This event will showcase New York based filmmaker Caveh Zahedi with 5 short self-reflexive documentaries he has made in the past ten years. IFP Community manager Danielle DiGiacomo will join Caveh in a discussion after the screening .

On February 14th (Valentine’s Day), 1993, Caveh decided to ingest 5 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms. For the first time in his mushroom-taking experience, he had an experience of “divine possession,” in which he felt that a divine being took possession of his body and spoke through him, in a voice that was not his and with knowledge that he himself did not possess. He afterwards tried several times to repeat the experience. “I was Possessed By God” is the documentary record of one such experience.

“Watching Caveh trip his balls off on video is almost like watching a demolition derby, except it feels more shamefully voyeuristic.” – Shou

“The World is a Classroom” was Caveh’s contribution to “Underground Zero” an omnibus film he produced and curated in which independent filmmakers responded to the events of 9/11. “The World is a Classroom” documents a conflict between Caveh and one of his students in a classroom shortly after 9/11 to allegorically explore the wider conflict between the U.S. and Al Queda, as well as to explore the dynamics of power in any given conflict. It also attempts to suggest alternatives to the use of force as a solution to conflict.

“Zahedi’s filmmaking becomes the catalyst for its own drama: it’s by exposing himself and his students to the camera that he pushes them all into more expressive and revealing “performances”.” – Experimental Film Club

Caveh and singer-songwriter Will Oldham take hallucinogenic mushrooms together.

“Sweet, playful and utterly enlightening, an illuminating look at that complex and beautiful relationship that exists between art, artist and adoring fan.” – Grapevine Culture

Caveh tells the story of a contentious encounter with a college security guard.

Caveh tells the story of a film shoot that gets out of control.

“A fun little animated morsel.” – DVDTalk.com

“An LSD-addled crew member confuses fact and fiction in this hilarious behind-the-scenes exposé by everyone’s favorite exhibitionist.” – SF360

Caveh Zahedi is an autobiographical writer/actor/director who combines both dramatic and documentary elements in his work. He is a Guggenheim recipient, a Rome Prize Fellow, a MacDowell Fellow, and a winner of the 2005 Gotham Award for “Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You.” His films include A Little Stiff (1991), I Don’t Hate Las Vegas Anymore (1994), In The Bathtub of the World (2001), and I Am A Sex Addict (2005). He has also appeared as an actor in Waking Life (2001), A Sign From God (2000), Money Buys Happiness (1999), and Citizen Ruth (1996).