work in 33 Steps (USA) 01:21:00

A surreal, art film journey in learning the Tarot and the occult by making ones own Tarot deck which blurs the distinction between reality and fiction.

Oliver Folcarelli Todem (Denmark) 8:26

After a night of bizarre and surreal events, a priest must make peace with the fact that death has reached him.

Gabriel Torres Morandi Epifhany (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) 13:42

Epiphany is a video-art in which the body, nature and metaphors form a visual, sound and poetic story.
Our artists are shamans, sorcerers, healers, alchemists, contemporary researchers of the cities, using the wisdom and power of the body manage to expand the states of consciousness, elevate the spirit. May he look back upon us and expand the richness of our existence.

Antonio Molfese Medicine and Magician in Basilicata (Italy) 18:33

The video shows how healthcare was practiced in the agricultural areas of Basilicata in the 1930s-1940s; it also shows how medicine has evolved with scientific progress.
Magic assisted medicine in the treatment of people, especially for the poorest, for whom the magician was consulted first and then the doctor, if necessary.

Johannes Wachsmuth The cosmos in me (Germany) 18:55

An astro-psychedelic journey through the inner cosmos of the Human Being, the 12 basic principles of creation and their psychological patterns. It lies in the freedom of the human being whether he suffers his inner planets as a worm (-) or cocoon (+) or experiences them as a butterfly. But first the worm must die so that the butterfly can be born. * Psychology meets Astrology, as an instrument for the greatest task of mankind: Become who you are!

February 21, 2021 10.00 — 17.45

Pierre-André Le Leuch «The Song of the Sea» (France)

In a small town of the Celtic coast, an old legend is haunting the inhabitants. Young men disappear at sea. Is it the devil’s work ? Or an evil creature’s from the ancient world ? Leon and his friends decide to investigate, even if it means going down the abyss.

Ben Mathie Just a Ride (USA) 4:44

Sevda Doğan «The Untitled» (Turkey)

In the film “The Untitled”, the main character, becomes the embodiment of a character in the novel by losing herself in an audiobook The lines between her being and that of the novel’s character blur, ultimately resulting in a personal catharsis.

Kalli Paakspuu «Going to Beyond» (Canada)

“Going to Beyond” is based on the song, “Üle Toonela tumeda vee” (“Over the Dark Waters to Toone”) and is about going to the land of the dead in the Finno-Ugric mythology. Sung by singers that were recent refugees in Toronto and conducted by Maestro Roman Toi in 1954, this film is a creative treatment of the emotional story of leaving everything that is known; It tells the singers’ story of despair and renewal.

Peter West «Book of Winters Part 1: Fruit of the Underworld» (USA)

An animated film tells the story of an expedition into an ancient mine that yields an unexpected discovery.

Oliver Folcarelli «Todem» (Denmark)

After a night of bizarre and surreal events, a priest must make peace with the fact that death has reached him.

Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule Alchemical Chess (Australia)

A game of Alchemical Chess ends with the Unveiling of the White Queen, and the Union of Red Lion and White Eagle. A combination of stop-motion animation, 2D animation and live-action provide the intricate visuals for this surreal and esoteric music-video to Orryelle’s Alchemical Chess song. Featured is his Alchemical Chess set made of bronze, glass and clay.

Latha Krishna «Vedic GPS» (India)

There is this deep subconscious craving to know about life’s purpose and future driven by curiosity, perhaps greed, fear of tomorrow or fear of Karma. At times the cravings surface loud and clear and drive us to seek, although we know not what we seek. The film deals with a centuries old Vedic discipline which was once scoffed at, as being superstitious, but now is increasingly being recognized as science and taught systematically in many parts of the world. So just how scientific is it? Or perhaps it is an art that relies heavily on intuitive interpretations? Let’s explore through the voices of some of the respected Vedic astrologers in India.

J.J. Barmettler «Eye & the Oracle» (USA)

Eye and the Oracle is an uplifting and life-affirming web series for improving your human condition with the intention of holistically creating a better life experience for yourself and others. It is terrific self-discovery and holds simple practices for spiritual seekers and is just as effective for those who inherently feel they are on their way to self-discovery and inner-purpose. Season One has eleven short inspirational episodes ranging from one to eleven minutes. The entire web-series can be binge-viewed in under an hour.

Bryan Hewitt «I Am Ice» (USA)

I Am Ice is an abstract short film based on a poem that focuses on the importance of remembering the benefits we derive from the polar ice caps.

Miguel Gomez Canales «The Warning» (Spain)

A woman receives a message from the Virgin Mary.

Arisa Wakami, Azuru Isshiki, Ayaka Kawasaki «Birth – The cycles of life» (Japan )

There is a drama for every childbirth. An omnibus of animated documentaries that visualize experiences about childbirth.
Alex Proyas «Strange Nostalgia» (Australia)

A woman dreams of a past life or a parallel existence.

Erin Pollock «Lucky Mud» (USA)

Clay figures battle their fickle egos and struggle to communicate. They may suffer physical and emotional imperfections but, like humans, they’re in a constant state of transformation. Wielding violence and tenderness, these figures perpetually collide. They sculpt one another and blur the line between destruction and creation. Each collision leaves them forever changed. This stop-motion animation is a celebration of vulnerability, imperfection, and the human capacity for transformation.

Todd Carter «7 Prayers: On Honey, On Earth» (USA)

Philos Maurice Klein «Modern Day Cathedral» (Germany)

Modern Day Cathedral is a blues ceremony against greed and consumerism.
A surreal journey that encapsulates the theme of modern consumerism, our self destruction as a species and our hope that prevails through it all.

Darby Bailey «Mitta Has Been Masking» (USA)

A fugue on the interior elements of the personae … psychological masking … sense of self, dissociation and self-misrepresentation. An experiment in processing identity, autism diagnosis and psychosis, through film.

Kasia Walczak «Enter Chaos» (USA)

Maria Vadimovna «Grandma» (Russia)

The girl Vasya goes to bed, she is ill, her grandmother is taking care about her, who is watching TV all the time and does not let the girl watch cartoons. Seeing that Vasya is not sleeping, the grandmother scares her with a terrible toy of a hare, whom Vasya is afraid, threatening that if she does not listen to her grandmother, she will enchant her and turn her into stone figures such as on the closet – scary freaks … Vasya quickly closes her eyes, making pretend to be asleep, but then real witchcraft starts to take place from which they no longer come back …

Qi Zhuang «A Pray» (China)

A Pray is an experimental short film aims to convey the Emptiness of all by presenting an abstract physical (and psychological) connection between two performers, using simple Buddhist symbols.

Hüseyin Mert Erverdi «SAMA» (Turkey)

Whirling cosmic journey of ascension, starting from ‘Khaos’, an ocean of unmanifested form, a void state preceding the universe’s birth to the sphere of planets of the solar system, to stars, Primum Mobile and beyond. Sama, is in a sense trying to contribute a response to an age old question of: “is it possible to create a film that both induces and reproduces a transcendental experience?” Prominent filmmakers like Jordan Belson, Stan Brakhage and James Whitney, all asked this very question through their works. In Sama, both the visuals and the sound of the film are designed in order to encourage the viewer on a state of deep meditation and contemplative trance.

Konstantin Pavlenko «Chamber of genesis» (Kazakhstan)

An obvious surreal story takes you into the depths of genesis. You are facing for answers to eternal questions in the film, probably that after watching 15 minutes you will think about the sense of life more, or maybe not. The post apocalyptic Calvary, a dead chicken, a baby carriage in ruins and many other images will feed your soul while watching the film.

Anastasia Zazhitskaya, Georgius Misjura «Кerli – Shadow Works» (Estonia)

Kerli’s latest album Shadow Works speaks to our darker side. It is closely related to Kerli’s personal experiences of returning back to the rural life in the nature of her home country, Estonia, and being able to fully know and heal herself through years of solitude in the nordic wild. The documentary raises themes as solitude, nature, ancient Estonian magic, DIY lifestyle, the creative process and most importantly, discovering oneself in the full spectrum of life and making peace with the darkness.

Totemworlds (Katan R Lamarque) «LA ISLA» (Mexico)

LA ISLA is an art film that invites you to explore a mystical place: a sacred dimension beyond time and space that celebrates Gods, Goddesses and religious beliefs around the globe and throughout time. Witness the union between the earthly and the divine and how, during this process, human conflicts arise and mayhem breaks out.

Nora Wendt «JAJO» (Germany)

In the mythology of the Sorbs, a slavic minority in the area of Lusatia, the Mittagsfrau´ (engl. noon woman) upholds the virtues of rest and is the keeper of the cyclical wisdom of the soil. According to the legend, she comes to the field at noon armed with a sickle and beheads those who fail to take a break. Aron chooses to work on a holiday instead of practicing the ritual of Sorbian egg painting with his partner Anna. Whilst he is in the field, Anna embarks on a sensual journey into the inner seasons of her menstrual cycle as she meditates on the symbolism of the Sorbian egg; an adventure that brings her closer to the spirit of the Mittagsfrau…

Alberto Martín-Aragón «CONSUMMATION» (Spain)

A mysterious old phone drives people crazy.

Johannes S. Wachsmuth «The cosmos in me» (Germany)

Dusty White «Secrets of the Self-Help Illuminati» (USA)

In my attempt to understand the synchronicities between occult teachings and the New Age / self-help popularity explosion of the 20th century, I end up caught up in the paranoia that surrounds secret societies.

Daniiar ABIROV «Scanner» (Kyrgyzstan)

The girl finds out that her father is a murderer. She is convinced about this from the photos made on the scanner.

Ninoslav Randjelovic Dharma Fragments (South Korea)

Extracts from the journals of American Zen monk Wonil, illustrated by scenes of temple life, the surrounding mountains and forests, and the streets of Seoul, form a visual poetry that conveys far more than word or image alone.

Marcus Hanisch Q: Ghostly Remote Effect (Germany)

in the future. a hi-tech-lab. scientist p is testing quantum-gynoid q and sets off on a mission to an undiscovered nature. on the journey she discovers a ghostly remote effect between herself and the robot…

Esoteric International Film Festival

February 16 – 21, 2021

Esoteric Film Festival