So I Guess… Epizode Festival Is Happening For Real This Time?

If you’ve been following the scandalous, popcorn-worthy Epizode drama these past few weeks, you’ll know that it’s been quite the wild goose chase. Many social media users were left confused after a back-and-forth, finger-pointing exchange between two sources who claimed to be the official organiser of Epizode, the renowned, star-studded festival on Phu Quoc Island that’s essentially a notorious, dozen-day bender. Like a bizarre Scooby-Doo mystery, everyone was trying to figure out who the real Epizode really was.

The confusion stemmed from the emergence of a new set of social media channels that unveiled a clearly rebranded Epizode, now called EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE. This, however, was contested by the pre-existing social channels of Epizode, accusing the former of fraud. What happened over the following weeks were ugly, blasted announcements from both parties, trying to discredit its doppelganger while proving its claim as the true Epizode.

The baffling fiasco then began to reveal some clarity when industry figures and roster alumni started chipping in and expressing their stance with the new EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE. Through these views, sentiments for the authenticity of EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE grew on social media. More recently, EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE even announced its first-wave lineup of the 2021 edition, with crowd-pulling big draws like Ricardo Villalobos, Loco Dice, Goldie and Deborah De Luca. On my end, I can also verify that the press team of EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE had sent over this update in an official media statement dated 30 June 2020.

Of course, time will tell if the festival actually happens, considering the fact that the pre-existing organisation has publicly declared they are working with law enforcement and legal authorities (this statement was made on 12 June 2020) to resolve this issue. Not to mention, most foreigners are still not allowed to enter Vietnam during this COVID-afflicted time, so the decisions of many punters to attend the festival on 29 December 2020 are still up in the air. With uncertainty from both the travel situation and this ongoing Epizode kerfuffle, I think everyone has a right to be hesitant. 

I just hope that EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE is the real deal and that it’s not one arduous setup designed to bamboozle. In an industry already damaged so badly, the last thing we need is another blemish in its integrity.

If you’re keen on finding out more about EPIZODE5: EPILOGUE, make sure you follow its official website, Facebook page and Instagram account. All images by Mira Morozova, Dmitry Chuntul, Alexey Pavlenko, Anton Ogarev, Yana Ross, and Victor Scheffer. You can read our Epizode festival review feature to see what all the fuss is about.