Ibogaine: Rite of Passage DVD

a film by Benjamin De Loenen

About the Film:

Ibogaine: Rite of Passage is a documentary about the use of the controversial substance ibogaine for the treatment of opiate addiction. Ibogaine is a psychoactive substance derived from the African plant iboga. It is used during ritual initiations of the Bwiti people in Gabon. In the 1960s, American researcher and heroin addict Howard Lotsof discovered the anti-addictive properties of ibogaine. Not long after his discovery, the use of ibogaine became illegal in the United States and remains illegal there today.

Ibogaine: Rite of Passage follows an American heroin addict through an ibogaine session at a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. Through a series of critical interviews with former addicts, ibogaine facilitators, and other experts, the documentary asks if the controversial status of ibogaine is due to economics or to its hallucinogenic effects? The DVD includes the official trailer, information about ibogaine treatment centers and other resources related to ibogaine and opiate addiction, and a filmography of the director.

About the Filmmaker:

Benjamin De Loenen studied audiovisual media in The Netherlands, and received his Masters degree with honors as a film director and editor for his documentary Ibogaine:Rite of Passage (2004), which he directed and produced.

He became active as a public speaker about iboga internationally and eventually founded the International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service (ICEERS) in 2009 in The Netherlands. ICEERS has currently an office in Barcelona, Spain and Montevideo, Uruguay, and is involved in scientific research into ayahuasca, iboga and cannabis, policy reform activities, educational activities and services related to risk reduction and legal support.

Details:

Runtime: 50 min
Producer: LunArt Productions
Director: Benjamin De Loenen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish and Dutch
Release Date: 2004, Netherlands
Shipping Weight: 5 oz