Instagram Story Save

This is not only the final fugue state of the year, but it will be the last ever show we produce in Chicago! Thanks to @elasticarts who have been awesome hosts. Because it’s the final show, we’ve got a real treat:

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Starting with one hour of interactive work, Coded Black by Maisha Wester (including VR experience and 2-D video game), will be presented alongside an installation of selections from The Octopus aka David Matthew Johnson.

Short films by Chicago locals Drew Durepos (Adjunct) and Curtis Miller (a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely) precede a live, expanded cinema and noise performance by Chicago-based multimedia artist, Dom Bonelli, all of whom are expected to be in attendance.

And lastly, the feature film presentation is a Chicago premiere of Dirt, a masterpiece work by David Finkelstein, encapsulating years of surrealist free associational performance/video practice with his most beguiling and beautiful world building in bewitched computer-generated spaces. Finkelstein, who will be in attendance, is one of the most revered underground artists and writers working in experimental medias. Stay after the feature for a post-screening question & answer event moderated by M. Woods.

Like Dirt this is a program spanning the hyper mundane (in all of its manifestations, physical and virtual) to the absurd, labyrinthine reflection of our mediated relations; in this Fugue State all media commingle in beauty through a very strange and startling stew.

Full Program:

6:30 - 7:30PM - Interactive and installation-based work

Coded Black on Computer and 360 VR by Maisha Wester

Selections from the Octopus by David Matthew Johnson

7:30PM - Short film block 2

Adjunct by Drew Durepos

a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely by Curtis Miller

7:50PM - Live Performance by Dom Bonelli

8:30PM - Feature Film

Dirt by David Finkelstein

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

This is not only the final fugue state of the year, but it will be the last ever show we produce in Chicago! Thanks to @elasticarts who have been awesome hosts. Because it’s the final show, we’ve got a real treat:

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Starting with one hour of interactive work, Coded Black by Maisha Wester (including VR experience and 2-D video game), will be presented alongside an installation of selections from The Octopus aka David Matthew Johnson.

Short films by Chicago locals Drew Durepos (Adjunct) and Curtis Miller (a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely) precede a live, expanded cinema and noise performance by Chicago-based multimedia artist, Dom Bonelli, all of whom are expected to be in attendance.

And lastly, the feature film presentation is a Chicago premiere of Dirt, a masterpiece work by David Finkelstein, encapsulating years of surrealist free associational performance/video practice with his most beguiling and beautiful world building in bewitched computer-generated spaces. Finkelstein, who will be in attendance, is one of the most revered underground artists and writers working in experimental medias. Stay after the feature for a post-screening question & answer event moderated by M. Woods.

Like Dirt this is a program spanning the hyper mundane (in all of its manifestations, physical and virtual) to the absurd, labyrinthine reflection of our mediated relations; in this Fugue State all media commingle in beauty through a very strange and startling stew.

Full Program:

6:30 - 7:30PM - Interactive and installation-based work

Coded Black on Computer and 360 VR by Maisha Wester

Selections from the Octopus by David Matthew Johnson

7:30PM - Short film block 2

Adjunct by Drew Durepos

a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely by Curtis Miller

7:50PM - Live Performance by Dom Bonelli

8:30PM - Feature Film

Dirt by David Finkelstein

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Wednesday, April 8 | Doors Open at 6:30 - screenings at 7:30
@elasticarts
3429 W Diversey Ave 208, Chicago

This is not only the final fugue state of the year, but it will be the last ever show we produce in Chicago! Thanks to @elasticarts who have been awesome hosts. Because it’s the final show, we’ve got a real treat:

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Starting with one hour of interactive work, Coded Black by Maisha Wester (including VR experience and 2-D video game), will be presented alongside an installation of selections from The Octopus aka David Matthew Johnson.

Short films by Chicago locals Drew Durepos (Adjunct) and Curtis Miller (a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely) precede a live, expanded cinema and noise performance by Chicago-based multimedia artist, Dom Bonelli, all of whom are expected to be in attendance.

And lastly, the feature film presentation is a Chicago premiere of Dirt, a masterpiece work by David Finkelstein, encapsulating years of surrealist free associational performance/video practice with his most beguiling and beautiful world building in bewitched computer-generated spaces. Finkelstein, who will be in attendance, is one of the most revered underground artists and writers working in experimental medias. Stay after the feature for a post-screening question & answer event moderated by M. Woods.

Like Dirt this is a program spanning the hyper mundane (in all of its manifestations, physical and virtual) to the absurd, labyrinthine reflection of our mediated relations; in this Fugue State all media commingle in beauty through a very strange and startling stew.

Full Program:

6:30 - 7:30PM - Interactive and installation-based work

Coded Black on Computer and 360 VR by Maisha Wester

Selections from the Octopus by David Matthew Johnson

7:30PM - Short film block 2

Adjunct by Drew Durepos

a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely by Curtis Miller

7:50PM - Live Performance by Dom Bonelli

8:30PM - Feature Film

Dirt by David Finkelstein

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Fugue State, presented by Disassociative Productions and Agitate21C, is a festival of experimental, radical, political, and avant-garde cinema of all sorts, including expanded cinema and VR experiments.

Thedigitalsickness.com / Film Freeway

FUGUE STATE Final deadline June 24, 2026
The best endorsements we can receive as a festival are from our filmmakers who feel we respected their work and honored their contributions as artists. At FUGUE STATE we are committed to artists over institutions, not-for-profit boards, corporate underwriters, or money.

Submit your work to a festival that will actually care for your project and recognize your time.

Festival Director, lead curator, and multidisciplinary artist M. Woods conceived of this festival as a direct attack at the gate-kept, corrupted, and cronyistic film festival circuit.

Fugue State seeks to usurp institutions backed by blood money and corporate dollars, opposed to the not-for-profit industrial complex, offering a fully independent alternative where your work matters. We don’t have any premiere requirements, and we judge submissions based on their merit, not your connections or institutional roles.

Fugue State embraces the convergence of video art, experimental film, and interactive design, encouraging new media, installation, photography, and expanded cinema/mixed-media performance entries.

Open to art film, genre film, and any other type of cinema, so long as it transgresses the accepted and formulaic languages of the medium.

Due to the success of Season 1, we have lowered the prices for our submissions.

WE PROVIDE NEED-BASED SUBMISSION WAIVERS - 1 SUBMISSION ONLY*
Email 13mwmw@gmail.com to ask for a waiver.

* We rely on submission fees because we watch every single movie and give deep consideration to all candidates. We use these fees to fund the entire festival, including venue costs, marketing, and festival production, so we deeply appreciate your contributions, but we also do not gate-keep. We understand the financial toll of making work in this economy, and we do not block entries.

#artsubmission #experimentalfilm #filmsubmissions #callforentries www.thedigitalsickness.com #filmfestival

Fugue State, presented by Disassociative Productions and Agitate21C, is a festival of experimental, radical, political, and avant-garde cinema of all sorts, including expanded cinema and VR experiments.

Thedigitalsickness.com / Film Freeway

FUGUE STATE Final deadline June 24, 2026
The best endorsements we can receive as a festival are from our filmmakers who feel we respected their work and honored their contributions as artists. At FUGUE STATE we are committed to artists over institutions, not-for-profit boards, corporate underwriters, or money.

Submit your work to a festival that will actually care for your project and recognize your time.

Festival Director, lead curator, and multidisciplinary artist M. Woods conceived of this festival as a direct attack at the gate-kept, corrupted, and cronyistic film festival circuit.

Fugue State seeks to usurp institutions backed by blood money and corporate dollars, opposed to the not-for-profit industrial complex, offering a fully independent alternative where your work matters. We don’t have any premiere requirements, and we judge submissions based on their merit, not your connections or institutional roles.

Fugue State embraces the convergence of video art, experimental film, and interactive design, encouraging new media, installation, photography, and expanded cinema/mixed-media performance entries.

Open to art film, genre film, and any other type of cinema, so long as it transgresses the accepted and formulaic languages of the medium.

Due to the success of Season 1, we have lowered the prices for our submissions.

WE PROVIDE NEED-BASED SUBMISSION WAIVERS - 1 SUBMISSION ONLY*
Email 13mwmw@gmail.com to ask for a waiver.

* We rely on submission fees because we watch every single movie and give deep consideration to all candidates. We use these fees to fund the entire festival, including venue costs, marketing, and festival production, so we deeply appreciate your contributions, but we also do not gate-keep. We understand the financial toll of making work in this economy, and we do not block entries.

#artsubmission #experimentalfilm #filmsubmissions #callforentries www.thedigitalsickness.com #filmfestival

Fugue State, presented by Disassociative Productions and Agitate21C, is a festival of experimental, radical, political, and avant-garde cinema of all sorts, including expanded cinema and VR experiments.

Thedigitalsickness.com / Film Freeway

FUGUE STATE Final deadline June 24, 2026
The best endorsements we can receive as a festival are from our filmmakers who feel we respected their work and honored their contributions as artists. At FUGUE STATE we are committed to artists over institutions, not-for-profit boards, corporate underwriters, or money.

Submit your work to a festival that will actually care for your project and recognize your time.

Festival Director, lead curator, and multidisciplinary artist M. Woods conceived of this festival as a direct attack at the gate-kept, corrupted, and cronyistic film festival circuit.

Fugue State seeks to usurp institutions backed by blood money and corporate dollars, opposed to the not-for-profit industrial complex, offering a fully independent alternative where your work matters. We don’t have any premiere requirements, and we judge submissions based on their merit, not your connections or institutional roles.

Fugue State embraces the convergence of video art, experimental film, and interactive design, encouraging new media, installation, photography, and expanded cinema/mixed-media performance entries.

Open to art film, genre film, and any other type of cinema, so long as it transgresses the accepted and formulaic languages of the medium.

Due to the success of Season 1, we have lowered the prices for our submissions.

WE PROVIDE NEED-BASED SUBMISSION WAIVERS - 1 SUBMISSION ONLY*
Email 13mwmw@gmail.com to ask for a waiver.

* We rely on submission fees because we watch every single movie and give deep consideration to all candidates. We use these fees to fund the entire festival, including venue costs, marketing, and festival production, so we deeply appreciate your contributions, but we also do not gate-keep. We understand the financial toll of making work in this economy, and we do not block entries.

#artsubmission #experimentalfilm #filmsubmissions #callforentries www.thedigitalsickness.com #filmfestival

Friday May 29 at 9PM @moviate_harrisburg is dropping a WILD program with some of my favorite filmmakers. Sending so much love to the Moviate team for including my work Melencolia 2. Phenomenal and thoughtful programming.

Love to my colleagues
@eislowjohnson MilleFeuille @tiny_moving_pictures @affected_by_light @diane_nerwen Neil Ira Needleman & David Finkelstein!

@agitate21c

Friday May 29 at 9PM @moviate_harrisburg is dropping a WILD program with some of my favorite filmmakers. Sending so much love to the Moviate team for including my work Melencolia 2. Phenomenal and thoughtful programming.

Love to my colleagues
@eislowjohnson MilleFeuille @tiny_moving_pictures @affected_by_light @diane_nerwen Neil Ira Needleman & David Finkelstein!

@agitate21c

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe , Montreal @muff.514 , and now more upcoming in Italy @adriatikino , Texas (TBA), and Pennsylvania (TBA).

Thank you to @adriatikino for a wonderful lineup. I am humbled to be amongst this group of colleagues and I wish I could be there in person.

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

#experimentalfilm #avantgarde #contemporaryart #filmfestival #analog

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe and now more upcoming in Montreal @muff.514 , Italy @adriatikino ,down South (TBA), and somewhere else on the North East (TBA).

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe and now more upcoming in Montreal @muff.514 , Italy @adriatikino ,down South (TBA), and somewhere else on the North East (TBA).

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe and now more upcoming in Montreal @muff.514 , Italy @adriatikino ,down South (TBA), and somewhere else on the North East (TBA).

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe and now more upcoming in Montreal @muff.514 , Italy @adriatikino ,down South (TBA), and somewhere else on the North East (TBA).

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

I have been very honored to share my short film Melencolia 2: destitution signs with multiple film festivals this year, including @filmdiarynyc @dresdner_schmalfilmtage @aifvf @nonamecinemasantafe and now more upcoming in Montreal @muff.514 , Italy @adriatikino ,down South (TBA), and somewhere else on the North East (TBA).

This summer is going to be full, and I hope you share in the abundance and beautiful energy. I’m very grateful to my colleagues for all of the opportunities and the chance to share the screen.

Melencolia is both a short film series and a feature film on which I’ve been working for 19 years. To help support my practice this summer, consider buying original art directly from my store thedigitalsickness.com

Selling the last 4 copies of this book. In need of funds for the summer break.

Please visit thedigitalsickness.com/store or DM for direct link.

[Temporary] Custody
By Annmarie & M. Woods, 64 page full-color
In this heartbreaking collection of photography and poetry, M. Woods and their daughter, Annmarie, playfully explore the medium of polaroid photography. Their camera exposes the bittersweet ephemerality of “endless youth” and the persistence of trauma, capturing elusive and fleeting moments together. This temporal despair is punctuated by the buoyancy of childhood and the resonant pain of divorce.

#polaroid #artistbook #poetry #analog #photobook

Selling the last 4 copies of this book. In need of funds for the summer break.

Please visit thedigitalsickness.com/store or DM for direct link.

[Temporary] Custody
By Annmarie & M. Woods, 64 page full-color
In this heartbreaking collection of photography and poetry, M. Woods and their daughter, Annmarie, playfully explore the medium of polaroid photography. Their camera exposes the bittersweet ephemerality of “endless youth” and the persistence of trauma, capturing elusive and fleeting moments together. This temporal despair is punctuated by the buoyancy of childhood and the resonant pain of divorce.

#polaroid #artistbook #poetry #analog #photobook

Selling the last 4 copies of this book. In need of funds for the summer break.

Please visit thedigitalsickness.com/store or DM for direct link.

[Temporary] Custody
By Annmarie & M. Woods, 64 page full-color
In this heartbreaking collection of photography and poetry, M. Woods and their daughter, Annmarie, playfully explore the medium of polaroid photography. Their camera exposes the bittersweet ephemerality of “endless youth” and the persistence of trauma, capturing elusive and fleeting moments together. This temporal despair is punctuated by the buoyancy of childhood and the resonant pain of divorce.

#polaroid #artistbook #poetry #analog #photobook

FUGUE STATE SEASON 2 SUBMISSIONS OPEN
Regular deadline APRIL 24, 2026
Thedigitalsickness.com
Filmfreeway.com/fuguestate-1

Fugue State, presented by Disassociative Productions and Agitate21C, is a festival of experimental, radical, political, and avant-garde cinema of all sorts, including expanded cinema and VR experiments.

Festival Director, lead curator, and multidisciplinary artist M. Woods conceived of this festival as a direct attack at the gate-kept, corrupted, and cronyistic film festival circuit.

Fugue State seeks to usurp institutions backed by blood money and corporate dollars, opposed to the not-for-profit industrial complex, offering a fully independent alternative where your work matters. We don’t have any premiere requirements, and we judge submissions based on their merit, not your connections or institutional roles.

Fugue State embraces the convergence of video art, experimental film, and interactive design, encouraging new media, installation, photography, and expanded cinema/mixed-media performance entries.

Open to art film, genre film, and any other type of cinema, so long as it transgresses the accepted and formulaic languages of the medium.

Due to the success of Season 1, we have lowered the prices for our submissions.

WE PROVIDE NEED-BASED SUBMISSION WAIVERS - 1 SUBMISSION ONLY*
Email 13mwmw@gmail.com to ask for a waiver.

* We rely on submission fees because we watch every single movie and give deep consideration to all candidates. We use these fees to fund the entire festival, including venue costs, marketing, and festival production, so we deeply appreciate your contributions, but we also do not gate-keep. We understand the financial toll of making work in this economy, and we do not block entries.

#artsubmission #experimentalfilm #filmsubmissions #callforentries www.thedigitalsickness.com #filmfestival

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

FUGUE STATE SEASON 1
65 selected works
Including dozens of shorts, 6 feature films, VR, computer games, installations, and two live performances

Something stinks. Tired of film festivals that clearly run on cronyism? Tired of film festivals that charge you $25+ and don’t even watch your work? Tired of supporting bullshit not for profits and their rich institutional partners building bourgeois art out of avant-garde film? Tired of unethical gatekeepers?

Join fugue state - send us your work - ask how you can help with season 2. We made Fugue State as an unapologetic fuck you to the film festival circuit and especially those who I’ve seen first hand take advantage of filmmakers, their time, and their money to prop up milquetoast programs of mediocre shit, poorly programmed, reflecting friend networks and popularity contests.

I personally watched every submission. I wrote individual responses to those filmmakers who wanted more feedback. I programmed, marketed, and produced all the shows. The bureaucracy of film festivals is a waste, and NFP’s and institutions are taking advantage of this system. We should consider deeply the corruption before handing over any more money to orgs who have clearly demonstrated their self interest over the interests of the avant-garde they supposedly represent.

We didn’t reject anyone based on “thematic limitations” or duration. No we kept making shows until we could include as much as possible.

17 programs including two art gallery shows
Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, NYC, Los Angeles

We programmed films multiple times during that run. Fugue State and our partner (our inspiration) @filmdiarynyc are committed to ethical programming. Who do you support?

Thanks to the awesome venues: @elasticarts , @jazzgalleryarts , @several.references.to.feedback , @lacda_official , @filmcoop , @wavepoolartcenter , @parprojects , @swell_art_cafe , @comfort_film

No funding, free waivers for anyone who asks, suggested donation ticketing / free admission at all events, no institutional backing, no volunteer workers, all independent and self-produced without the not for profit industrial complex. The only press we got was from Cincinnati.

TONIGHT
Wednesday, April 8 | Doors Open at 6:30 - screenings at 7:30
@elasticarts
3429 W Diversey Ave 208, Chicago

This is not only the final fugue state of the year, but it will be the last ever show produced by M Woods in Chicago! Thanks to @elasticarts who have been awesome hosts.

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets or at the door.

Starting with one hour of interactive work, Coded Black by Maisha Wester (including VR experience and 2-D video game), will be presented alongside an installation of selections from The Octopus aka David Matthew Johnson.

Short films by Chicago locals Drew Durepos (Adjunct) and Curtis Miller (a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely) precede a live, expanded cinema and noise performance by Chicago-based multimedia artist, Dom Bonelli, all of whom are expected to be in attendance.

And lastly, the feature film presentation is a Chicago premiere of Dirt, a masterpiece work by David Finkelstein, encapsulating years of surrealist free associational performance/video practice with his most beguiling and beautiful world building in bewitched computer-generated spaces. Finkelstein, who will be in attendance, is one of the most revered underground artists and writers working in experimental medias. Stay after the feature for a post-screening question & answer event moderated by M. Woods.

Like Dirt this is a program spanning the hyper mundane (in all of its manifestations, physical and virtual) to the absurd, labyrinthine reflection of our mediated relations; in this Fugue State all media commingle in beauty through a very strange and startling stew.

Full Program:

6:30 - 7:30PM - Interactive and installation-based work

Coded Black on Computer and 360 VR by Maisha Wester

Selections from the Octopus by David Matthew Johnson

7:30PM - Short film block 2

Adjunct by Drew Durepos

a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely by Curtis Miller

7:50PM - Live Performance by Dom Bonelli

8:30PM - Feature Film

Dirt by David Finkelstein

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Wednesday, April 8 | Doors Open at 6:30 - screenings at 7:30
@elasticarts
3429 W Diversey Ave 208, Chicago

This is not only the final fugue state of the year, but it will be the last ever show we produce in Chicago! Thanks to @elasticarts who have been awesome hosts. Because it’s the final show, we’ve got a real treat:

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets

Starting with one hour of interactive work, Coded Black by Maisha Wester (including VR experience and 2-D video game), will be presented alongside an installation of selections from The Octopus aka David Matthew Johnson.

Short films by Chicago locals Drew Durepos (Adjunct) and Curtis Miller (a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely) precede a live, expanded cinema and noise performance by Chicago-based multimedia artist, Dom Bonelli, all of whom are expected to be in attendance.

And lastly, the feature film presentation is a Chicago premiere of Dirt, a masterpiece work by David Finkelstein, encapsulating years of surrealist free associational performance/video practice with his most beguiling and beautiful world building in bewitched computer-generated spaces. Finkelstein, who will be in attendance, is one of the most revered underground artists and writers working in experimental medias. Stay after the feature for a post-screening question & answer event moderated by M. Woods.

Like Dirt this is a program spanning the hyper mundane (in all of its manifestations, physical and virtual) to the absurd, labyrinthine reflection of our mediated relations; in this Fugue State all media commingle in beauty through a very strange and startling stew.

Full Program:

6:30 - 7:30PM - Interactive and installation-based work

Coded Black on Computer and 360 VR by Maisha Wester

Selections from the Octopus by David Matthew Johnson

7:30PM - Short film block 2

Adjunct by Drew Durepos

a fence is a fence but the clouds move freely by Curtis Miller

7:50PM - Live Performance by Dom Bonelli

8:30PM - Feature Film

Dirt by David Finkelstein

Thedigitalsickness.com for tickets