BFF24 in a guest post by Sean McNamara

Guest contribution originally published in the online magazine, Bitesize Media (free from hype and hidden agendas, Bitcoin-themed content provider). | BITESIZE BITCOIN, NO NOISE, JUST SIGNAL. Issue No. 1. May 2024

How was Bitcoin FilmFest 2024?

Get firsthand insights from Sean McNamara, the founder of Bitesize Media, in his personal  coverage.

This month was the second instalment of the Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw. People flew in from different places all over the world to attend this event. I flew in from the UK and stayed in ‘Bank Square’. Tomek, a co-founder of the festival and local resident, described it as “Warsaw’s Manhattan”. The City is rich in history and has an exquisite skyline filled with huge office blocks. Trams are clattering by. Cars beep and whisk through the rain. It’s April showers. When he told me about Manhattan I could see the resemblance.

Google maps told me there were fifteen banks surrounding my apartment. This was fitting, given
why I was in Warsaw: to celebrate Bitcoin. This felt like I was sticking it to the system. It wasn’t planned that way. It was completely random. So far, banks have censored and cancelled me. They also tricked me into thinking they offered great interest on my money for saving with them. But, it doesn’t even cover the cost of inflation. I enjoyed the view of Santander from the room. It’s something I’ll never forget.

The festival was lively.

The Palace of Culture and Science houses the Kinoteka cinema, the host of the festival. The Palace of Culture and Science (known as well as ‘PKiN’) houses the Kinoteka cinema, the host of the festival. The Soviet Union gifted Poland the cinema in the 1950s.

If a festival celebrating Bitcoin was to be in Poland. The festival had to be in this building. It’s on the edge of bank square and a gift from the communist regime. It’s very fitting.

There were a host of cinematic shows including MENGER. NOTES ON THE MARGIN, MY TRUST IN YOU IS BROKEN, SEARCHING FOR SATOSHI, GODS OF THEIR OWN RELIGION, and the premier of DIRTY COIN. They are a testament to Bitcoin Cinema. They all offered a unique perspective in their own right. Although, when they showed one film, in particular, it caught my attention.

This was DEATH ATHLETIC.

It caught me at a time in my personal and professional life where I needed to see a film like this. I mentioned the issue I had with the banks already. But, I haven’t mentioned the social media censorship or the ‘PC’ environment in the UK I deal with daily. And a ton of other stuff. This film struck a nerve with me. It caught me off guard.

DEATH ATHLETIC by Jessica Solce cut deep. It was refreshing to witness such great cinematography and an awesome story to match. Kudos to Jessica and her team.

The quality of the films on show took me aback. Every time I sat down, I immersed myself. And lost count of the amount of popcorn I ate. Once the film has finished you get to speak with the creators. This isn’t what happens when you head to the cinema. Although, it’s a thing for Bitcoin FilmFest.

The audience saw a live panel. The guests were r0ckstardev, Alana Mediavilla Diaz, and Joe Nakamoto, to name a few. It was right after their show aired.

MY TRUST IN YOU IS BROKEN shines a light on the fight over Bitcoin’s development from 2015 to 2017. I found the documentary by BTCPay Server to be inspiring.

As it tells, Nicolas Dorier felt disillusioned by the power of big industry players. Examples include Bitpay and Coinbase. He took a stand against their centralised control. Dorier led the creation of BTCPay Server. It is a free and open-source payment processor. It aims to make third-party processors obsolete. The film stars Dorier himself. Other passionate developers in the film include r0ckstardev, Andrew Camilleri, Pavlenex, Dennis Reimann, and Andreas Tasch. They fought to keep Bitcoin decentralised. This was during a time of intense debate about its future. It’s a testament to the power of people acting to protect core values.

Watching SEARCHING FOR SATOSHI was fascinating. Many of us in the room found it thought-provoking. It sparked old conspiracy theories for me and others. Filmmaker Paul Kemp went on a worldwide journey. He made the most compelling case yet. It was for the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto and reasons for his disappearance. A strong sense of intrigue filled the air.

The documentary showed many potential Satoshi candidates. They ranged from reclusive geniuses to reserved academics. Each had their own circumstantial evidence and rumours. The showcase featured many names and a lot of evidence. By the end, I found myself vacillating between theories about who the real Satoshi could be. It was an exercise in deductive reasoning. It left me, and likely others, still wondering. The mystery of Satoshi is the ultimate cliff-hanger.

Screening Naeem Mahmood’s GODS OF THEIR OWN RELIGION late at night was clever. It was a good programming decision. The film’s grim, dystopian themes highlight the dark aspect of the in-between hours. They are full of existential dread. This bold, avant-garde sci-fi explores individual freedom.

It deconstructs the fragile point where illusion and reality split under technocratic control.

It is set in a ditheistic “technocratic empire.” There, the human spirit is systematically crushed. It is under the heel of a dehumanising, centralised authority.

The narrative follows the underground resistance. They dare to reignite the smothered embers of freedom. The film’s bold title criticises modernity. It says it worships technology and power as secular gods. People sacrifice themselves to these gods.

The filmmakers use symbolic allegories. For example, the technocrat said “It’s time for us to do what God couldn’t do.” But, younger generations rejected the silicon enticements of subjugation. Through these stories, the filmmakers decry our society’s reflexive surrender to authoritarian orders. It is an independently-made work not driven by commercial pressures. Gods boldly blends a gripping sci-fi story with biting philosophical and political themes. The film’s core audience is likely crypto-anarchists and decentralisation advocates.

The long-awaited feature documentary DIRTY COIN stole the show. Its premier happened at the Bitcoin Film Festival 2024. STRANDED offered an intriguing short film glimpse. It showed how Bitcoin miners use stranded energy assets in far-flung places worldwide. Although, the famous Kinoteka cinema was buzzing to see the full exploration.

Of all the films shown over the weekend, I hadn’t seen any fill up as quickly as DIRTY COIN. It covered the gritty truths and fringe innovators in Bitcoin’s mining scene. It did not disappoint.

As a bitcoiner, the documentary had many big names. It included Erik Dale, Jeff Booth, Troy Cross, Lisa Hough, Jason Lees, Chase Lochmiller. It also included the teams from Green Mining DAO and Gridless. They all gave some insight. Troy Cross made a stand out comment. He was talking about The Silk Road. He said he happened to buy Alpaca socks with his Bitcoin, because he’s not into drugs. I almost spat my drink out. It added some light heartedness to a polarising topic. A nice mix.

As the end credits rolled, the audience erupted in a grateful standing ovation. This showed the clear appreciation. Finally, we got to see behind the curtain. It showed this fascinating, controversial part of the Bitcoin world.

Joe Nakamoto rounded it off well. He said it’s “The ultimate orange pilling movie” in the post-movie panel.

The Bitcoin FilmFest in Warsaw was a great celebration. It honoured the ethos and the innovators driving the Bitcoin revolution. It showed many thought-provoking documentaries. These films offered unique views on decentralisation, personal sovereignty, and resisting centralised control.

The event was more than just a film festival. It shattered prevailing narratives. It sparked deep discussions. They were about the pioneering ideas behind Bitcoin. It was like a movie about Bitcoin’s core ethos. It celebrated the boundary-pushing efforts of those at the vanguard of this innovation. The experience left attendees inspired. It made them want to keep reigniting the fire of freedom and driving more innovation in this space.

The festival brought these stories to the screen. It also fostered engaging dialogues. In doing so, it succeeded in its mission. The mission was to explore the philosophy and real impact of decentralized cinema. The goal was to do so thoughtfully. It was a true celebration of the pioneering spirit.

Regards.

Sean McNamara

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