“A Fabulous Film” ~Ram Dass

LATEST NEWS

​APR 30, 2020 A Message from the Producer

“While I put my heart into it, and everyone involved certainly put their loving hearts into this work, I have serious doubts about the documentary film I produced entitled “A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin”, because I am not in favor of a hierarchy, particularly a medical hierarchy, being in charge of the distribution and administration of sacred psychedelic plants and medicines. The basic therapeutic model in our film may certainly be sound, yet it is not the only valid method, and does not necessarily need to be administered by a hierarchical priesthood for a chosen few. I realize this is a broad deep important topic and cannot be covered in one short post. I share this with respect for everyone working in this field for the benefit of human freedom, and the healing of our beautiful planet.”

-Robert J Barnhart (A New Understanding Producer) ​ ​

​OCT 3, 2018 ANU SCREENING AT BROOKLYN'S PSYCHEDELIC FILM AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

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Join us Wednesday, October 3rd in New York for the Psychedelic Film and Music Festival for an evening with Dennis McKenna and ANU Producer Robert Barnhart. The night features a Q+A with our hosts and film screenings of A New Understanding, and The Shaman and the Scientist. ​ TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW ​

​JUN 5, 2018 FROM SHOCK TO AWE CAPTURES THE MANGURAMA AWARD AT ILLUMINATE

Produced in part by ANU producer, Robert Barnhart, From Shock to Awe follows the transformational journey of two combat veterans suffering from severe trauma, as they abandon pharmaceuticals to seek relief from the mind-expanding world of psychedelics. The film's screening at 2018's ILLUMINATE Film Fest won the Mangurama Award, which is awarded to a film pertaining to consciousness that demonstrates a strong story arc, compelling subjects and high production value. It is both an honor and a pleasure to have a role in the film's journey and with all of those who are involved in its conception. ​ MORE INFORMATION ​

​JAN 9, 2018 ANU NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES

The A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin documentary is now officially available for purchase on iTunes. Thank you all for your support and your help in seeing us through to this accomplishment. With our documentary on as many different platforms as possible, we hope to exponentially increase the spread of awareness regarding psilocybin and other medicines of the like. ​ PURCHASE NOW ​ ​

​OCT 23, 2017 MDMA BREAKTHROUGH NEWS: WALL STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE AND MORE

​MAY 2, 2017 DR. MATTHEW W. JOHNSON, PH.D. TO APPEAR ON S02E01 OF NATGEO'S 'BREAKTHROUGH'

On Tuesday, May 2 at 9:00 PM Central, Matthew Johnson, Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins University will be appearing on the premier episode for the second season of NatGeo's "Breakthrough" to speak about the current state of psilocybin research. In the episode, director David Lowery is focusing on psychedelic drugs as potential treatments for addiction and will have featured appearances from a couple of wonderful research participants from our psilocybin smoking cessation pilot study, as well as Mary Cosimano from our research team. Don't miss it!

​APR 23, 2017 ANU SCREENING: PSYCHEDELIC SCIENCE 2017

On Sunday, April 23, we will be screening A New Understanding at 2017's Psychedelic Science Conference in Oakland, California. The screening will take place from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, and will be followed by a word from ANU producer Robert Barnhart. Robert will also be speaking in a discussion panel that will be taking place on the Psymposia Stage in the free and open to the public Marketplace/Oakland Convention Center on Saturday the 22 at 4:30 PM. For more information about Psychedelic Science 2017, click here. Check back for updates.

​APR 19-24, 2017 MDMA THE MOVIE PRE-SCREENING AT 2017's PSYCHEDELIC SCIENCE CONFERENCE

We are proud to announce that we will be having a public “pre-screening” of MDMA The Movie at the Psychedelic Science conference in Oakland in April. The film is co-produced by ANU producer Robert Barnhart alongside lead producer and film director, Emanuel Sferios. We don’t know the exact day and time yet, but we wanted to let you know now. Most likely it will be either Friday or Saturday night, the 21st or 22nd.



If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, we invite you to attend. You do not need to be a registered conference attendee to come to the pre-screening, but we encourage you to attend the conference if you can. There are some amazing workshops, speakers and other events scheduled. Here is the conference link: http://psychedelicscience.org/ ​ What is a Pre-Screening?



We will be showing about an hour's worth of rough cut scenes from the film. This is not the entire film, nor are the parts we will be showing “finished.” (Some might not even make it into the final cut.) But we will be showing substantial portions of the film nonetheless. This will be the only public screening before the film is released in film festivals when it is completed, which won’t be for another year at least. We will also be handing out feedback forms so you can give us your comments and suggestions.



We are Still Fundraising!



We still need your support. We need to raise about $18,000 more to finish production. Please check out our ongoing crowdfunding campaign and consider donating. All donations of $50 or more will receive credit in the closing credits of the film (unless you choose to remain anonymous).



https://donate.mdmathemovie.com



Between both our first and current crowdfunding campaigns, over 1,300 people have contributed financially to the movie so far. This is incredibly humbling. Thank you to all our supporters!. This is your film. And particularly, as the director of the film, I want to thank you for your confidence in my ability to represent MDMA, harm reduction and drug policy truthfully, without sensationalism and stigma. It means a lot to me, and I won't let you down.

​MAR 21, 2017 ROBERT BARNHART TO APPEAR ON WDRT RADIO SHOW

On Tuesday, March 21, a discussion with ANU producer Robert Barnhart will be broadcast on WDRT community radio. Catch his talk at 9:00 AM Central at wdrt.org. ​

​MAR 13, 2017 INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT BARNHART ON THE MIKEDELIC PODCAST

ANU Producer Robert Barnhart appeared in an interview earlier this week on the Mikedelic podcast hosted by Mike Brancatelli. The Mikedelic series focuses on the benefits of psychedelics and presents compelling arguments of the moral right to cognitive liberty for all human beings. Listen to their discussion here.

​MAR 11, 2017 DR ANTHONY BOSSIS TO SPEAK AT SXSW

Dr. Anthony Bossis is a clinical psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and an investigator in FDA-approved psilocybin-generated mystical experience research. He is Director of Palliative Care Research, Co-Principal Investigator, and a psilocybin session guide for the NYU clinical trial investigating the efficacy of a psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon the existential and psycho-spiritual distress in persons with cancer. At this year's SXSW in Austin, TX, Bossis will be addressing the return of psychedelic research in the US after decades of dormancy. The history of psychedelic research, implications for enhanced well-being, consciousness research, and religious studies will be discussed. Catch his presentation on March 11 between 5:00-6:00 pm CST. More information here. ​

​FEB 26, 2017 BUSINESS INSIDER TALKS ABOUT A NEW UNDERSTANDING

"And as the new documentary "A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin" shows, the results we've seen so far are powerful. Perhaps most interestingly, the film shows how these substances transform the people who undergo this therapy. It's fascinating to see." -Kevin Loria with Business Insider

Recently, Business Insider released an argumentative piece on the ways in which therapy involving psychedelic substances can change the way a person sees the world. The writing makes mention of our own A New Understanding: The Science of Psilocybin, as well as the findings and patient/researcher interviews within the film. Read the full article here.

​FEB 20, 2017 GRACE AND SELF-EFFORT IN A PSYCHEDELIC LIFE: A REMINISCENCE BY ROBERT BARNHART

On Monday, February 20, ANU producer Robert Barnhart will be sharing his life's story at The Alchemist's Kitchen in New York, NY. As a nearly 50-year-long advocate for the study of psychoactive materials in spiritual and nontraditional healing practices, and a board member of both The Heffter Research Institute and The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Robert has dedicated not only his career, but his personal life to raisin awareness of the ways in which therapy involving psychedelic substances can be used to combat mental illness, addiction, existential pessimism and more. ​ "The talk involves the story of my life, from the time of my mother's pregnancy until now." says Robert. "The talk is a very personal account of my early years, my first experiences with sacred substances, and how that progressed synchronistically to my involvement with psychedelic philanthropy, and eventually making "A New Understanding". I talk about an epiphany via a psychedelic one night during my early teenage years that resulted in a profound experience of divine Grace, and then the path that followed.” ​ For information and tickets, click here.

​FEB 18, 2017 A NEW UNDERSTANDING SCREENING AT COSM: CHAPEL OF SACRED MIRRORS

We are excited to announce that this Saturday, February 18, A New Understanding will be screening at Alex & Allyson Grey's CoSM: Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in Wappinger, New York. The screening will take place from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm with tickets available both online and at the door. For more information and ticket pricing, visit the links below. ​ CoSM | Facebook | Tickets

​JAN 12, 2017 CONSCIOUS TALK RADIO INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT BARNHART

ANU producer Robert J. Barnhart has an interview with Conscious Talk Radio's Brenda and Rob. In the discussion, the three discuss the science of psilocybin, ongoing research regarding psychedelics & psychiatry and the medical potential of what many think of simply as 'magic mushrooms.' Listen to the disussion here.

​NOV 23, 2015 ANU OUT NOW

A New Understanding is now officially available for viewing and download via Vimeo on Demand. There are three options available for both rent and purchase, the first of which is the stand-alone A New Understanding documentary. We are also offering an ANU Collector's Edition which contains the documentary plus exclusive interviews with the volunteers involved in the research. Last, but not least, we are offering the ANU: Psilocybin Archive which includes the documentary and the Collector's Edition interviews plus a collection of one-on-one discussions with the researchers and scientific minds that made this all possible.

​APRIL 14, 2015 ANU SCREENING IN AUSTIN

A New Understanding will be screening tonight at Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX.. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with executive producer Robert J. Barnhart, William A. Richards, Ph.D., David E. Nichols, Ph.D., Charles S. Grob, M.D., Jeffrey Guss, M.D., Anthony P. Bossis, Ph.D. and DMT: The Spirit Molecule director Mitch Schultz. ​ Doors to theatre will close at 7pm to show the film. If you arrive late, please wait outside until 8pm so as not to disturb. We will open doors again for panel discussion which will take place from 8pm-9:15pm. Arrive early to get a good seat and order your complimentary appetizers and drinks from 6pm to 6:45pm. There will be no food orders during the movie at 7pm.

MARCH 6, 2015 ANU SCREENING AT NEW YORK