Il regista / The Director

Founder of the independent film production company, Strange Attractions, Inc., Peter Friedman made his directorial debut in 1984; his works have received numerous international awards as well as Emmy and Academy Awards nominations. His films include: The Life and Ti- mes of Life and Times (1998), There are No Direct Flights from New York to Marseilles (1998), Death by Design (1995), Silverlake Life (1993), Fighting in Southwest Louisiana (1991) and I Talk to Animals (1991).

Roger Manley’s books, screenplays and photographs have earned him a world-class reputation, particularly in the field of Outsider Art. Over the years, he has studied and documented the customs of indi- genous Australians, the inhabitants of the Caroline islands, and Native Americans, as well as explored Greek caves and the Arctic tundra.

“The central idea behind Mana - Beyond Belief is that the way people behave in the presence of these power objects and reveals a process of the human mind that is fundamental and universal: belief. (...) Belief is not just religion; it drives the stock market, it determines how we deal with history and our personal memories, it underlies racism and war. Bringing together diverse cultures, characters, visual styles, music and fascinating objects, Mana helps us see the essential, invisible element underlying them all."

Peter Friedman, Roger