Films

KATABASIS

A filmmaker participates as a test subject in a neuroscience study designed to induce extraordinary states of consciousness and so-called near-death experiences (NDEs). Confronted with this radical self-exploration, he embarks on a cinematic investigation: What can experiences at the threshold between life and death reveal about what it means to be human?

KATABASIS weaves together subjective perception, scientific inquiry, and philosophical reflection. The result is a deeply personal yet universal exploration of the final boundary of life—and of its significance for our existence in the here and now.

Supported by Wien Kultur

THE SHAMAN AND THE SCIENTIST

In 1962, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann traveled to southern Mexico to meet the Mazatec shaman María Sabina, seeking to explore the therapeutic potential of mind-altering substances. Sixty years later, this encounter—and Hofmann’s research—form the point of departure for a film that investigates the healing effects of psychedelic drugs through the experiences of two protagonists. In María Sabina’s homeland in Mexico, magic mushrooms have been used by shamans for centuries. Luz hopes that this ancestral practice can help her ease the pain of her neuralgia. Meanwhile, in a psychiatric hospital in Hofmann’s native Switzerland, Saskia is participating in a pioneering clinical trial using LSD. After years of struggling with treatment-resistant depression, she hopes that the study will finally offer her a path toward healing. Can these substances open up new ways to treat psychological suffering?

WEAPON OF CHOICE

In 1962 Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann travelled to southern Mexico to meet the Mazatec shaman Maria l Sabina. His aim was to interrogate the therapeutic value of mind-altering substances. Sixty years on, this meeting is the starting point for a film that explores the healing effects of psychedelic drugs through the experiences of two protagonists. In Maria Sabinas homeland of Mexico, Montserrat hopes to overcome her anxiety disorder with the help of magic mushrooms. Meanwhile in a psychiatric hospital in Hofmanns’s native l

LIBYA HURRA

BEIRUT BLEND

EVOLUTION OF VIOLENCE

Guatemala. The civil war ended long ago, yet the violence persists—spreading through society like a cancer that refuses to heal. Each day, journalists prepare to report on the next murder victim, while a social worker supports families of women who have been killed. The global hunger for cheap resources fuels further brutality, and the long-standing “banana war” has taken on a destructive life of its own. The country continues to suffer from the trauma of its 36-year civil war. Mass graves are uncovered in the mountains, former rebels mourn their fallen comrades, and a war criminal is haunted by the memories of what he once did. Peace remains out of reach in Guatemala.