A Documentary From the Future
“Most important book of 2015” – Aaron Bastani, co-founder of Novara Media
Nick Srnicek’s and Alex Williams’ book Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work is sparking widespread conversations about the future of society. By challenging the Left to rethink what politics could be, they leveled a charge that was met with praise and controversy. An imaginative polemic, Inventing the Future was never meant to be a final word – it was meant to be a launchpad.
“Isiah Medina rethinks the possibilities and language of cinematic form” - BFI
Isiah Medina is a young and ambitious filmmaker. His debut feature, 88:88, irrupted through the festival circuit. After premiering at Locarno International Film Festival, 88:88 went on to play the New York Film Festival (NYFF) and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), among others, and was met with stellar reviews by film critics, philosophers, cinephiles, and activists alike. 88:88 is a classical film about poverty, youth, media culture, philosophy, and the very medium of cinema itself.
“The task is to invent and not merely hope” – Isiah Medina
Together, we are aiming to create a cinematic experience that will look to the future with optimism about what humans and technology can do, about what politics can create, about how cinema can think, and about what life can become.
The future is already-but-not-yet. It will require collectivity to realize it. This film explores that process. Join us to make this vision become a reality.
Great Gifts for You!
Thanks to the support of Verso Books and the QTY team, we have some amazing rewards to offer, including tons of free books (access to the entire Verso library!!!), rad screen printed Levi's jackets, entry to live events, USB sticks loaded with content, and bundle packages with all kinds of goodies!
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The Present Historical Moment
The film will be more than just an adaptation of the book. Since the publication of Inventing the Future at the end of 2015, the global social and political landscape has changed significantly. From Brexit, to Trump, to Wilders, to the growing popularity of Le Pen, to the crisis of neoliberal hegemony around the world, the challenges facing us are rapidly changing and expanding. Moreover, there is a rich and long history of anti-work thought to draw upon in imaging a world beyond wage-labour, as well as innumerable utopian thinkers that point the way to a different future. This film will aim to explore these rich histories, set them in the context of today's challenges, and imagine pathways to a world without work.
One of the most difficult things to navigate with any crowdfunding campaign that seeks to maintain the highest levels of philosophical integrity is to make the campaign part and parcel of the very project itself. That is why we view this campaign as a microcosm of the collective spirit that is required to realize the concepts that are developed in the film itself. Building a community spirit does not stop at donations, but extends through the very fabric of the project, from conception to completion to distribution. With that, our aim is to be as transparent as possible regarding the funds and their use. This means that we will also be available for anyone with questions or insights that might make this experience more cooperative.
Project Budget
We do need your help. This breakdown covers the preliminary costs we need to keep this production moving forward. It is an estimate based on the hope that we will reach our goal of $20,000.
The goal is that once these preliminary production costs are secured, then we will have enough cushion to be able to finish the film and shop around for distribution options, exhibition channels, and other special events.
Praise for the Book
“A fascinating book about an alternative to austerity.” – Owen Jones
“Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams' project dares to propose a different way of thinking and acting. Given the fizzling of the Occupy moment, a radical rethinking of the anarchic approach is badly needed but just not happening. This book could do a lot of work in getting that rethink going.” – Doug Henwood
“A powerful book: it not only shows us how the postcapitalist world of rapidly improving technology could make us free, but it also shows us how we can organise to get there. This is a must-read.”
– Paul Mason
“Most important book of 2015” – Aaron Bastani, co-founder of Novara Media
Praise for Isiah's 88:88
"I could say that 88:88 is a masterpiece, but masterpieces are the domain of the past; Medina has taken his first step into the future." – Cinema Scope
“88:88 is an avant-garde sensation” – Indie Wire
“Isiah Medina rethinks the possibilities and language of cinematic form” - BFI
“Here’s a motion picture for anyone who has craved to be challenged again by cinema” – Brooklyn Rail
“An incredible breath of fresh air” – Mubi
"I am astounded. [...] We mathematicians or philosophers speak so much about multiplicities, overlapping, ramifications, etc. and it is just beautiful to see all the concepts at work, with admirable visual force. [...] The cuts, continuities, off-voices, silences, the very real superpositions of multiplicities, produce a new opening of our minds and sensibilities" - Fernando Zalamea
"It is potentially even entirely new... [a work of cinema] in which every frame and every cut bespeak a previously untapped means of human expression" - Fandor
Help Us Spread the Word
Expanding our audience is another reason we're launching this campaign. Please share this project and IndieGoGo page with friends, artists, theorists, and activists you think will be interested. Use the tools to share the campaign, or send a private message to specific friends. Please spread the word. And feel free to check out our website, like our Facebook Page, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you,
Austin Hayden Smidt
Isiah Medina
Nick Srnicek
Alex Williams
QTY Team