This was the year of the experimental film for Mental Filmness. I feel like this is an art form that flourishes in chaos and upheaval, because it uses a visual and aural language that defies logic and conveys pure emotion and expression unhindered by a conventional format or narrative. That is exactly what Dreamscapes is– a short film that describes itself as “a genre-blurring experimental film exploring mental health not as a diagnosis, but as a shifting inner reality—at once painful, beautiful, glamorous and strange.”
Dreamscapes was created by Rachel Gray and the Rooster Collective of disabled artists based out of Ottawa, Canada, and based upon the lived experiences of performance artist Amelia Rose Griffin’s struggles with CPTSD and brain injury. Unveiling one dazzling set piece after another that looks artfully handcrafted and expressive of inner states, bubbling over with creative and evocative sound design, and propelled by a haunting and poetic voice-over narration, Dreamscapes is an indescribable, multi-sensory gem.
You can watch Dreamscapes now for FREE in Shorts Block No. 1 of the virtual festival: https://mentalfilmness2025.eventive.org/films/dreamscapes-68c71276aeafe3e4765bbdf8
Vote on a virtual ballot and tell us what YOU think!
