COME OUT AND PLAY: Who is Makinov?

Director in a mask

When programmer Colin Geddes accepted Come Out And Play for Midnight Madness, the only information he had on director Makinov was contained in the bio sent along with the screener copy.

Makinov was born in Belarus. The elusive director refuses to disclose his first and last name. He began his career as a focus puller in Russia, and later travelled to Mexico to study and shoot two documentary films on Huichol shamanism. After what he describes as a near-death experience, he forged a new identity, referring to himself as Makinov. He believes that by punishing the ego through anonymity, he can command the wisdom of being one with nothing. Come Out And Play (12) is his latest feature film.

"Huichol shamanism" probably sticks out for fans of Carlos Castenada and people of the anthropological persuasion.  Peyote is an important tool in Huichol spiritual life and Makinov himself praises the shamanic drug ayahuasca at his Twitter account: https://twitter.com/onegodmakinov.  A bad trip and a near death experience might be a good reason to shift from documentaries to horror.

Makinov is apparently masked while directing his films, so that not even his crew or actors know his identity, making it hard to find any information about him. 

Outside of the fact that the film is booked and is screening on Thursday night, we've gotten no other information about Makinov and searching the internet has proven fruitless. However, we've just been sent this statement from Makinov expounding on his art, the reasons for it and quoting a beloved author.  (Sam Shepard, if Google serves me).




COME OUT AND PLAY screening times:
Thurs., Sept. 13, 11:59PM, RYERSON
Fri., Sept. 14, 3:15PM, CINEPLEX YONGE & DUNDAS 10
Sat., Sept. 15, 6:45PM, SCOTIABANK 11