Episode 188: Isabel Corfiatis

Harita and Haley interview Wellington filmmaker Isabel Corfiatis ahead of the Doc Edge Film Festival 2026 about her debut feature documentary "Music and the Mystical Experience", screening in Auckland from 24 June to 12 July and Wellington from 15 to 26 July.The film follows musician and sound engineer Michael Sutherland and a collective of more than twenty New Zealand artists collaborating on a six hour musical work designed for use in psychedelic therapy. Filmed primarily in Wellington over three years, it explores creativity, healing, collaboration, and the role music can play in therapeutic settings. This is Isabel’s first feature and first documentary, and she’s taken on an incredibly hands on role across directing, cinematography, editing, and co producing. The project originally began as a short before naturally growing into a feature as the team realised there was simply too much story, process, and conversation to contain in fifteen minutes. The documentary was inspired after Michael completed the six hour composition and, through an APRA mentorship with Tiki Taane, was encouraged to document both the music and the wider creative process behind it. Isabel then came on board and helped shape it into a feature focused on collaboration, process, and the human stories behind the work. She speaks really thoughtfully about making ambitious independent work with a tiny crew, Wellington’s creative community and why the city became such an important backdrop for the story, and approaching a topic that some people still see as controversial through a deeply human lens.Screening dates:Auckland: Takapuna Beachside Cinemas Sun 12 Jul 1:15 PM Wellington: The Roxy Cinema - Sat 18 Jul 5:45 PM (nearly sold out!)Christchurch: Sat 1 Aug 8:15 PM - Jack Mann Theatre, Koawa Studios, Canterbury University It'll also be available on the Doc Edge website (Doc Edge) from 27th July-10th Aug.