The Creative High

Presented by Light House Studio in collaboration with the Community Mental Health & Wellness Coalition

The Creative High is a documentary film featuring nine artists in recovery from addiction who are transformed by creativity in their turbulent search for identity and freedom.

Adriana Marchione's documentary, The Creative High created in collaboration with Producer Dianne Griffin, follows nine artists in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction revealing the transformative quality of the creative process, empowering us to wake up to our true selves. Their stories reveal how art has been a ballast while confronting old addictive habits and finding a new “high” through a creative life. Bringing the viewers into the worlds of hip-hop, drag performance, punk music, and featuring artists who create dance, theater, and visual art, The Creative High conveys a message of hope in an ailing world.

Adriana Marchione MA, REAT, RSMT

has been involved in the arts for over thirty years as an award-winning filmmaker, dancer, photographer and is internationally recognized in her work as a movement-based expressive arts therapist and educator. Since 2002, Adriana has mentored thousands of students as faculty member of the renowned Tamalpa Institute, WHEAT Institute in Canada, and through her thriving business ‘Art Cures’ where she coaches clients and teaches courses. She has presented her creative healing approach with a focus on addiction, eating disorders, trauma and grief, at festivals, conferences, and treatment centers including South by Southwest, the National Council on Drug and Alcohol Dependence, and the Commonwealth Club. Over the last decade, she has been moonlighting as a filmmaker, producing two successful documentaries. The first one, When the Fall Comes (2014) was based on her own life story encountering intimate grief and loss. Her latest film, The Creative High (2022), a feature documentary featuring artists in recovery from addiction has screened at film festivals around the world receiving numerous awards. Notably, she has received the Courage Tribute Award in 2023 from Constellational Behavioral Health for empowering the substance use recovery and mental health communities through advocacy, leadership, and courage. www.art-cures.com

Dianne Griffin

an award-winning international filmmaker based in San Francisco, California, offers a unique perspective on the world, deeply influenced by Zen Buddhism and a dedicated recovery practice. Her impactful documentary work has been showcased at prestigious film festivals worldwide and curated series such as MOMA New York, the Lincoln Center, and Harvard Film Archive. With national broadcasts on PBS, theatrical releases, and availability on streaming platforms, her films have reached diverse audiences globally.

Dianne's feature-length documentary portfolio encompasses 'Painted Nails,' chronicling the journey of a Vietnamese salon owner's rise to activism amidst adversity, and 'White Hotel,' a personal documentary shot in Eritrea, where unforeseen choices and risks shape the narrative. Her latest collaboration with Adriana Marchione, 'The Creative High,' delves into the transformative nature of creativity. Actively engaged in the documentary community, Dianne shares her experience by teaching filmmaking, including crowdfunding and social media marketing. With over 25 years of experience, Dianne has served as a juror for the United Nations Film Festival out of Stanford University, evaluating thousands of films. Dianne Griffin's documentaries serve as catalysts for empathy and social change, encouraging audiences to engage with the complexities of the human experience. www.diannegriffin.com

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Light House Studio at Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 West Market Street, Charlottesville, United States