[3][4] Instant Dreams tells the story of those who eagerly await the rebirth of the classic and recognizable Polaroid photo, and of scientists who are trying to unravel the secrets of the chemical formula.
Besides the main characters there is archival footage of Edwin H. Land, German Cult actor Udo Kier from Stefanie Schneider's Polaroid film "The girl behind the white picket fence" and there is a voice-cameo by documentary director Werner Herzog.
[6] During a Dutch television appearance Baptist confirmed these films influenced him and that he took cues from Close Encounters of the Third Kind for constructing the story.
[9] The documentary was shot in multiple locations: Twentynine Palms, New York City, Berlin, Tokyo, Düsseldorf and at the factory of Polaroid Originals in Enschede on different Arri Alexa camera's at 2K and 4K resolution.
[10] In 2018 Variety reported that Synergetic Distribution, ahead of Instant Dream's New York festival premiere at Doc NYC, acquired the U.S. rights and were planning a 2019 theatrical release.
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, presented the Midwest premiere on Friday, October 19, 2018, and featured an on-site Polaroid portrait studio in the lobby.
Written by composer Marc Lizier, the soundtrack features a blend of retro electronic and orchestral musical pieces.
[22][23][24] Instant Dreams holds a positive overall score on Rotten Tomatoes, rating it ‘fresh’ based on multiple critic reviews.