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Fantastic Fungi | A film by Louie Schwartzberg on Mycelial Connection
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF
CONNECT WITH NATURE’S INTELLIGENCE
We’re on a mission to share the beauty and intelligence of nature – starting with the magic and mystery of mushrooms – to protect the planet and create a better future. Reconnecting with nature’s intelligence can transform how we explore and understand the world. How? By making the invisible visible, cultivating gratitude and slowing down enough to be present and get curious. What began as a film quickly grew into a global community and a movement. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the mycelial network or diving deeper, Fantastic Fungi is your ally. We want to inspire you to bring the lessons of nature – our greatest teacher – into your everyday life. Let’s change the world, together.
With Gratitude,
DEEPEN YOUR CONNECTION WITH MUSHROOMS
By bringing mushrooms into your routines and rituals, you can start to integrate the wisdom and teachings of nature into your everyday life. Learn about the benefits, history and traditional uses of some of the most revered mushrooms on the planet.*
Turkey Tail
The most widely researched mushroom*
Tremella
Promotes healthy skin & beauty*
Shiitake
A culinary mushroom popular for immune support*
Maitake
Hen of the woods
Lion's Mane
A nootropic for brain health*
Cordyceps
An adaptogen for active lifestyles*
The incognito immune mushroom*
Reishi
Queen of mushrooms
Personality Quiz
Which mushroom are you?
Explore Mushroom Products from
Brands We Love
Our Marketplace connects mycophiles and makers. With you in mind, we’ve collected our favorite high-quality mushroom products from like-minded, values-driven small businesses and brands, each one vetted by our team. Sort by mushroom, brand, benefit, format and more.*
SHOP OUR CURATED MUSHROOMS STORE
SHOP OUR CURATED MUSHROOMS STORE
Fantastic Fungi Gratitude Drops
A symbiotic blend of some of our favorite mushrooms to support your mood, immunity and longevity.
*
24.99
EXPLORE
Forager Box
The ultimate mix of favorite mushroom products and new discoveries (all bundled for a lower price)
109.99
EXPLORE
Fantastic Mushroom Tea
Savor the moment with our new mushroom tea powder, featuring organic reishi, cordyceps, and lion's mane
12.99
EXPLORE
OMFG Brain Gummies
Chewy treats that contain the nootropic lion's mane and energy-boosting cordyceps*
28.00
EXPLORE
North Spore Golden Oyster Grow Kit
Spray and grow kit made from all-natural, organic, and non-GMO ingredients
28.00
EXPLORE
Fourfeels La Juventud
Helps to improve natural collagen production, keep cells hydrated, and to protect the skin from environmental stress.*
30.
00
EXPLORE
SEE THE critically acclaimed DOCUMENTARY Fantastic Fungi
– Rex Reed
“…fascinating, informative, educational,
and totally entertaining.”
From the journal of
Louie Schwartzberg
Follow all the news from the “Louieverse”! Stay up to date on the latest mushroom discoveries, new projects and all things Fantastic Fungi with director Louie Schwartzberg.
8 Must-Try Mushrooms to Add to Your Winter Routine
The Fantastic Fungi Holiday Gift Guide
6 Ways to Give Thanks for Mushrooms
Get to Know Chaga – and Why We Don’t Use the Fruiting Bodies
Just in Time for Halloween, 5 Fun and Freaky Facts about Mushrooms
10 Things to Know about the Mycelial Network
5 of the Coolest Ways Mushrooms are Changing the World
The World-Saving Work of the Fungi Foundation
What You Need to Know About Growing Mushrooms at Home
The Mushroom Folklore of Ireland
Understanding The Mystical Fairy Circle
Mycelium Sculptures: Art and Interconnectedness
How To Find Fantastic Fungi Around the World
The Stoned Ape
Everything You Need To Know About Astromycology
Avatar and the Real Life Wood Wide Web
Tour of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors with Alex Grey – Mycology In Art
Visionary Artists Alex and Allyson Grey.
Through a tour of
EXPERIENCE A VIRTUAL REALITY journey through time & scale
Announcements
Don’t miss these upcoming talks, screenings and events related to Fantastic Fungi and Louie’s work.
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Miami Beach, FL
September 16-22
O Cinema South Beach
https://www.o-cinema.org/event/gratituderevealed/
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Seattle, WA
September 16-22
Siff Cinema Uptown
https://www.siff.net/siff-cinema/in-theaters/gratitude-revealed
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Sedona, AZ
September 16-22
Mary D. Fisher Theatre
https://sedonafilmfestival.com/event/gratitude-revealed/
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Oakland, CA
September 16-22
The New Parkway Theater
https://www.thenewparkway.com/gratitude-revealed-at-the-new-parkway-theater/
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San Rafael, CA
September 16-22
Smith Rafael Film Center – Live Q&A with Director Louie Schwartzberg, Dr.
Christine Carter, Lynne Twist
https://rafaelfilm.cafilm.org/gratitude-revealed/
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Santa Monica, CA
September 16-22
Laemmle Monica Film Center – Live Q&A with Director Louie Schwartzberg
https://www.laemmle.com/film/gratitude-revealed
© 2023 Fantastic Fungi, LLC
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Netflix documentary 'Fantastic Fungi' explores the many magical properties of mushrooms
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A still image from the documentary "Fantastic Fungi.
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According to mycologist Paul Stamets, the answers to our most existential questions aren’t in the stars above, but the ground below.
Fungi have been around for billions of years, setting the stage for humanity by supporting, carrying and converting life. But for complex political reasons, these organisms are still shrouded in mystery.
One man, however, is determined to lift the veil on the magical world of mushrooms. Enter Stamets, a bespectacled author and researcher whose mission to decode nature’s hidden language and explore “altered states of consciousness" is chronicled in the documentary “Fantastic Fungi,” which was recently made available to stream on Netflix.
A still image of scientist Paul Stamets from the documentary "Fantastic Fungi.
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While the film aims to destigmatize hallucinogenic mushrooms, it also demonstrates why we should legitimize the studies of all mushrooms. Contemporary experts in neurology, psychiatry and biology in the film show that fungal genomes can solve a host of mental, physical and environmental problems. From healing bacterial infections to cleaning petroleum spills, fungi possess unique, almost godlike properties that are otherwise unseen in nature. For instance, lion’s mane, an edible white mushroom that tastes like lobster, stimulates nerves in order to grow, suggesting that it could potentially cure degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
To some, the medicinal use of fungi might seem outlandish, but the film reminds us that it was a form of mold that helped revolutionize medicine in the mid-20th century. During the Civil War, moldy bread was slapped on top of soldiers’ wounds to prevent infection, the film says. Later, microbiologist Alexander Fleming formally discovered penicillin in 1927.
Mass produced for the first time during World War II, this cutting-edge antibiotic saved tens of thousands of soldiers’ lives.
A still image from the documentary "Fantastic Fungi."
Courtesy of Moving ArtDespite similar potential medicinal value, psychedelic fungi like psilocybin — or “shrooms” — are still tragically understudied. Psychedelics were examined in clinical settings in the 1950s and ’60s, but when they “escaped the lab” during the hippie movement of the 1970s, they were demonized and treated as the root of social ills. The fear of rapid cultural change, as well as the substances that helped fuel it, instigated Nixon’s war on drugs. As his administration distributed irrational, unscientific propaganda about the alleged dangers of psychoactive drugs, mushrooms were yanked out of labs, and research went dormant.
In addition to presenting rich historical data and scientific case studies, the film uses gorgeous time-lapse footage to visually illustrate the enchanting power of fungi.
We quickly learn that there is an astonishing variety of them. Some are pink and ribbed. Some are bulbous and white. Some will kill you, others will cure you. Mushrooms are not a monolith, and neither are people’s experiences with them.
A still image from the documentary "Fantastic Fungi."
Courtesy of Moving ArtChoral new age music, wistful narration and kaleidoscopic imagery aside, the film also holds some raw and emotional elements. One poignant sequence shows a series of clinical trials with cancer patients who are given psilocybin, which changes their perception of life, death and the connection between the two. Seventy percent of participants in these trials said that their first experience with mushrooms was in the top five most significant moments in their lives — something akin to seeing a child being born, or having a parent pass away.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive results of these clinical studies, it wasn’t until 1999 that researchers were finally able to resume studying psilocybin after a 22-year lull.
Which makes viewers wonder: How would the public perceive magic mushrooms today had the war on drugs never happened? Would they have been studied enough to become used in medical practice? What role would they play in our everyday lives? Ultimately, Stamets believes that conservative politicians outlawed these drugs for more existential reasons. “The culture wants to cling on to the old view of the universe,” he says.
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A still image from the documentary "Fantastic Fungi.
"
Ultimately, when Stamets discusses altered states of consciousness, it’s not just about viewing the world through a psychedelic lens. It’s about accepting a different state of being. For some people — especially those who live in pain — the film posits that mushrooms can be the answer they’ve been looking for. But as long as our political systems continue to suppress these studies, a world of possibility will forever remain underground, in the dark.
Ariana Bindman is a freelance writer in the Bay Area. Find her on Instagram at @ariana.bindman.
More documentaries
- Horoscope for Tuesday, 1/3/23 by Christopher Renstrom
- ‘No reason to downplay this’: Another atmospheric river set to slam Bay Area
- More Northern California towns warned to evacuate due to 'imminent levee failure'
- Rose Parade avoids California rain as it welcomes New Year
- Drug-dealing executives: How potheads fell in love with LinkedIn
- Fox cameras catch meme-worthy 49ers reaction to missed Robbie Gould field goal
- Car goes over cliff at Devil's Slide in San Mateo County, four critically injured
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