FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

WEDNESDAY , March 4

FEATURE - PSYCHEDELIC /SCI FI

7pm-9pm

IMPERIAL BLUE-

Hugo Winter, a roguish American drug smuggler, is on a quest for a mysterious African drug called Bulu which gives the user the powers of prophecy. In Uganda, he meets two sisters who can help him find the source of Bulu, but they have competing agendas.

THURSDAY March 5

7- 9pm

SCI-FI SHORTS HUMANITY VS TECHNOLOGY

A POEM IN BAMBU; 2019

Directed by Xufei Wu

US, 5 minutes

1920s,southern China. A young bridegroom is visiting his aunt, who lives alone in the distant mountains. Bamboo grows everywhere like an ocean. The mansion is beautiful, and his aunt seems kind. Still, there is that locked room in the attic and that strange noise

AMERICAN QUARTET; 2019

Directed by Jesca Prudencio

Produced by Adam Grannick

US, 9 min

In a 2030s small town bitterly divided over who belongs, a young Muslim-American woman puts herself at risk when she shares her private, digitized memories with strangers, challenging the status quo in the hope that empathy will triumph over hate.

ELI; 2019

Directed by Nathaniel Milton

US, 15 minutes

A 15 year old musician believes he has an extra-terrestrial implant in his ear. This is a true story based on the filmmaker’s experiences within the realms of High Strangeness, Magical Thinking and Manic Delusion.

HELLO WORLD; 2019

Directed by: Nathan Hong Fisher

Produced by: Kristy Richman

US, 12 minutes

A near future love story: Hello, World is about the trial a couple will go through to hold into one another. Gayle and Bennett are at the end of their lives and make the decision to try and continue their existence together through technology.

THE MEMORY UNIT; 2019

Directed by Tim Hall

US, 15 min.

Unusual events surround the hospitalization of a father with Alzheimer’s disease

SOLSTICE; 2019

Directed by Lisandro Perez-Rey

Produced By Lisandro Perez-Rey, Cynthia Barrera and Laura Sweeney

US, 15 min.

During a brutal Winter storm, a bartender befriends a homeless man and brings him home for a warm meal and an ancient ritual.

VIVIR; 2019

Directed by Lewis Rapkin

US, 3 minutes

In the not so distant future, Earth has become infertile and the struggle to grow food off-planet takes an unsuspecting turn when a scientist makes a peculiar discovery.

INSIGHT; 2019

Directed by Jon K. Jones

US, 12 minutes

Suspecting infidelity, an anxious wife uses simulation technology to practice safely confronting her husband in real life.

UNIFIED THEORY, 2019

Directed.by Christina Hibner

US, 5 min.

Unified Theory is an experimental animation that follows two cosmic entities. The main character, Junior, is trying her best to learn about the nature of the universe from her teacher, Senior, who is a master of the universe. Junior experiences moments of enlightenment that transform the way she sees the world, literally opening her eyes to things she could not imagine.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6,

5-7PM

SCI-FI HORROR AND THE SUPERNATURAL

GOOD HEAD; 2019

Directed by Izzy Ezagui

US, 8 minutes

Otto awakens in a strange room to discover he’s immobilized. His fellow prisoner, Rubin, teases him mercilessly until he panics and short-circuits the collar keeping him conscious. The alarm sounds, drawing the wrath of their true tormentor.

STALAG 3C; 2019

Directed by Jason Rogan

Belarus, 12 minutes

In the final days of World War II, US paratrooper Joe Boyd leads a daring escape from a Nazi POW camp, only to face a more horrifying evil beyond the prison walls.

TOMORROW MIGHT BE THE DAY; 2018

Directed by Josefa Celestin

Scotland, 20 minutes

A fanatic subjects his niece, whose faith wavers, to a baptism, in order to restore her faith and ultimately save her from an impending doomsday flood.

THE WOUND; 2018

Directed by Chris Levitus

US, 7 minutes

A man wakes up bleeding from the chest strange things happen next.

INTERMINABLE; 2019 -trailer

Directed by Aaron Huisenfeldt

US, 1 min.

The conglomerate Iridian is hacking minds using an optical implant device used to channel the internet straight to the brain. A rebellion, led by the daughter of Iridian's CEO, must stop the worldwide mind hack by their program, called IRIS.

THE LAST WELL; 2018

Directed by Filip Filković

Croatia, 20 minutes

The Year is 2037, Europe is in shambles. Owner of the last well with natural clean water lives in Croatia. After one of his sales of clean drinking water ends in bloodbath, he becomes a substitute father and a husband. But when the well dries out, he makes one last "trade"

CONCESSION; 2019

Directed by Paul Odgren

US, 6 min

Steph's had enough- it's a school night after all- until Michael touches her forehead and conjures a series of images that are impossible to explain. He forces her to confront the question: should she trust him and believe this outrageous claim that he can see other people's thoughts? Or should she listen to her gut, call him crazy and never look back

OBSOLETE MODEL; 2019

Directed by Warren DiFranco Hsu

US, 12 minutes

A sentient artificial intelligence awakens to a world in dystopian ruin and charges two androids, INJUN and ISEE to seek a model-borg named SARA.H, who can save it by altering her past

INCANDESCENT; 2019

Directed by Alfred Thomas Catalfo

US, 15 minute

When a nomadic alien race blots out the sun, an anguished young teacher tries to hold on to her humanity in a withering world

SATURDAY, March 7,

2-4 pm

A DOCUMENTARY PRESENTATION:

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME TRAVEL, 2018

Directed by Gisela Bustillos

US, 68 minutes

A Brief History of Time Travel- There's one thing that Star Trek and Dr. Who fandoms have in common: time travel! This documentary takes you on a journey through the evolution of time travel, from its origins and influence in science fiction to the exciting possibilities technology could yet uncover

Gisela and Dr. Ronald Mallet will be attending the screening and Q&A.

SATURDAY, March 7

4-6 PM

BEST OF PHILIP K Dick SHORTS

RYOKO'S QUBIT SUMMER; 2018

Directed by Yuichi KONDO

Japan, 17 minutes

Quantum butterflies with Qubit wings, The same technology was used to create KANUMA, an experimental world of Artificial Intelligence inside a quantum computer. Then one day, AIs began using words unknown to man. Scientists saw this as a threat and decided to "delete" KANUMA

BEYOND THE DOOR; 2018

Directed by Hekla Egilsdottir

Iceland, 13 minutes

A stagnant young couple, named Noi and Irma, are dealing with Irma’s depression. Noi buys Irma a cuckoo clock, reminiscent. Irma’s monotonous, stay-at-home life takes a sudden turn with the introduction of her newfound friend, the cuckoo.

Based on a short story by Philip K.Dick.

NECTAR; 2019

Directed by Anthony Zwartouw

Producers Alexandra Greene & Anthony Zwartouw

Canada, 20 min

A man lives out his days on a desert island prison of his own making, slave to the nectar fruit, surveyed by the parasitical guard, when he is awoken by the deep traumas of his past that he can no longer suppress.

AFTER RAY; 2019 US Premiere

Directed by Nathasha Halevi

Producer: Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Gilmore Girls)

US, 12 minutes

In the aftermath of the singularity, Cole, the first “modified” human, struggles with memory loss, indicating an unstable future for humans and potential end to humanity.

WIDE AWAKE IN BRIDGEWATER; 2020

Directed by Erik Lee

Producer: Erik Lee

Executive Producers Erik Lee and Mark Lynch

US, 15 min

In 1968, 18 year old Michael Gates and Monica Dupré are enjoying an afternoon in the countryside when she disappears. 51 years later, elderly Michael starts receiving phone messages from her, and we discover what happened that fateful day.

QTR; 2019

Directed by Pat Bird

US, 1 min

A classic mental exercise from Robert Anton Wilson's "Prometheus Rising". US

CIRCADIA; 2019

Directed by Jacob Murray

US, 5 minutes

Your attention is no longer yours. For the next four minutes, it belongs to her. She calls for liberation. She calls for you to snap out of the spell. Can you hear her? Will you demand silence?

Director Jacob Murray will be attending the screening for Q&A

HASHTAG; 2019

Directed by Ben Alpi

Writer Kevin Rubio

Producer Jyotika Virman

US, 15 min.

In a looming future where social media celebrities dominate our culture, X is the world’s supreme online icon— but how far will she go to hold on to her popularity?

Note: The Q@A will take place at the Fox Amphitheater next to the Bartos Theater

SUNDAY, March 8

2-4 PM

INTERNATIONAL SCI FI SHORTS

OUTER WEST; 2019 - Trailer

Directed by Jake Leister

US, 2 min

West coast pace prompts a travel nurse to accept a job in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Looking for the capital city's postcard artistry and ease, he is instead greeted by another, entirely unexpected world... Outer West.

SIL AND THE DEVIL SEEDS OF ARODOR ; 2019

Directed by Keith Barnfather

UK, 25 minutes

A web series based on concepts from the BBC-TV series Doctor Who. SIL is worried, very worried, which doesn’t keep his reptilian skin in the best condition! Confined in a cold detention cell on the moon, awaiting a deportation hearing for trial on drugs offences on Earth, he faces a death sentence if the application is successful and he is found guilty.

EVA -A CRISPR STORY

Directed by Puneet Bharill

Germany, 22 minutes

Puneet and Isabel’s research has achieved a clinical milestone using CRISPR technology to transplant a genetically modified pig liver into a human. This is just the beginning though and Isabel is on the cusp of perfecting CRISPR How far will Isabel go in her pursuit?

THOSE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS; 2019

Directed by Vasily Chuprina

Russia, 14 minutes

"Those beautiful moments" tells the story of a scientist on the search for eternal beauty and life.

NAMELESS; 2019

Directed by Luca Nistler

Italy, 2 minutes

A child-robot talks about her dream to her mother. A dream taking place in a film

MEMORY MAN; 2019

Directed by Christopher Armstrong

UK, 12 min

In a future where psychic abilities are outlawed, the Memory Man makes a living dealing with uncomfortable memories for other people. Until the arrival of a hostile new client, finally forces him to confront unfinished business of his own.

JUMP; 2018

Directed by Josh Mawer

Australia, 12 minutes

George is all elbows when it comes to talking to Amy. But his time-travelling dating coach knows that persistence makes perfect...probably.

LOVE BITE; 2019

Director Charles de Lauzirika

US, 15 minutes

Taking refuge in an abandoned cargo truck during the Zombie Apocalypse, a dysfunctional couple (and their dog) find their lives on the line when they make a deadly bet over how the undead virus spreads.

Charles was the Producer on BLADE RUNNER -FINAL CUT RESTORATION and the director / producer of DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER.

HELIOCENTRIC, 2019

Directed by Mike McGraw

US, 4 minutes Boxer, Verve,

Campbell and Herman teach Naomi Money that the Sun revolves around the Earth, foiling her quasi-evil plan, and schooling her about Ptolemy, Galileo and Copernicus in the process.

Note: The Q@A will take place at the Fox Amphitheater next to the Bartos Theater

SUNDAY March 8

4.30PM- 6 PM

FEATURE PRESENTATION

ANYA; 2019

Directed by Carylanna Taylor & Jacob Akira Okada

US, 80 minutes

ANYA is a contemporary sci-fi love story about newlyweds whose seemingly simple decision to have a baby catapults them to the center of an explosive genetics mystery with far-reaching consequences for their child and the future of humanity.

Directors Carylanna and Jacob will be present to introduce Anya and

NYU developmental biologist Yelena Bernadskaya will also be on hand to participate in the Q&A.

Note: The Q@A will take place at the Fox Amphitheater next to the Bartos Theater

SUNDAY March 8

630-830 PM

FEATURE PRESENTATION 2

M.A.J.I.C. ; 2019

Directed by Erin Berry

Writers Erin Berry & David Pluscauskas

US, 82 minutes

Set in Washington, DC on the eve of the 2008 presidential election, "majic" tells the story of Bernwood, an anti-conspiracy video blogger who meets with an old man claiming to have worked for the legendary Majestic-12 (aka majic), a secret US spy agency, created after the UFO incident at Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. So begins her trip down the rabbit hole looking for answers as reality as she knows it, or knew it, begins to unravel. majic stars Paula Brancati as Bernwood (Workin' Moms, Netflix’s Slasher), as well as Richard Fitzpatrick (Good Will Hunting, Boondock Saints), Michael Seater (Life With Derek) and Paulino Nunes (The Expanse)

Erin is a producer/writer/director who resides in Toronto, Canada. In addition to majic he has most recently line produced the last two seasons of "Slasher" for Netflix.

Director Erin Berry, lead actress Paula Brancati and co-writer/producer David Pluscauskas will be attending the screening and Q&A.

Sunday, March 8

8-9 PM

AWARDS CEREMONY FOR FILMS AND SCREENPLAYS