The Psychedelic Renaissance
Team fundraiserPROJECT SUMMARY
We are producing a documentary film about the worldwide re-emergence of the psychedelic movement and the crucial role of psychedelic substances in human culture from prehistory to modern times. The film aims to de-stigmatise psychedelic use by presenting personal and professional accounts of beneficial use from a wide array of individuals. We make a clear call for their responsible therapeutic use, for personal growth and collective healing, including traditional, indigenous applications of plant medicines and substances. We feel strongly that if the public is made aware of the potential of psychedelic and plant medicines for therapeutic use, the demand will facilitate a necessary shift in out-dated drug laws.
We explore all relevant and current aspects of the field of psychedelics, including but not limited to; medical and clinical research, neuroscience, neuropsychology, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, spirituality, philosophy, recreation, art, music, cyberdelics (Psychedelic Virtual Reality), XR (Extended Reality) and the crypto-psychedelic movement. The film delves into global, historical and traditional psychedelic use, their socio-cultural value, their value in environmental justice movements, and finally, their potential for healing, curing and alleviating a vast number of conditions that plague modern society, including depression, PTSD and substance-use disorder among many others.
We feel it is vital to present a wide diversity of perspectives within the psychedelic movement. We understand that psychedelics and plant medicines are not a magic cure and that they may not serve everyone. We will not shy away from revealing and exploring the shadow-side of psychedelic use, and we intend to do our best to present an unbiased account of the history, current reality, and future trajectories of the movement, through multiple perspectives including BIPOC, and LGBTQI2S+ people.
WHO ARE WE?
We are an intersectional collective of artists, including filmmakers, musicians and entrepreneurs, advocating for the responsible and intentional use of psychedelic substances and plant medicines for personal and collective healing.
WHO WE ARE - MEET THE TEAM
Anya Oleksiuk >>> Director/Producer
Anya is a Co-Director of the Psychedelic Society UK, leading on video production and campaigning for the decriminalisation of psychedelic plants and mushrooms. She is associated with the Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands and volunteers as a consultant for the Polish Psychedelic Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Psychodeliczne). Love of documentary films and music videos led Anya to study MA Documentary and Experimental Filmmaking. After completing her masters, she joined the End-Of-Life Care charity, Marie Curie, running their video department. She set off as a freelancer in 2016 and specialized in not-for-profit videos, music videos and documentaries. In 2017 she founded Triptika Studios, which is a collective of independent filmmakers with interests in health, science, innovative solutions, mental health, drug advocacy, social and racial justice and environment-friendly lifestyles. Anya aims for Triptika Studios to work on projects oriented towards social change and improving human wellbeing.
Haya Huasca >>> Co-Producer
Haya is an enthusiastic advocate of psychedelic literacy who intends to help catalyse the psychedelic movement globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and wrote a senior thesis titled “Ask Your Doctor If Psychedelics Are Right For You: A Closer Look At The Clinical Uses Of Psychedelics.” Since obtaining her degree in psychology, she has branched out to work in different fields ranging from NGOs to film sets, including a short film “Dunya’s Day” which was the recipient of the Jury Award for International Fiction at Sundance Film Festival. She was formerly involved with community development at The Third Wave and is a member of the French Psychedelic Society and is associated with the Psychedelic Society in the UK. In the future, Haya has plans to pursue a masters in clinical psychology to develop the skills needed in providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Mercedes C.A. Grant >>> Co-producer
Mercedes is a healer, activist, writer, witch and community organizer. She is dedicated to creating dynamic, inclusive, healing and educational spaces that encourage people to engage in paradigm-shifting dialogue while building safer, compassionate and supportive communities both online and in-real-life. She holds 500+ hours in traditional yogic education, with a focus on substance abuse recovery and trauma recovery through a justice-informed lens, producing educational programs for wellness professionals from around the world. With over a decade of combined education and experience in documentary film production, public relations, communications and crowdfunding strategy, she has collaborated with social entrepreneurs and organizations including MAPS Canada, Extinction Rebellion, Beyond Addition: The Yogic Path to Recovery, the award-winning documentary feature, Fractured Land. She is currently on the steering committee of the 2020 Psychedelic Psychotherapy Forum in unceded, ancestral territories of the Coast Salish people in so-called British Columbia, Canada, as well as holding space in her community for exploring Deep Adaptation in the face of climate and ecological collapse.
Mareesa Stertz >>> Co-director
Creator of the Seeing Machine, Mareesa Stertz, is a Director, Producer who has worked in the industry for over 13 years. She’s the creator/director/producer of a documentary series about healing for mental health that’s screened on GAIA TV. Her work focuses on redesigning of systems, discovering innovative solutions, and celebrating of the human condition. Mareesa’s work has been featured by Viceland, GAIA TV, CBS, IFC, SPIN, INDIE NATION, 60SecDocs and has been shown in numerous film festivals around the world. Clients include Gaia, Participant Media, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, TEDX, Nylon, Ableton Live, New York Film Academy, and more.
Ana Sabolic >>> Director of Photography
Ana Sabolić is a visual artist and filmmaker working in the field of independent film production and contemporary visual art. She graduated with an MA in Art in 2015 focused on graphics and video art. Interested in psychogeography, Ana explores problematics through moving image and art workshops. Many of her workshops where founded and supported by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and shown as solo exhibitions in galleries. It is an on-going project about exploring the identity of space and effects of the geographical environment on the emotions and behaviour of individuals. In the context of film and video production, she works on experimental and documentary projects which often go beyond the boundaries of the traditional state of a movie in cinemas and integrates into modern gallery spaces. Currently, she is an MA Film Production student at London School of Film, Media, and Design at the University of West London focused mostly on the experimental and documentary film. She is working as a freelance Art Director and Editor and is a Co-director of Triptika Studios.
Jonas Di Gregorio >>> Director of Fundraising
Jonas is a writer, speaker, transpersonal guide, with a successful track record in a diverse range of projects. He co-authored The Manual of Psychedelic Support and worked with psychedelic harm reduction organizations, such as Kosmicare and the Zendo Project. He co-founded the Italian Psychedelic Society and the Italian Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). He presented at international conferences like the Breaking Convention, Beyond Psychedelics, the World Ayahuasca Conference and the Psychedelic Science Conference. Jonas is passionate about creating content regarding the healing power of psychedelic therapy. He graduated in Philosophy at the La Sapienza University of Rome and has been organizing medicine ceremonies with healers from different parts of the world for the last 12 years. He currently lives in San Francisco, California.
Sara Velimirović >>> Fundraising Producer
Sara is a cannabis consultant, speaker and drug policy reform advocate. As the Head of Outreach at Cannabis Europa, Europe’s premier medical cannabis conference, Sara worked with industry partners to help plant the vision for the medical cannabis industry in Europe. Today, Sara advises companies on strategy and entry into the EU market. As an advocate, Sara co-founded the French Psychedelic Society and the French Patient Roundtable ‘Espoir Impatient’ which amplifies the voice of patients in the policy debate. In 2016 and 2019, Sara addressed the United Nations and the International Narcotics Control Board in Vienna on the topic of youth and drug policy. She holds a Master’s degree in International Security from Sciences Po Paris.
THE MISSION
Mental health is a defining issue of our generation, with approximately one in every four people suffering from ‘mental illness’. In 2017, The World Health Organization (WHO) began a campaign to prioritise global mental health, stating:
“Behavioral health disorders are on the trajectory to surpass all other diseases as a major cause of disability by 2020. Each year, approximately $2.5 trillion is lost in the global economy to mental illness; this number is expected to increase to $6 trillion in a little over a decade.
We intend to de-stigmatise psychedelic use by presenting personal and professional accounts of beneficial use from a wide array of individuals. We make a clear call for their responsible therapeutic use, for personal growth and collective healing, including traditional, Indigenous applications of plant medicines and substances.
WHAT WE NEED & WHAT WE ARE GRACIOUSLY ASKING FOR
We believe crowdfunding is ideal because the nature of our project makes it particularly challenging to find appropriate funding avenues. Due to the controversial nature of psychedelic substances, we simply are not eligible for any specific film grants. Potential financial sponsors are risk-averse, citing the topic of our film to be outside the realm of ideas they consider beneficial to fund. All the more reason to make this film!
Salaries >> £7,300
Production expenses, mainly equipment >> £2,350
Travel & Accommodation { USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Spain} >> £8,230
Post-Production >> £10,900
Administration >> £7,000
Marketing >> £2,315
Contingency 5% >> £1,904.75
TOTAL: £39.999.75 / 40K
DETAILS OF FUTURE PRODUCTION COSTS >>>
We seek funding to produce a high-quality film which will appeal to a broad audience, including those who have never considered psychedelic substances as a legitimate tool for healing and growth.
Any form of financial support will help us to move the project forward.
>>> 15K will allow us to do a minimum amount of filming and pay for editing
>>> 30K will allow us to complete all the filming and to pay for editing
>>> 40K will allow us to complete all the filming and editing and add compelling animation and bespoke sound design
FILM PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT & OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR EARTH HOME >>>
We understand that we are living in a critical time in the Earth’s history and that we must all do our part to consider our environmental impact. While we do our very best during production to reduce our ecological footprint through sustainable actions, we also understand that air travel is a significant contributor to carbon in the atmosphere. We are actively in the process of calculating our past carbon footprint from air travel, intending to purchase carbon offsets from a certified, transparent and trustworthy source, The Gold Standard Foundation. We also understand the philosophical argument against carbon offsetting, in that when we purchase an offset, we are paying someone to cut their emissions, so we don’t have to, and that this route is not ideal. With that, and where possible, we aim to reduce our air travel by train and bus travel, to hire local filmmakers where possible, and to continue engaging in actions that demand responsibility from corporations.
OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION >>>
We are a small team of volunteers with limited time. We all support ourselves while we volunteer our time for this very worthwhile
venture. Weare committed to paying £100 per day to the crew members to cover our basic needs and allow us to focus our attention on
further developing the project, as well as hiring new crew members to support us.
Our producer/director Anya Oleksiuk works in a not-for-profit organisation, The PsychedelicSociety, and she is not a high earner. Anya has volunteered for two years on this project and has used all her savings to support herself while working on it. At this critical stage, crowdfunding will help us to move the project forward.
FUNDS RAISED & SPENT TO DATE >>>
Incoming >>>
Crowdfunding & Private Contributions >> £3,810.55
Major Donors >> £3,700
Events >> £1,402
TOTAL: £8,912.55
Outgoing >>>
Project Development >> £350
Salaries << £900
Production expenses (including equipment) << £3,770
Travel & Accommodation << £3,635
Marketing << £250
TOTAL: £8,905
ACCESSIBLE DISTRIBUTION + PUBLIC SCREENINGS + FUTURE PLANS FOR RELEASE
We intend to release ‘The Psychedelic Renaissance’, with free, public screenings set for the spring of 2021. We have been invited to screen at psychedelic conferences around the world, as well as educational institutions such as Oxford University and Newcastle University. After initial screenings, the pilot will be available for free online and promoted by our community partners such as the Beckley Foundation, MAPS and psychedelic societies around the world, as well as other associated institutions and brands with interest in psychedelics.
In August, we have screened a work-in-progress cut of the film at the 2019 Breaking Convention conference in London, UK. The auditorium was packed with people who received the film enthusiastically and approached us to express their support and gratitude.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
We will maximise our impact by producing additional content that can be used for education and harm reduction. Footage will be developed for online, social media content. We are currently developing a subsequent online series that will focus on women in the psychedelic field.
THE IMPACT
Our film sets out to shift the negative propaganda and stigma around psychedelic substance use while educating the public about the potential personal and collective benefits of these extraordinary allies. We feel strongly that if the public is made aware of the potential of psychedelic and plant medicines for therapeutic use, the demand will facilitate a necessary shift in out-dated drug laws. These laws restrict cognitive liberties and disproportionately criminalize marginalised people in many regions of the world.
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) each year, according to the official figures from the mental health charity, Mind. In the United States alone, mental illnesses are affecting approximately 47 mln of people each year, according to The National Institute of Mental Health. One must keep in mind that these numbers account only for reported cases, but in reality, the number of undiagnosed individuals is immeasurable. Mental illness is an imminent global issue which can no longer be ignored. Many people around the world suffer from treatment-resistant conditions that have the potential to be healed with the aid of psychedelic substances.
We have known of the therapeutic qualities of psychedelics since the first studies conducted in the 1950s. Renowned British psychiatrist Ronald Sandison wrote that LSD gives increased access to repressed experiences, opening childhood memories, and allowing patients to explore traumatic events of their past while providing associated emotional release and healing.
Today, we have the tools in contemporary neurological science, such as neuroimaging, that gives us an opportunity to revisit the studies of the 1950s and 1960s with new eyes, and to research the potential for curing the 21st-century epidemic of mental and emotional suffering.
PILOT EPISODE CONTRIBUTORS
We interview some of the leading scientists and clinicians that have contributed to discoveries in psychedelic science, and we interweave these interviews with those whose lives were transformed through psychedelics.
Dr Ben Sessa (Bristol University)
Amanda Feilding (The Beckley Foundation)
David E Nichols
Natalie Ginsberg (MAPS)
Ismail Ali (MAPS)
Nikki Wyrd (Breaking Convention, Psychedelic Press)
Julian Vayne (Psychedelic Press, Breaking Convention)
Chris Timmerman (Imperial College)
Rosalind Watts (Imperial College)
Camille Barton (Artist and Drug Activist)
Mendel Kaelen (Imperial College)
Arno Adelaars (Author and Drug Activist)
Jakobien Van der Weiden (Microdose NL)
Hein Pijnnaken (Microdose NL)
Darren Springer (Mycologist)
Carl H. Smith (Ravensbourne University, Virtual Awakening)
Stephen Reid (The Psychedelic Society UK)
Gaia Harvey-Jackson (The Psychedelic Society UK)
Eva Cesarova (The Psychedelic Society of Czech Republic)
Vincent Veroust (The Psychedelic Society of France)
Jose Montemayor (Virtual Awakening)
and more
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The Beckley Foundation
Decriminalise Denver
SPORE
Unlimited Sciences
MAPS
The Psychedelic Society UK
Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands
Czech Psychedelic Society
French Psychedelic Society
Breaking Convention
Beyond Psychedelics
Psycherence
Psychedelic Seminars
Psychedelic Experience
Microdosing.nl
Firejuice
The Hemp Trading Company
MORE INFO
Visit our website for more info and the photo gallery.
Read about our story so far
Follow us on Facebook.
WATCH OUR 2019 TEASER
We are producing a documentary film about the worldwide re-emergence of the psychedelic movement and the crucial role of psychedelic substances in human culture from prehistory to modern times. The film aims to de-stigmatise psychedelic use by presenting personal and professional accounts of beneficial use from a wide array of individuals. We make a clear call for their responsible therapeutic use, for personal growth and collective healing, including traditional, indigenous applications of plant medicines and substances. We feel strongly that if the public is made aware of the potential of psychedelic and plant medicines for therapeutic use, the demand will facilitate a necessary shift in out-dated drug laws.
We explore all relevant and current aspects of the field of psychedelics, including but not limited to; medical and clinical research, neuroscience, neuropsychology, clinical psychology and psychotherapy, spirituality, philosophy, recreation, art, music, cyberdelics (Psychedelic Virtual Reality), XR (Extended Reality) and the crypto-psychedelic movement. The film delves into global, historical and traditional psychedelic use, their socio-cultural value, their value in environmental justice movements, and finally, their potential for healing, curing and alleviating a vast number of conditions that plague modern society, including depression, PTSD and substance-use disorder among many others.
We feel it is vital to present a wide diversity of perspectives within the psychedelic movement. We understand that psychedelics and plant medicines are not a magic cure and that they may not serve everyone. We will not shy away from revealing and exploring the shadow-side of psychedelic use, and we intend to do our best to present an unbiased account of the history, current reality, and future trajectories of the movement, through multiple perspectives including BIPOC, and LGBTQI2S+ people.
WHO ARE WE?
We are an intersectional collective of artists, including filmmakers, musicians and entrepreneurs, advocating for the responsible and intentional use of psychedelic substances and plant medicines for personal and collective healing.
WHO WE ARE - MEET THE TEAM
Anya Oleksiuk >>> Director/Producer
Anya is a Co-Director of the Psychedelic Society UK, leading on video production and campaigning for the decriminalisation of psychedelic plants and mushrooms. She is associated with the Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands and volunteers as a consultant for the Polish Psychedelic Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Psychodeliczne). Love of documentary films and music videos led Anya to study MA Documentary and Experimental Filmmaking. After completing her masters, she joined the End-Of-Life Care charity, Marie Curie, running their video department. She set off as a freelancer in 2016 and specialized in not-for-profit videos, music videos and documentaries. In 2017 she founded Triptika Studios, which is a collective of independent filmmakers with interests in health, science, innovative solutions, mental health, drug advocacy, social and racial justice and environment-friendly lifestyles. Anya aims for Triptika Studios to work on projects oriented towards social change and improving human wellbeing.
Haya Huasca >>> Co-Producer
Haya is an enthusiastic advocate of psychedelic literacy who intends to help catalyse the psychedelic movement globally. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and wrote a senior thesis titled “Ask Your Doctor If Psychedelics Are Right For You: A Closer Look At The Clinical Uses Of Psychedelics.” Since obtaining her degree in psychology, she has branched out to work in different fields ranging from NGOs to film sets, including a short film “Dunya’s Day” which was the recipient of the Jury Award for International Fiction at Sundance Film Festival. She was formerly involved with community development at The Third Wave and is a member of the French Psychedelic Society and is associated with the Psychedelic Society in the UK. In the future, Haya has plans to pursue a masters in clinical psychology to develop the skills needed in providing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Mercedes C.A. Grant >>> Co-producer
Mercedes is a healer, activist, writer, witch and community organizer. She is dedicated to creating dynamic, inclusive, healing and educational spaces that encourage people to engage in paradigm-shifting dialogue while building safer, compassionate and supportive communities both online and in-real-life. She holds 500+ hours in traditional yogic education, with a focus on substance abuse recovery and trauma recovery through a justice-informed lens, producing educational programs for wellness professionals from around the world. With over a decade of combined education and experience in documentary film production, public relations, communications and crowdfunding strategy, she has collaborated with social entrepreneurs and organizations including MAPS Canada, Extinction Rebellion, Beyond Addition: The Yogic Path to Recovery, the award-winning documentary feature, Fractured Land. She is currently on the steering committee of the 2020 Psychedelic Psychotherapy Forum in unceded, ancestral territories of the Coast Salish people in so-called British Columbia, Canada, as well as holding space in her community for exploring Deep Adaptation in the face of climate and ecological collapse.
Mareesa Stertz >>> Co-director
Creator of the Seeing Machine, Mareesa Stertz, is a Director, Producer who has worked in the industry for over 13 years. She’s the creator/director/producer of a documentary series about healing for mental health that’s screened on GAIA TV. Her work focuses on redesigning of systems, discovering innovative solutions, and celebrating of the human condition. Mareesa’s work has been featured by Viceland, GAIA TV, CBS, IFC, SPIN, INDIE NATION, 60SecDocs and has been shown in numerous film festivals around the world. Clients include Gaia, Participant Media, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, TEDX, Nylon, Ableton Live, New York Film Academy, and more.
Ana Sabolic >>> Director of Photography
Ana Sabolić is a visual artist and filmmaker working in the field of independent film production and contemporary visual art. She graduated with an MA in Art in 2015 focused on graphics and video art. Interested in psychogeography, Ana explores problematics through moving image and art workshops. Many of her workshops where founded and supported by the Croatian Ministry of Culture and shown as solo exhibitions in galleries. It is an on-going project about exploring the identity of space and effects of the geographical environment on the emotions and behaviour of individuals. In the context of film and video production, she works on experimental and documentary projects which often go beyond the boundaries of the traditional state of a movie in cinemas and integrates into modern gallery spaces. Currently, she is an MA Film Production student at London School of Film, Media, and Design at the University of West London focused mostly on the experimental and documentary film. She is working as a freelance Art Director and Editor and is a Co-director of Triptika Studios.
Jonas Di Gregorio >>> Director of Fundraising
Jonas is a writer, speaker, transpersonal guide, with a successful track record in a diverse range of projects. He co-authored The Manual of Psychedelic Support and worked with psychedelic harm reduction organizations, such as Kosmicare and the Zendo Project. He co-founded the Italian Psychedelic Society and the Italian Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). He presented at international conferences like the Breaking Convention, Beyond Psychedelics, the World Ayahuasca Conference and the Psychedelic Science Conference. Jonas is passionate about creating content regarding the healing power of psychedelic therapy. He graduated in Philosophy at the La Sapienza University of Rome and has been organizing medicine ceremonies with healers from different parts of the world for the last 12 years. He currently lives in San Francisco, California.
Sara Velimirović >>> Fundraising Producer
Sara is a cannabis consultant, speaker and drug policy reform advocate. As the Head of Outreach at Cannabis Europa, Europe’s premier medical cannabis conference, Sara worked with industry partners to help plant the vision for the medical cannabis industry in Europe. Today, Sara advises companies on strategy and entry into the EU market. As an advocate, Sara co-founded the French Psychedelic Society and the French Patient Roundtable ‘Espoir Impatient’ which amplifies the voice of patients in the policy debate. In 2016 and 2019, Sara addressed the United Nations and the International Narcotics Control Board in Vienna on the topic of youth and drug policy. She holds a Master’s degree in International Security from Sciences Po Paris.
THE MISSION
Mental health is a defining issue of our generation, with approximately one in every four people suffering from ‘mental illness’. In 2017, The World Health Organization (WHO) began a campaign to prioritise global mental health, stating:
“Behavioral health disorders are on the trajectory to surpass all other diseases as a major cause of disability by 2020. Each year, approximately $2.5 trillion is lost in the global economy to mental illness; this number is expected to increase to $6 trillion in a little over a decade.
We intend to de-stigmatise psychedelic use by presenting personal and professional accounts of beneficial use from a wide array of individuals. We make a clear call for their responsible therapeutic use, for personal growth and collective healing, including traditional, Indigenous applications of plant medicines and substances.
WHAT WE NEED & WHAT WE ARE GRACIOUSLY ASKING FOR
We believe crowdfunding is ideal because the nature of our project makes it particularly challenging to find appropriate funding avenues. Due to the controversial nature of psychedelic substances, we simply are not eligible for any specific film grants. Potential financial sponsors are risk-averse, citing the topic of our film to be outside the realm of ideas they consider beneficial to fund. All the more reason to make this film!
Salaries >> £7,300
Production expenses, mainly equipment >> £2,350
Travel & Accommodation { USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Spain} >> £8,230
Post-Production >> £10,900
Administration >> £7,000
Marketing >> £2,315
Contingency 5% >> £1,904.75
TOTAL: £39.999.75 / 40K
DETAILS OF FUTURE PRODUCTION COSTS >>>
We seek funding to produce a high-quality film which will appeal to a broad audience, including those who have never considered psychedelic substances as a legitimate tool for healing and growth.
Any form of financial support will help us to move the project forward.
>>> 15K will allow us to do a minimum amount of filming and pay for editing
>>> 30K will allow us to complete all the filming and to pay for editing
>>> 40K will allow us to complete all the filming and editing and add compelling animation and bespoke sound design
FILM PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT & OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR EARTH HOME >>>
We understand that we are living in a critical time in the Earth’s history and that we must all do our part to consider our environmental impact. While we do our very best during production to reduce our ecological footprint through sustainable actions, we also understand that air travel is a significant contributor to carbon in the atmosphere. We are actively in the process of calculating our past carbon footprint from air travel, intending to purchase carbon offsets from a certified, transparent and trustworthy source, The Gold Standard Foundation. We also understand the philosophical argument against carbon offsetting, in that when we purchase an offset, we are paying someone to cut their emissions, so we don’t have to, and that this route is not ideal. With that, and where possible, we aim to reduce our air travel by train and bus travel, to hire local filmmakers where possible, and to continue engaging in actions that demand responsibility from corporations.
OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION >>>
We are a small team of volunteers with limited time. We all support ourselves while we volunteer our time for this very worthwhile
venture. Weare committed to paying £100 per day to the crew members to cover our basic needs and allow us to focus our attention on
further developing the project, as well as hiring new crew members to support us.
Our producer/director Anya Oleksiuk works in a not-for-profit organisation, The PsychedelicSociety, and she is not a high earner. Anya has volunteered for two years on this project and has used all her savings to support herself while working on it. At this critical stage, crowdfunding will help us to move the project forward.
FUNDS RAISED & SPENT TO DATE >>>
Incoming >>>
Crowdfunding & Private Contributions >> £3,810.55
Major Donors >> £3,700
Events >> £1,402
TOTAL: £8,912.55
Outgoing >>>
Project Development >> £350
Salaries << £900
Production expenses (including equipment) << £3,770
Travel & Accommodation << £3,635
Marketing << £250
TOTAL: £8,905
ACCESSIBLE DISTRIBUTION + PUBLIC SCREENINGS + FUTURE PLANS FOR RELEASE
We intend to release ‘The Psychedelic Renaissance’, with free, public screenings set for the spring of 2021. We have been invited to screen at psychedelic conferences around the world, as well as educational institutions such as Oxford University and Newcastle University. After initial screenings, the pilot will be available for free online and promoted by our community partners such as the Beckley Foundation, MAPS and psychedelic societies around the world, as well as other associated institutions and brands with interest in psychedelics.
In August, we have screened a work-in-progress cut of the film at the 2019 Breaking Convention conference in London, UK. The auditorium was packed with people who received the film enthusiastically and approached us to express their support and gratitude.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT
We will maximise our impact by producing additional content that can be used for education and harm reduction. Footage will be developed for online, social media content. We are currently developing a subsequent online series that will focus on women in the psychedelic field.
THE IMPACT
Our film sets out to shift the negative propaganda and stigma around psychedelic substance use while educating the public about the potential personal and collective benefits of these extraordinary allies. We feel strongly that if the public is made aware of the potential of psychedelic and plant medicines for therapeutic use, the demand will facilitate a necessary shift in out-dated drug laws. These laws restrict cognitive liberties and disproportionately criminalize marginalised people in many regions of the world.
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) each year, according to the official figures from the mental health charity, Mind. In the United States alone, mental illnesses are affecting approximately 47 mln of people each year, according to The National Institute of Mental Health. One must keep in mind that these numbers account only for reported cases, but in reality, the number of undiagnosed individuals is immeasurable. Mental illness is an imminent global issue which can no longer be ignored. Many people around the world suffer from treatment-resistant conditions that have the potential to be healed with the aid of psychedelic substances.
We have known of the therapeutic qualities of psychedelics since the first studies conducted in the 1950s. Renowned British psychiatrist Ronald Sandison wrote that LSD gives increased access to repressed experiences, opening childhood memories, and allowing patients to explore traumatic events of their past while providing associated emotional release and healing.
Today, we have the tools in contemporary neurological science, such as neuroimaging, that gives us an opportunity to revisit the studies of the 1950s and 1960s with new eyes, and to research the potential for curing the 21st-century epidemic of mental and emotional suffering.
PILOT EPISODE CONTRIBUTORS
We interview some of the leading scientists and clinicians that have contributed to discoveries in psychedelic science, and we interweave these interviews with those whose lives were transformed through psychedelics.
Dr Ben Sessa (Bristol University)
Amanda Feilding (The Beckley Foundation)
David E Nichols
Natalie Ginsberg (MAPS)
Ismail Ali (MAPS)
Nikki Wyrd (Breaking Convention, Psychedelic Press)
Julian Vayne (Psychedelic Press, Breaking Convention)
Chris Timmerman (Imperial College)
Rosalind Watts (Imperial College)
Camille Barton (Artist and Drug Activist)
Mendel Kaelen (Imperial College)
Arno Adelaars (Author and Drug Activist)
Jakobien Van der Weiden (Microdose NL)
Hein Pijnnaken (Microdose NL)
Darren Springer (Mycologist)
Carl H. Smith (Ravensbourne University, Virtual Awakening)
Stephen Reid (The Psychedelic Society UK)
Gaia Harvey-Jackson (The Psychedelic Society UK)
Eva Cesarova (The Psychedelic Society of Czech Republic)
Vincent Veroust (The Psychedelic Society of France)
Jose Montemayor (Virtual Awakening)
and more
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The Beckley Foundation
Decriminalise Denver
SPORE
Unlimited Sciences
MAPS
The Psychedelic Society UK
Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands
Czech Psychedelic Society
French Psychedelic Society
Breaking Convention
Beyond Psychedelics
Psycherence
Psychedelic Seminars
Psychedelic Experience
Microdosing.nl
Firejuice
The Hemp Trading Company
MORE INFO
Visit our website for more info and the photo gallery.
Read about our story so far
Follow us on Facebook.
WATCH OUR 2019 TEASER
Fundraising team: Triptika Studios (3)
Anya Oleksiuk
Organizer
Raised £154 from 9 donations
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Haya Al-Hejailan
Team member
Raised £50 from 3 donations
Mercedes Grant
Team member
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