The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast

Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (⁠⁠⁠@sethverhaart⁠⁠⁠) & Elina Meinerte (⁠⁠⁠@eliina.mein⁠⁠⁠). During this episode we talk about everyone's favourite film social media platform Letterboxd. What does Letterboxd mean for the community? We also create Seth's Hooptober 12 Challenge list of films live on air!  Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:08 - What Did We Watch Recently? 19:09 – A Tentacular Touch: Programme & Trailer 20:10 – What is Letterboxd? 23:57 – Letterboxd as a Social Media Platform 25:00 – Uwe Boll's Delusional Letterboxd 26:53 – Our Favourite Letterboxd Users 28:16 – What Kind of Reviews We Like & Write 33:15 – The Genre film Community on Letterboxd: Hooptober 35:46 – Making Seth's Hooptober List & Discussing Elina's Hooptober List   Elina's Hooptober List: The Funhouse (1981) by Tobe Hooper Braindead (1992) by Peter Jackson  Night of the Dead (1968) by George A. Romero [REC] (2007) by Paco Plaza & Jaume Balagueró Prince of Darkness (1987) by John Carpenter Black Sheep (2006) by Jonathan King Noroi: The Curse (2005) by Koji Shiraishi Society (1989) by Brian Yuzna Digging Up the Marrow (2014) by Adam Green Martyrs (2008) by Pascal Laugier Psycho (1960) by Alfred Hitchcock  The Long Walk (2025) by Francis Lawrence Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) by John Harrison Fear Street: 1994 (2021) by Leigh Janiak The Mist (2007) by Frank Darabont Night of the Comet (1984) by Thom Eberhardt Blade (1998) by Stephen Norrington Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023) by Ariane Louis-Seize Dead Mountaineer's Hotel (1979) by Grigori Kromanov Cat People (1942) by Jacques Tourneur The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) by Wojciech Jerzy Has Frogs (1972) by George McCowan Onibaba (1964) by Kaneto Shindo All the Colors of the Dark (1972) by Sergio Martino Doctor X (1932) by Michael Curtiz The Wizard of Oz (1939) by Victor Fleming  Seth's Hooptober List: Braindead (1992) by Peter Jackson Dawn of the Dead (1978) by George A. Romero Black Sheep (2006) by Jonathan King Versus (2000) by Ryûhei Kitamura Premutos: The Fallen Angel (1997) by Olaf Ittenbach Noroi: The Curse (2005) by Koji Shiraishi Martyrs (2008) by Pascal Laugier Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) by Don Siegel Clown in a Cornfield (2025) by Eli Craig Jaws (1975) by Steven Spielberg Rosemary’s Baby (1968) by Roman Polanski A Quiet Place (2018) by John Krasinski The Mist (2007) by Frank Darabont Nope (2022) by Jordan Peele Tigers are Not Afraid (2017) by Issa López eXistenZ (1999) by David Cronenberg Viy (1967) by Georgi Kropyachyov & Konstantin Ershov The Wolf Man (1941) by George Waggner A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) by Wes Craven The Birds (1963) by Alfred Hitchcock The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) by Robert Wiene The Blob (1988) by Chuck Russel All the Colors of the Dark (1972) by Sergio Martino The Mummy (1932) by Karl Freund The Wizard of Oz (1939) by Victor Fleming The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) by Tobe Hooper Black Swan (2010) by Darren Aronofsky Confessions (2010) by Tetsuya Nakashima Helter Skelter (2012) by Mika Ninagawa Häxan (1922) by Benjamin Christensen Mentioned in 'What Did We Watch Recently': Fear Street Trilogy (2021) by Leigh Janiak Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) by Matt Palmer Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) by David Blue Garcia The Grudge (2004) by Takashi Shimizu The Botanist (2025) by Jing Yi Eyes Wide Shut (1999) by Stanley Kubrick  ------------------------------------------------------------------ Credits: Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina Meinerte Editor: Seth Verhaart Producer: Seth Verhaart Executive Producer: Rabia Sitabi Stigter Artwork: Anna Kallos Music: Benjamin De Murashkin - Can You Imagine (The Juniors Theme)  

Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (⁠⁠⁠@sethverhaart⁠⁠⁠) & Elina Meinerte (⁠⁠⁠@eliina.mein⁠⁠⁠). During this episode we talk about the new wave of straight to streaming films. What are the downsides? What are the upsides? We also talk in detail about War of the Worlds (2025), The Killer and Get Duked!.  Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Imagine Talk 2:35- What Did We Watch Recently? 14:32– War of the Worlds & Ice Cube 24:11– History of Straight to Streaming: Netflix & The First Movie on the Internet 28:47– Straight to Streaming Films: The Bad 43:03 – How Do These Movies Make Money? 52:15– Straight to Streaming Films: The Downsides & the Upsides 01:01:26– Outro (feat. Trashy Shark Flicks)  Films Mentioned: War of the Worlds (2025) by Rich Lee War of the Worlds (2005) by Steven Spielberg Wax, or The Discovery of Television Among the Bees (1991) by David Blair E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind (1984) by Robert Hegyes The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) by Michael Chaves Get Duked! (2019) by Ninian Doff Cam (2018) by Daniel Goldhaber The Invisible Raptor (2023) by Mike Hermosa Madame Web (2024) by S.J. Clarkson Morbius (2022) by Daniel Espinosa Kraven the Hunter (2024) by J.C. Chandor Birdbox (2018) by Sussane Bier The Old Guard (2020) by Gina Prince-Bythewood The Electric State (2025) by Joe & Anthony Russo Crumbs (2015) by Miguel Llansó Borderlands (2024) by Eli Roth Enola Holmes (2020) by Harry Bradbeer Damsel (2024) by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Holland (2025) by Mimi Cave Don't Worry Darling (2022) by Olivia Wilde The Killer (2023) by David Fincher The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) by Joel & Ethan Coen Fargo (1996) by Joel Coen No Country for Old Men (2007 by Joel & Ethan Coen I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020) by Charlie Kaufman The Call (2020) by Lee Chung-hyun Revelations (2025) by Yeon Sang-ho Wall to Wall (2025) by Kim Tae-joon Sharks in Venice (2008) by Danny Lerner Under Paris (2024) by Xavier Gens Ninja vs. Shark (2023) by Koichi Sakamoto The Shark Exorcist (2015) by Donald Farmer Sharktopus (2010) by Declan O'Brien Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark (2014) by Emile Edwin Smith Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf (2015) by Kevin O'Neill Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda (2014) by Kevin O'Neill Mentioned in 'What Did We Watch Recently': Ran (1985) by Akira Kurosawa Kagemusha (1980) by Akira Kurosawa Caught Stealing (2025) by Darren Aronofsky The Roses (2025) by Jay Roach Weapons (2025) by Zach Cregger Barbarian (2022) by Zach Cregger Together (2025) by Michael Shanks From Beyond (1986) by Stuart Gordon Re-Animator (1985) by Stuart Gordon Dagon (2001) by Stuart Gordon War of the Worlds (2025) by Rich Lee   ------------------------------------------------------------------ Credits: Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina Meinerte Editor: Seth Verhaart Producer: Seth Verhaart Executive Producer: Rabia Sitabi Stigter Artwork: Anna Kallos Music: Benjamin De Murashkin - Can You Imagine (The Juniors Theme) 

Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (⁠⁠⁠@sethverhaart⁠⁠⁠) & Elina Meinerte (⁠⁠⁠@eliina.mein⁠⁠⁠). During this episode we talk about the Horror subgenre of Found Footage and its origins, tropes and subgenres of found footage, some of the essential watches, like The Blair Witch Project, [REC] and Creep.   Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - What Did We Watch Recently? 9:50 – The Origins of Found Footage: Cannibal Holocaust, The Blair Witch Project & Orson Welles 14:40 - The Difference Between Found Footage & Mockumentaries 18:10 – Cloverfield 19:45 – The Screen Recording Subgenre: Unfriended, Host & Spree 26:22 – The Ghost Hunter Subgenre: Grave Encounters, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum & Hell House LLC 34:26 - [REC] & the Motivation to Keep Filming   Films Mentioned: Cannibal Holocaust (1980) by Ruggero Deodato The Blair Witch Project (1999) by Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez The Other Side of the Wind (2018) by Orson Welles This Is Spinal Tap (1984) by Rob Reiner What We Do in the Shadows (2014) by Jemaine Clement & Taika Watiti Megan is Missing (2011) by Michael Goi Cloverfield (2008) by Matt Reeves Unfriended (2014) by Levan Gabriadze Unfriended: Dark Web (2018) by Stephen Susco Host (2020) by Rob Savage Mayhem (2017) by Joe Lynch Spree (2020) by Eugene Kotlyarenko Grave Encounters (2011) by Stuart Ortiz & Colin Minihan Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) by Jung Bum-shik Hell House LLC (2015) by Stephen Cognetti [REC] (2007) by Pasco Plaza As Above, So Below (2014) by John Erick Dowdie Creep (2014) by Patrick Brice   Mentioned in 'What Did We Watch Recently': Mamma Mia! (2008) by Phyllida Lloyd Shaun of the Dead (2004) by Edgar Wright There Are Monsters (2013) by Jay Dahl ------------------------------------------------------------------ Credits: Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina Meinerte Editor: Seth Verhaart Producer: Seth Verhaart Executive Producer: Rabia Sitabi Stigter Artwork: Anna Kallos Music: Benjamin De Murashkin - Can You Imagine (The Juniors Theme) 

Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (⁠⁠@sethverhaart⁠⁠) & Elina Meinerte (⁠⁠@eliina.mein⁠⁠). During this episode we talk about the Alien series, M. Night Shyamalan and even more alien horror.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro0:43 - What Did We Watch Recently?7:10 - Alien vs. The Thing18:40 - Aliens26:00 - Signs (& M. Night Shyamalan)39:12 - Event Horizon45:29 - AVP: Alien vs. Predator (& Aliens vs. Predator Requiem)Films Mentioned:Alien (1979) by Ridley ScottThe Thing (1982) by John CarpenterAliens (1986) by James CameronSigns (2002) by M. Night ShyamalanUnbreakable (2000) by M. Night ShyamalanThe Sixth Sense (1999) by M. Night ShyamalanSplit (2016) by M. Night ShyamalanGlass (2019) by M. Night ShyamalanThe Visit (2015) by M. Night ShyamalanThe Village (2004) by M. Night ShyamalanCreepshow (1982) by George A. RomeroEvent Horizon (1997) by Paul W. S. AndersonAVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) by Paul W. S. AndersonAliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) by Colin & Greg StrauseMentioned in 'What Did We Watch Recently':Mamma Mia! (2008) by Phyllida LloydDancing With the Birds (2019) by Hugh CordyMotel Destino (2024) by Karim Äinouz------------------------------------------------------------------Credits:Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina MeinerteEditor: Seth VerhaartProducer: Seth VerhaartExecutive Producer: Rabia Sitabi StigterArtwork: Anna KallosMusic: Benjamin De Murashkin - Can You Imagine (The Juniors Theme)

Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (⁠@sethverhaart⁠) & Elina Meinerte (⁠@eliina.mein⁠). During this episode we talk about Club Imagine June, the interesting dilemma of hyperfixations and our disagreements on both I Saw the Devil and Final Destination.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro1:31 - Club Imagine12:20 - Hyperfixations28:05 - What Did We Watch Recently?53:55 - OutroFilms Mentioned:- Plein Soleil (Purple Moon, 1960) by René Clément- Miyazaki, Spirit of Nature (2024) by Léo Favier- Harvest (2024) by Athina Rachel Tsangari- Kind (2025) by Jan Verdijk- Bring Her Back (2025) by Michael & Danny Philippou- U Are the Universe (2024) by Pavlo Ostrikov- Clown in a Cornfield (2025) by Eli CraigMentioned in "What Did We Watch Recently":- Jurrasic World Rebirth (2025) by Gareth Edwards- Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) by Jim Jarmusch- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) by Jim Jarmusch- I Saw the Devil (2010) by Kim Jee-woon- Final Destination (2000) by James WongTV-Series Mentioned:- Game of Thrones (2011-2019)- Stranger Things (2016-2025)- Steins;Gate (2011)- Steins;Gate 0 (2018)Books Mentioned:- Clown in a Cornfield (2020) by Adam Cesare- A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R.R. MartinVideo Games Mentioned:- Steins;Gate (2009)------------------------------------------------------------------Credits:Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina MeinerteEditor: Seth VerhaartProducer: Seth VerhaartExecutive Producer: Rabia Sitabi StigterArtwork: Anna KallosMusic: Benjamin De Murashkin - Can You Imagine (The Juniors Theme)

THE JUNIORS IS COMING 16 JULY 2025!Presenting The Juniors: An Imagine Fantastic Film Festival Podcast which will dive into the world of fantastic media, behind the scenes titbits and controversial film opinions. Hosted by the junior programmers, Seth Verhaart (@sethverhaart) & Elina Meinerte (@eliina.mein). The first recording of the podcast went as well as you could expect, disastrous. To keep you on your toes until the first episode releases July 16th, we decided to lift the veil a little into our recording process.Credits:Hosts: Seth Verhaart & Elina MeinerteEditor: Seth VerhaartProducer: Seth VerhaartExecutive Producer: Rabia Sitabi StigterMusic: Kevin McLeod - In The Hall of the Mountain King

In Re:Imagining 1984, Imagine Fantastic Film Festival goes beyond the dystopian diagnoses of George Orwell, inviting a wide array of voices to a speculative discussion about the viable alternatives for our futures. Over the span of two prerecorded episodes and one live public podcasting session during the festival, we try to escape the binary opposition between Utopias and Dystopias by closely following the the works featured at the festival.   Credits Hosts: Kiko Morah, Stanislaw Liguzinski Guests: Merel Hogerheijde, Sammy Shefa Idris, Robin Noorda, Joep GerritsProducer: Inez de Coo Editor: Tom Ooms Music: TeknoAxe 

In Re:Imagining 1984, Imagine Fantastic Film Festival goes beyond the dystopian diagnoses of George Orwell, inviting a wide array of voices to a speculative discussion about the viable alternatives for our futures. Over the span of two prerecorded episodes and one live public podcasting session during the festival, we try to escape the binary opposition between Utopias and Dystopias by closely following the works featured at the festival.     Credits Hosts: Kiko Morah, Stanislaw Liguzinski  Guests: Peet Gelderblom, Christopher Noessel, Hugh Fisher Producer: Inez de Coo  Editor: Tom Ooms  Music: TeknoAxe  Special Thanks: Berend van Eerden, Mark Fonseca Rendeiro    Interview Peet Gelderblom:  Films referenced:  Remaking Fear: Evolution of the Body Snatchers - Peet Gelderblom, 2018: 
https://vimeo.com/260659837  Dystopia in Denial: The Future According to 1984 - Peet Gelderblom, 2024  1984 - Michael Radford, 1984  The Goonies - Richard Donner, 1985  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - Steven Spielberg, 1984  Romancing the Stone - Robert Zemeckis, 1984  Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Terry Gilliam, 1999  Velvet Goldmine - Todd Haynes,1998  The Matrix - Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, 1999-2003  Nausicaä, Valley of the Wind - Hayao Miyazaki, 1984  Tomorrowland - Brad Bird, 2015  The Dark Knight - Christopher Nolan, 2008  The Batman - Matt Reeves, 2022  Se7en - David Fincher, 1995  Minority Report - Steven Spielberg, 2002  Pleasantville - Gary Ross, 1998  Back to the Future Part II - Robert Zemeckis, 1998  The Apprentice - Ali Abbasi, 2024  Starship Troopers - Paul Verhoeven, 1997  Total Recall - Paul Verhoeven, 1990  Total Recall - Len Wiseman, 2012  Showgirls - Paul Verhoeven, 1995     Books referenced:  1984 - George Orwell, 1948  Brave New World - Aldous Huxley, 1932  The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood, 1985  The Lathe of Heaven - Ursula K. Le Guin, 1971  The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - Ursula K. Le Guin, 1973     Series referenced:  Batman, 1966-1968    Interview Christopher Noessel, Hugh Fisher:   Glossary:  FUI = Fantasy/Fictional User Interface   Films mentioned:  Alien vs Predator, Paul W. S. Anderson, 2004  Mission Impossible, Brian de Palma, 1996  Blade, Stephen Norrington, 1998  The Bourne Ultimatum, Paul Greengrass, 2007  Cabin in the Woods, Drew Goddard, 2012  Iron Man, Jon Favreau, 2008  Blade Runner, Ridley Scott,1982  Minority Report, Steven Spielberg, 2002  eXistenZ, David Cronenberg, 1999  Star Wars: A New Hope, George Lucas, 1977  Sword Fish, Dominic Sena, 2001  Johnny Mnemonic, Robert Longo, 1995  2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick, 1968  Her, Spike Jonze, 2013  Iron Man 2, Jon Favreau, 2010  Black Panther, Ryan Coogler, 2018  Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson, 2016  My Favourite Martian, Donald Petrie, 1999  Aladdin, Ron Clements, John Musker, 1992  Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve, 2017  The Terminator, James Cameron, 1984  Warriors of Future, Yuen Fai Ng, 2022  Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, 2023  Prometheus, Ridley Scott, 2012  Alien, Ridley Scott, 1979  Aliens, Ridley Scott, 1986  Idiocracy, Mike Judge, 2006  Dark Star, John Carpenter, 1974  Tron, Steven Lisberger, 1982  The Lord of the Rings, Ridley Scott, 2001-2003  A Trip to the Moon, George Méliès, 1902  Smoking Causes Coughing, Quentin Dupieux, 2022     Books mentioned:  Make it So: Interaction Design Lessons from Science Fiction - Nathan Shedroff, Christopher Noessel, Rosenfeld Media, 2012  Neuromancer, William Gibson, 1984  The Cuckoo’s Egg, Cliff Stoll, 1989  The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman, 2013  The Culture series, Iain M. Banks, 1987-2012  Maneki Neko, Bruce Sterling, 1998  The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams, 1979-1984     Series mentioned:  Firefly, Josh Whedon, 2002-2003  Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, 1966-1969  Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker, 2011-2023  The Boys, Eric Kripke, 2019-2024  The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, John Lloyd, 1981 

In Re:Imagining 1984, Imagine Fantastic Film Festival goes beyond the dystopian diagnoses of George Orwell, inviting a wide array of voices to a speculative discussion about the viable alternatives for our futures. Over the span of two prerecorded episodes and one live public podcasting session during the festival, we try to escape the binary opposition between Utopias and Dystopias by closely following the works featured at the festival.     Credits Hosts: Kiko Morah, Stanislaw Liguzinski  Guests: Simon Perry, Jessica Norledge  Producer: Inez de Coo  Editor: Tom Ooms  Music: TeknoAxe  Special Thanks: Berend van Eerden, Mark Fonseca Rendeiro Books referenced:  The Language of Dystopia - Jessica Norledge, Springer International Publishing, 2022  1984 - George Orwell, 1948  Utopia - Thomas More, 1516  The Machine Stops - E.M. Forster, 1909  The End of Men - Christina Sweeney-Baird, 2012  Red Clocks - Leni Zumas, 2018  The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood, 1985  Transformations of Language in Modern Dystopias - David W. Sisk, 1997  VOX - Christina Dalcher, 2019  The Giver - Lois Lowry, 1993  Followers - Megan Angelo, 2020  The Circle - Dave Eggers, 2013  Snow Crash - Neil Stephenson, 1992  Riddley Walker - Russell Hoban, 1980  The Book of Dave - Will Self, 2006  A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess, 1962
Reading Fictional Languages - Edited by Israel Noletto, Jessica Norledge, Peter Stockwell, Edinburgh University Press, 2023  Native Tongue - Suzette Haden Elgin, 1984  Brave New World - Aldous Huxley, 1932  Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury, 1953  V for Vendetta - Alan Moore, 1982     Films referenced:  1984 - Michael Radford, 1984  The Circle - James Ponsoldt, 2017  The Lord of the Rings - Peter Jackson, 2001-2003  The Hunger Games - Gary Ross, 2012  Fahrenheit 451 - François Truffaut, 1966  The Matrix - Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, 1999-2003  Equilibrium - Kurt Wimmer, 2002     Series referenced:  The Walking Dead - 2010-2022  The Handmaid’s Tale - 2016-2022  The Last of Us - 2023-now     Games referenced:  The Last of Us - Naughty Dog, 2013  Fahrenheit 451 - Telarium, 1985  

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 SUBSTANCE focusing on the materials that the alchemical process feeds off, and in particular the substance of film itself. We are joined by César Velasco Broca is a Spanish experimental filmmaker known for his highly eccentric works that fuse alchemical symbols with magic, and Karel Doing an independent artist, filmmaker and researcher who created a unique method of developing film using plants and photochemical emulsion called “phytography”. IMAGINE PROGRAMME  MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: - Phytography: The alchemy of plants and photographic emulsion workshop with Karel Doing | 29 October (LAB111 Kapel) - Screening of the Cult Shorts Programme including: Alegrías Riojanas, dir. César Velasco Broca | 27 October (LAB111 2) & 29 October (LAB111 2) & 2 November (LAB111 2) - The guided Tour of Alegrías Riojanas Exhibition hosted by César Velasco Broca | 29 October (LAB111 Downstairs) - “The Magic of Alchemy” event at Allard Pierson Museum featuring the talk by Peter Forshaw, viewing of the alchemical texts from the collection, and including: Alegrías Riojanas, dir. César Velasco Broca | 22 October (Allard Pierson Museum) - Screening of Vase De Noces + discussion with César Velasco Broca, dir. Thierry Zéno (Fantastic Alchemy: Substance) | 29 October (LAB111 2) & 31 October (LAB111 1) Films - Alegrías Riojanas (2023), dir. César Velasco Broca - In Vivo (2021), dir. Karel Doing - Dark Matter (2014), dir. Karel Doing - Liquidator (2011), dir. Karel Doing Books - Jean Cayrol, Alain Resnais, Muriel, Edition du Seuil 1963

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

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 IDENTITY. Contrary to modern science, in Alchemy there is no distinct separation between the the person performing the experiment and the object of the study. Both undergo the same process of transformation. To get a better sense of this process, and to also understand more about the founding principles of alchemy and its historical roots, we’re joined by Farânak Mirjalili, whose research falls at the intersection of Jungian psycho-spiritual alchemy and Spagyrics - the laboratory tradition of plant alchemy, and Corey Andrews, a historian and current PhD candidate at the center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam. Hosted by Hugo Emmerzael and Stanislaw Liguzinski. Produced by Inez de Coo. Edited by Tom Ooms. IMAGINE PROGRAMME  MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: - “The Magic of Alchemy” event at Allard Pierson Museum featuring the talk by Peter Forshaw, viewing of the alchemical texts from the collection, and a short film programme | 22 October (Allard Pierson Museum) - Screening of Eureka, dir. Nicolas Roeg (Fantastic Alchemy: Identity) | 26 October (FilmHallen 2) & 1 November (LAB111 2) - Phytography: The alchemy of plants and photographic emulsion workshop with Karel Doing | 29 October (LAB111 Kapel) RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Books - Carl Gustav Jung, Psychology and Alchemy, Routledge 1980 (+ numerous other editions) - Isaac Baulot, Mutus Liber, Inne Garden Press 2010 (+ numerous other editions since 1677) - Mary Anne Atwood, A Suggestive Inquiry Into the Hermetic Mystery: With a Dissertation on the More Celebrated of the Alchemical Philosophers, Being an Attempt Towards the Recovery of the Ancient Experiment of Nature, Taylor & Francis Ltd 2015 (+ numerous other editions) - Herbert Silberer, Hidden Symbolism of Alchemy and the Occult Arts, Dover Publications 1971 - Mike A. Zuber, Spiritual Alchemy: From Jacob Boehme to Mary Anne Atwood, Oxford University Press 2021 - J.R.R Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings, Harper Collins 2014 (+ numerous other editions) -M. E. Warlick, The Alchemical Feminine: Women, Gender and Sexuality in Alchemical Images, Fulgur Limited 2023 Films - Eureka (1983), dir. Nicolas Roeg - The Lion King (1994), dir. Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers

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 NARRATIVE, examining how the power of interpretation can transform its objects, and radically alter the way that we see and engage with the world around us. We’ll look into George Sluijzer’s 1988 masterpiece Spoorloos, arguably one of the greatest Dutch films ever made, and try to reframe it as a horror and alchemical text per se with the help of our guests - Karen Pinkus, a professor of Italian and Comparative Literature at Cornell University, and a British film critic and writer Christina Brennan. Hosted by Hugo Emmerzael and Stanislaw Liguzinski. Produced by Inez de Coo. Edited by Tom Ooms. IMAGINE PROGRAMME MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: -Screening of Spoorloos, dir. George Sluizer (Fantastic Alchemy: Narrative) | 28 October 2023 (LAB111) & 3 November 2023 (FilmHallen 2) - Screening of Eureka, dir. Nicolas Roeg (Fantastic Alchemy: Identity) | 26 October (FilmHallen 2) & 1 November (LAB111 2) RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Books -Karen Pinkus, Alchemical Mercury: A Theory of Ambivalence, Stanford University Press 2009- Christina Brennan, Devil's Advocates: The Vanishing, Liverpool University Press 2024 (expected) -Tim Krabbé, The Golden Egg (Dutch: Het Gouden Ei), various editions -Giorgio Agamben, State of Exception, University of Chicago Press 2005 Films -Spoorloos (1988), dir. George Sluizer -The Vanishing (1993), dir. George Sluizer -The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), dir. Tobe Hooper