Imagine Fantastic Film Festival 2023 podcast series explores the 2023 festival theme - Fantastic Alchemy. The series consists of four episodes, which correspond with 4 elements of alchemy that we find especially relevant to us nowadays - Narrative, Identity, Technology, and Substance. In this episode, we explore the topic of TECHNOLOGY, which is perhaps one of the most tangible elements of alchemy for us today as it inspired many scientific innovations throughout centuries. We look specifically at films and VR works, which use technology to tame digital matter and channel it through the medium of storytelling to make emotionally resonant experiences. The episode features conversations with Norman Leto, a Polish filmmaker, and a digital alchemist in his own right, whose film Photon screens at Imagine, and a multidisciplinary artist Steye Hallema, whose latest VR piece Imaginary Friend is shown in the VR section of the festival.

IMAGINE PROGRAMME  MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

- Screening of Photon + Extended Introduction, dir. Norman Leto (Fantastic Alchemy: Technology) | 28 October (LAB111 2) & 2 November (LAB111 2)

- The VR Exhibition (Virtual Alchemy), featuring:

•  The Imaginary Friend, dir. Steye Hallema

• Gargoyle Doyle, dir. Ethan Shaftel

• Origen, dir. Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti

• Jailbirds, dir. Thomas Villepoux

• All That Remains, dir. Craig Quintero

• The First Ingredient: Tales from Soda Island - Ch.7

• Flow, dir. Adriaan Lokman

- The Cinematic Visions of VR programme (films dedicated to VR technology):

• The Lawnmower Man + Extended Introduction, dir. Brett Leonard (Virtual Alchemy: Immersion) | 29 October (Filmhallen 2) & 31 October (Filmhallen 2)

• Strange Days + Extended Introduction, dir. Kathryn Bigelow (Virtual Alchemy: Embodiment) | 29 October (LAB111 1) & 1 November (LAB 111 1)

• Brainstorm + Extended Introduction, dir. Douglas Trumbull (Virtual Alchemy: Interaction) | 28 October (Filmhallen 2) & 1 November (LAB 111 1)

• Nirvana + Extended Introduction, dir. Gabrielle Salvatores (Virtual Alchemy: Onboarding) | 28 October (LAB111 2) & 3 November (LAB111 1)

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Films

- Photon (2017), dir. Norman Leto

- The Lawnmower Man (1992), dir. Brett Leonard

- Strange Days (1995), dir. Kathryn Bigelow

- Nirvana (1997), dir. Gabrielle Salvatores

- Brainstorm (1983), dir. Douglas Trumbull

VR Works

- The Imaginary Friend (2023), dir. Steye Hallema

- Wolves in the Walls (2019), dir. Pete Billington