Director Otso Tiainen’s fascinating study of an esoteric community hidden within the French Pyrenees begins by exploring the seekers drawn to this place, supposedly the home of the Holy Grail. However, it is the appearance of charismatic film director Richard Stanley that truly ignites the story. Before long, accusations about his conduct surface, and the residents find themselves caught in a battle for their very souls. The dangers of blind faith and the magnetic pull of certain personalities are put under the microscope in this breathtaking examination of a small microcosm of society forced to confront who they are when everything they believe is challenged. A vital film that urges us to scrutinize our heroes, SHADOWLAND is a must-see—not only to contextualize the inner battles we all face but also to finally see the truth laid bare.

Director Statement

Shadowland is about people who don’t feel at home in modern society and find refuge in a remote region in the South of France. In their community, magic and witchcraft are woven into daily life.

While this world may seem strange and fantastic, the aspirations of the seekers are universal. We all seek that which would make us whole: for some, it’s success and money; for others, spirituality. However, we must be careful about whom we choose to follow.

As filmmakers, we began this journey intending to create an elevated documentary with genre film aspirations. The film was meant to explore how an imagined world can mend a broken soul.

But soon, everything turned upside down. Instead of portraying an artist’s rise, fall, and glorious resurgence, we ended up following his friends and admirers as they became entangled in a web of manipulation. Fortunately, we also witnessed their resilience and the decisions that led to their triumph.

Shadowland is also the story of us as filmmakers. We fell in love with this eccentric world, found adventures within it – and we, too, were deceived.