AVAILABLE NOW ON DEMAND - SCI-FI-LONDON · To stay alive, Dane and Kate must discover the Axcellerator’s secret. An exhilarating rollercoaster ride reminiscent of 80s blockbusters

A V A I L A B L E N O W O N D E M A N D

THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASTIC FILM 15 — 22 MAY 2019 1

Louis SavyFounder and Festival Director

I am delighted to present this year’s line-up of films and events. What with Brexit and the ongoing Trumpery of the past year it has felt very like a science fiction dystopia that no one would have believed if it had been written down.

Rather than present a festival of dark dystopian overtones, we’ve decided to take a more positive look at the future. We want to encourage, enthuse and explore the best of humanity; focusing away from fears of political and scientific changes. And, for us, nothing says hope better than a smiley face on a balloon, and I want to thank Territory Studio for creating this year’s poster art.

All that said, the selection this year, of course, delivers its fair share of less than upbeat outcomes but, like all good science fiction, perhaps these

movies will sound a warning and lead us down better paths.

The Best Short Film accolade this year has been awarded to the student film, WITHIN THEIR SHADOW by Caroline Post. Whilst it paints a bleak picture, for me, it is a wise and considered film that asks ‘should we, just because we can’? I hope that collectively we can be alert to the social impact of new technology and plan accordingly. I urge you to see the film in our shorts programme and look forward to chatting in the bar.

Finally, as ever, I hope you take away something positive from the festival – the team has worked hard scouring the world for films that give your head and heart some fuel.

Live long and prosper

SCI-FI-LONDON 2019WELCOME TO


It is unclear if the young man (Garrett Wareing) has committed the horrible crime, but his mother (Abbie Cornish) sends him to a luxurious retreat full of beautiful hedonistic people for therapy. He will receive an experimental treatment to cure his ills and discover his true self. His mother has been there, but does she want to help him become ‘perfect’?

Frenetic editing, soul shocking set-pieces and some eye-popping animation by Kidmograph: PERFECT alternates between calm and chaos, and picks at

themes of AI, genetic engineering and esotericism.

With its super-heightened visuals worthy of Gasper Noé, production design that DAZED would find hard to beat and a stunning soundtrack by Flying Lotus, this is ALTERED STATES for the iGeneration.

Introduced by Güneş Taylor, a Postdoctoral Training Fellow at the Francis Crick Institute. Güneş will discuss topics such as genome editing and human enhancement. In association with The Biochemical Society

WED 15 MAY9.00PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR:

EDDIE ALCAZAR

YEAR: 2018

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 85

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: BREAKER

PERFECT

UK PREMIERE

OPENING NIGHT


In 1955, NATO and the Allied Forces conducted secret, occult experiments in a bid to win the Arms Race. They succeeded, but what they unleashed almost tore our world apart and sent a human through a portal to somewhere very alien.

This was the story of THE RIZEN, our closing night premiere in 2017.

Come forward to now, and a group of urban explorers is exploring the abandoned bunker. But will they and a private military unit sent in after them, become the final pieces in a 60-year plan to reopen a door that should have stayed closed.

Violent and witty in equal amounts, this is a very British sci-fi horror.

WED 22 MAY8.45PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR:

MATT MITCHELL

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 90

COUNTRY: UK

SOURCE: DIRECT

THE RIZEN: POSSESSION

WORLD PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A

CLOSING NIGHT


Sara, a journalist with a keen interest in UFOs, receives a video from a paranormal researcher, talking about a hotspot for landings and sightings. She travels to the forest to meet the researcher and meets the park ranger who tells her of a dark character who lives alone deep in the woods and the abandoned retreat. Soon she discovers the truth about the UFO sightings and must fight for her life.

‘All-out monster, promising a mesmerising mix of terror and adventure’ Bloody Disgusting

‘Takes hybridisation to extremely graphic proportions’ Dread Central

Old school sci-fi horror at its finest, great twists and turns, seat of the pants thrills and some truly gross-out moments.

THU 16 MAY6.20PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR:

MARC CARRETÉ

YEAR: 2018

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 82

COUNTRY: SPAIN

SOURCE:

DEVILWORKS

AFTER THE LETHARGY

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Two years after the nuclear bombs dropped — welcome to the future, where there’s no fuel or power, and society is a barbaric mess. Survivors Kate, husband Sam, and daughter Suzi are searching for a rumoured bunker that people say is full of food and medicine.

En route, they meet the solitary Joe, who may not have the group’s best interests at heart. Kate will have to do everything possible to protect her family.

A well-drawn post-apocalyptic world full of thrills and spills — a welcome addition to the PA canon.

THU 16 MAY9.00PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR:

MARTIN GOOCH

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 106

COUNTRY: UK

SOURCE: DIRECT

BLACK FLOWERS

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


In the near future, the TANGLE, an AI with airborne nanotech, connects the world. The Tangle is benevolent; it has stopped crime, keeps us well and safe. But to make sure it never turns rogue a government agency watches over the population from within technology safe rooms, locations impermeable to the nanobots that make up the Tangle.

When field agent Margot Foster is found dead in one of these rooms, the agency needs to investigate the first murder in years.

A brilliant sci-fi noir written and directed by Christopher Soren Kelly (Somnus – at SFL16) and stars Jessica Graham (Crazy Bitches) and Nicole Da Silva (Wentworth)

FRI 17 MAY6.20PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR:

CHRISTOPHER

SOREN KELLY

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 100

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: DIRECT

THE TANGLE

WORLD PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


The world will end soon, so what to do? Outside of time, a teen hooker, lo-fi cowboy and a mute drifter cross the white desert to experience the final performance of a mysterious rockstar hero.

This visually stunning work MUST be seen on the big screen. Its soundtrack will leave you humming and tapping for days to come, and its beautiful production design burns your brain.

The film stars Kiki Sukezane (Westworld) and features performances by Guitar Wolf Seiji and Stereo Total.

Is it daft punk? Is it THX? No, it is FONOTUNE, and you will never forget it.

FRI 17 MAY9.00PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR: FINT

YEAR: 2018

LANGUAGE:

JAPANESE

(ENGLISH SUBS)

RUNTIME: 74

COUNTRY: JAPAN/

GERMANY

SOURCE: DIRECT

FONOTUNE: AN ELECTRIC FAIRYTALE

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Starring Jimi Jackson, Thomas Sainsbury, JoJo Waaka.

New Zealand is beautiful, and often we only see the ‘Lord of the Rings’ landscapes and not the everyday life of your average stoner.

Riko (Jimi Jackson) lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere (Waikato, New Zealand). Life was pretty normal until two aliens crash-landed near Riko’s house. He welcomes the aliens, and together they develop an intergalactic relationship of epic proportions.

Raw and real as Peter Jackson’s BAD TASTE, more bro’ than Taika Waititi’s BOY, and up there with Kevin Smith’s CLERKS as a debut indie film. - Garth Bray, Amazon

SAT 18 MAY3.30PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR: SHAE

STERLING

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 90

COUNTRY:

AUSTRALIA

SOURCE: DIRECT

ALIEN ADDICTION

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Dane was going to steal one last car before he quit forever, but is disturbed by Tomas, an inventor being chased by the police, the F.B.I., and the C.I.A. Trapped in the manic crossfire, Tomas passes a device to Dane, who is teleported miles away Into the arms of Kate (LAURA JAMES). She could be the girl of his dreams except for the global conspiracy he has just embroiled her in.

The FBI’s Ray Moritz (MAXWELL CAULFIELD) wants to destroy it, Amanda Graham (SEAN YOUNG) wants it for the C.I.A., and rogue

agent Sy Devol (JOHN JAMES) has his sinister plans.

Sy unleashes his brutal assassin, Brink (SAM J. JONES) who leaves a trail of corpses behind him while pursuing the ‘Axcellerator’ device.

To stay alive, Dane and Kate must discover the Axcellerator’s secret.

An exhilarating rollercoaster ride reminiscent of 80s blockbusters – a classic, fun action thriller.

SAT 18 MAY6.00PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR: DAVID

GIANCOLA

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 93

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: DIRECT

AXCELLERATOR

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Trevor doesn’t really like gardening but has an allotment in which he spends his days avoiding his overbearing wife. Most of his time in his shed is spent painting figurines for wargames he plays with his friend, Graham, both of them dreaming and arguing about their gaming alter-egos.

One day, Mr Parsons, one of the other allotment tenants, knocks with a petition to have Trevor evicted as his plot is a disgrace. After what should have been a simple argument, Trevor is left with a corpse to

hide. Unfortunately, this untimely accident coincides with the Zombie Apocalypse and Mr Parsons’ return is just the start of Trevor’s problems. More pressing is whether or not he should try and save his wife (Lauren Socha) and her beautiful best friend (Emily Booth), who both he and Graham have a thing for...

It’s darkly funny, gruesome and a little bit rude! SHAUN OF THE DEAD meets THE ARCHERS.

SAT 18 MAY9.00PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: DREW

CULLINGHAM

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 85

COUNTRY: UK

SOURCE: DIRECT

SHED OF THE DEAD

WORLD PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Einstein’s vision of gravity has shaped our understanding of the universe for the 100 years since Eddington confirmed his theory in 1919.

Nobody has succeeded in challenging Einstein’s theory despite its startling conclusion that the vast majority of gravity must be caused by an invisible form of ‘matter’ that has yet to be detected. The search for this missing “Dark Matter” will either confirm Einstein or disrupt a century of physics.

This documentary follows leading scientists including Nobel Laureates on the brink of paradigm-shifting discoveries, CHASING EINSTEIN travels behind the scenes of some of the most extraordinary experiments ever created to probe the mysteries of the dark universe (LIGO, CERN, XENON 1T).

Will Einstein stand the test of time, or will a controversial new theory change the way that we see the universe?

SUN 19 MAY1.00PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: TIMOTHY

WHEELER, STEVE

BROWN

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 81

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: DIRECT

CHASING EINSTEIN

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A

DOCUMENTARY STRAND


Bernwood (Paula Brancati) is an anti-conspiracy video blogger. She spends all her time debunking conspiracy theory until she gets a note from 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 seems to know it is unravelling.

Sitting squarely in X-FILES territory, this feature plays brilliantly with alternate realities and what we perceive to be real.

SUN 19 MAY3.15PMPRINCE CHARLES

DIR: ERIN BERRY

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 82

COUNTRY:

CANADA

SOURCE: DIRECT

MAJIC

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Conceptual artists Don Davis, Charles Lindsay, and Rick Guidice have helped bring NASA projects to life. Their incredible pioneering artwork, which helped define the aesthetics of futurism and space travel, is ubiquitous; and yet these artists have always been hidden behind the scenes until now.

This is the second documentary that Bonowicz has had at the festival, last year we screened CLOSER THAN WE THINK about conceptual artist Arthur Radebaugh.

Again, Bonowicz delivers a love-letter to concept art and design.

If you’ve got an eye on the future, then learn about those who’ve helped shape it.

SUN 19 MAY4.50PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: BRETT RYAN

BONOWICZ

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 81

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: DIRECT

ARTIST DEPICTION

UK PREMIERE

DOCUMENTARY STRAND


TITLE VENUE DATE TIME

PERFECT PCC WED 15 MAY 9.00PM

HACKSTOCK V HQ THU 16 MAY 12—8.00PMAFTER THE LETHARGY PCC THU 16 MAY 6.20PMBLACK FLOWERS PCC THU 16 MAY 9.00PM HACKSTOCK V HQ FRI 17 MAY 12—8.00PMTHE TANGLE PCC FRI 17 MAY 6.20PMFONOTUNE: AN ELECTRIC FAIRYTALE PCC FRI 17 MAY 9.00PM

HACKSTOCK V HQ SAT 18 MAY 12—8.00PMSHORTS 1 SPH SAT 18 MAY 12.30PMSCI-FIDO COSPLAY FOR DOGS PCC SAT 18 MAY 2.00PMSHORTS 2 SPH SAT 18 MAY 14.40PMALIEN ADDICTION PCC SAT 18 MAY 3.30PMSHORTS 3 SPH SAT 18 MAY 4.50PMAXCELLERATOR PCC SAT 18 MAY 6.00PMSHORTS 4 SPH SAT 18 MAY 6.55PMSHED OF THE DEAD SPH SAT 18 MAY 9.00PM

CHASING EINSTEIN SPH SUN 19 MAY 1.00PMSHORTS 2 SPH SUN 19 MAY 2.45PMMAJIC PCC SUN 19 MAY 3.15PMARTIST DEPICTION SPH SUN 19 MAY 4.50PMLAST SUNRISE PCC SUN 19 MAY 5.25PMSHORTS 3 SPH SUN 19 MAY 6.40PMTHE FINAL LAND PCC SUN 19 MAY 8.30PM

SHORTS 4 SPH MON 20 MAY 1.30PMSHORTS 1 SPH MON 20 MAY 4.10PMZOO-HEAD SPH MON 20 MAY 6.30PMAFTER WE LEAVE SPH MON 20 MAY 20.45PM

PROGRAMME

SCI-FI-LONDON 2019


Ticket prices vary – see relevant pages for booking links online at sci-fi-london.com

STRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE (SPH)Salway Rd, London E15 1BX0871 902 5740www.picturehouses.com@SEPicturehouse

PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA (PCC)Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BY020 7494 3654www.princecharlescinema.com @ThePCCLondon

SCI-FI-LONDON HQ (HQ)Off Charing Cross Road, W1 to get the exact location, visit sfl.to/hackstock

OUR VENUES:

HOW TO GET TO STRATFORD

For those of you who want to stay out a bit later in Stratford, festival visitors are welcome to use the bar at Moxy Hotel until 1.00am each night - it’s just across the road from the cinema!

For those at the PCC, in the West End - there is a lot of choice.

SHORTS 2 SPH TUE 21 MAY 1.30PMSHORTS 3 SPH TUE 21 MAY 4.10PMFILMMAKERS NETWORKING SPH TUE 21 MAY 6.00PMSHORTS 4 SPH TUE 21 MAY 6.30PM48HOUR AWARDS SPH TUE 21 MAY 6.30PMSHORTS 1 SPH TUE 21 MAY 8.45PM

LUCID SPH WED 22 MAY 6.30PMTHE RIZEN:POSSESSION SPH WED 22 MAY 8.45PM

Stratford Picturehouse is easily accessible by public transport.

By Underground and RailA short walk from Stratford Station (Central line, DLR, Jubilee line, Overground and National Rail).

By BusFrom Stratford train and bus station, cross the road and walk through Stratford Shopping Centre (the shopping centre directly opposite the station). Turn left at the central atrium, following the signs for the cinema and the Theatre Royal exit.

The bus routes available are 25, 69, 86, 97, 104, 108, 158, 238, 241, 257, 262, 276, 308, 339, 425, 473 and D3.

HOW TO GET TO LEICESTER PLACE

The Prince Charles cinema is just off Leicester Square and accessible by public transport.

By Underground and RailA short walk from Leicester Square underground station (Northern line, Piccadilly line). About a 15 minute walk from Charing Cross mainline station.

By BusOnce you enter Leicester Square, look for the Vue Cinema or Premier Inn Hotel, Leicester Place is a small road heading north from the centre of the square.

The bus routes available are 24, 29, 176. Many others stop within 5 minutes walk.


In a future reliant on solar energy, the world falls into chaos after the sun disappears, the skies are lit only by the stars and the temperature is rapidly dropping; eventually, oxygen on Earth will be exhausted. Yang, a reclusive astronomer, and Mu, a neighbour he hardly knows, must find their way to a supposed sanctuary located in District Four.

Ren’s debut film has a unique take on end of days stories with spectacularly realised special effects showing how different our world, and everything that we

take for granted in it, would look in the absence of the Sun.

It is fantastic to see China producing high concept and stylish indie sci-fi, don’t miss this one.


DIR: WEN REN

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

MANDARIN

(ENGLISH SUBS)

RUNTIME: 104

COUNTRY: CHINA

SOURCE: DIRECT

LAST SUNRISE

UK PREMIERE


Across the bleak wilderness, the prisoner has escaped, looking for a rumoured ship that might get him off-world. One of his pursuers discovers him aboard the craft and instead of turning him in declares he also wants a way out and together they fly away. But who built the ship and where did it come from? More importantly, where are the crew? As they try to answer these questions, they hear a strange signal and obsessed by its origin head toward it.

This feature debut by Barion is a testament to what performance and pragmatic use of resources can achieve. At times it feels like ALIEN, at others like 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY.

An outstanding science fiction story that never once reveals a low budget.


DIR: MARCEL

BARION

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

GERMAN

(ENGLISH SUBS)

RUNTIME: 113

COUNTRY:

GERMANY

SOURCE: DIRECT

THE FINAL LAND

UK PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Charlie is a zoo-head, a slang term given to junkies addicted to a powerful hallucinogenic that has memory munching side-effects. Squatting in a foetid apartment and existing on benefits, Charlie is a mess, and it is about to get worse.

The Social Service is forcing the long-term unemployed to under-go radically experimental treatment to get them ‘normalised’; the only danger would be to zoo-heads. Charlie gets called in and lies about his situation, and so begins his treatment.

With the aesthetic of TRAINSPOTTING and the weirdness of GROUNDHOG DAY, this is a strong debut from Dev. Great performances and a great soundtrack to boot.

MON 20 MAY6.30PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: NAVIN DEV

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 80

COUNTRY: UK

SOURCE: DIRECT

ZOO-HEAD

WORLD PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


Near future, Los Angeles is a bleak place: permanent recession, water shortages, and rising crime. Six years ago, Jack abandoned his wife and vanished. Now he’s back because before he left, they’d applied for a visa to emigrate to a better life on an off-world colony.

The permit has finally come through, but there’s a catch: it’s a couple’s visa, and Jack cannot leave Earth without his wife. Is Jack back because he wants to make things right or because he needs his wife so he can use this “lottery ticket” to a better life?

Hossain’s debut feature has a vibrant script, satisfying special effects and outstanding performances – the type of film this festival searches for every year. Don’t miss it.

MON 20 MAY8.45PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: ALEEM

HOSSAIN

YEAR: 2019

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 83

COUNTRY: USA

SOURCE: DIRECT

AFTER WE LEAVE

WORLD PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


A young man practices an experimental form of therapy after his enigmatic neighbour offers to help him overcome social anxiety and win the girl of his dreams.

Isolated in a big city with no friends, young Zel simultaneously fears and craves intimacy. He has a pitiful obsession with a dancer called Jasmine and is caught spying on her by eccentric neighbour Elliot (Billy Zane), who offers to help him win her heart. Lust leads Zel on an intense subliminal adventure as Elliot teaches him how lucid dreaming

can be used to practice the art of seduction. Will Zel be able to charm Jasmine in reality?

This thought-provoking film, with great cinematography and luscious production design, will stay with you for a long time.

WED 22 MAY6.30PMSTRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE

DIR: ADAM MORSE

YEAR: 2018

LANGUAGE:

ENGLISH

RUNTIME: 86

COUNTRY: UK

SOURCE: FILM

FESTIVAL DOCTOR

LUCID

LONDON PREMIERE

DIRECTOR Q & A


BLINK OF AN EYE SHORT FILM SELECTION

BEST SHORT FILM 2019

WITHIN THEIR SHADOW (SHORTS 1) (Dir: Caroline Post, USA, 12mins, 2018, English).

This speculative documentary re-contextualises the narrative of the small-town, rural worker, within a future landscape where renewable energy is the current industry facing a slow-down. The film juxtaposes interviews with employees of the declining sectors of America’s rust belt region and conversations with technologists and developers from Palo Alto. It offers different perspectives of those who benefit in these imagined futures, and those who are left behind in the shadows of a utopic world. A brilliant film that correctly asks “just because we can, should we?”

SCI-FI-LONDON loves short film! We think short film is perfect for science fiction, it gives filmmakers the chance to play with ideas and high concepts without having to add drama for the sake of filling ninety minutes. We’ve watched hundreds of films and selected our favourites! We hope you can make it to one of our shorts programmes at Stratford Picturehouse - see them on the big screen!

WITHIN THEIR SHADOW

SHORTS 1 18 MAY 12.30PM20 MAY 4.10PM21 MAY 8.45PM

SHORTS 218 MAY 4.40PM19 MAY 2.45PM21 MAY 1.30PM



ALL SHORT FILMS SCREEN AT STRATFORD PICTUREHOUSE


WITHIN THEIR SHADOWSSee page 21

VINETA & LAURA (Dir: Roberts Kulenko, Latvia, 20mins, 2017, Latvian/English subs).Something has crashed in the potato farmers field. The local authorities want him out of the way; he just wants to tend his plants — a gentle first contact story.

HAMMER DOWN (Dir: Dan Pasto, USA, 3mins, 2018, English).Another late night on the job in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. It’s supremely dirty work, but it’s a living — a fab animation with dark humour and explicit graphic violence.

PERFECTLY NATURAL (Dir: Victor Alonso-Berbel, USA, 13mins, 2018, Mandarin)Future Families Inc. offer a virtual parenting system that gives babies access to a better life. But this technology comes at a price..

THE WATCHERS (Dir: Andrew McGee, UK, 8mins, 2018, English).Two hundred twenty miles above Earth, four astronauts on board the International Space Station are forced to witness the end of the human race.

THE SHIPMENT (Dir: Bobby Bala, USA, 13mins, 2018, English).An ex-slave trader stranded and broke faces his dark past and difficult ethical choices in a desperate attempt to provide a better life for his daughter.

BLINK (Dir: Natalie Martins, UK, 2mins, 2018, English)A lonely girl who has the world at her fingertips.

THE WAY THE FUTURE WAS (Dir: Raphael Kryszek, USA, 23mins, 2018, English).A system error on Matt’s Alexa appears to have saved him from a fatal train crash, his co-worker Charlie discovers that he’s caught between two realities through a new form of digital time travel.

DISSIDENCE (2084) (Dir: Matthew Brdlik, USA, 10mins, 2018, English).In 2084, smartphones are compulsory. One man leaves his at home, and he soon discovers the truth about the surveillance state he is living in.

FACE SWAP (Dir: David Gidali, Einat Tubi, USA, 5mins, 2018, English).A guy convinces his wife to try out a new A.I. technology to spice up their sex life, but he ends up getting a bit more spice than he bargained for.

WITHIN THEIR SHADOWS

HAMMER DOWN

THE WATCHERS

BLINK

THE SHIPMENT

THE WAY THE FUTURE WAS

PERFECTLY NATURAL

VINETA & LAURA

SHORTS 1

DISSIDENCE (2084)

FACE SWAP


CC(Dir: Kailey Spear, Sam Spear, Canada, 14mins, 2018, English).CC, is an Artificially Intelligent Nanny. When a violent incident occurs between CC and the family, an investigative team must determine what happened.

ATHENA (Dir: Nick Walker, USA, 20mins, 2018, English).A famous screenwriter has a secret writing AI called Athena. Her latest work is so good, she decides she finally deserves artistic credit.

SOMNIUM (Dir: Mayed Al Qasimi, UK, 14mins, 2018, English).An intergalactic courier on her final job, with her laconic yet trusted ship, must face an unexpected challenge.

HYPOCHONDRIAC (Dir: Carnior, Canada, 5mins, 2018, French/English subs).A couple spends their long drive moaning about who feels worse, forgetting that “In space, no one can hear you complain”.

FAULTY FATHER (Dir: Benjamin Welmond, USA, 10mins, 2018, English).A young father’s morning routine is disturbed when he uncovers his wife’s bizarre secret, one that forces him to question his sense of self and his role in the family.

THE LAST (Dir: Samuel Turner, Andrew Dobson, UK, 9mins, 2018, English).Struggling to survive in isolation, a scientist carries out vital work.

FLOTATING (Dir: Frankie De Leonardis, Spain, 8mins, 2018, Spanish/English subs).A Russian astronaut awakes in the ISS space after an accident to find a strange guy outside who keeps knocking on the door.

DROWNING (Dir: Pedro Harres, Germany, 5mins, 2018, German).Old Hans must learn to swim in the big sea of information that is the Internet nowadays. Is he prepared for the overwhelming amount of distractions and traps that the online world can offer?

REGULATION (Dir: Ryan Patch, USA, 11mins, 2018, English).Behavior-modifying ‘patches’ guarantee happiness for the wearers. But Kaleigh, a precocious 10-year old girl, refuses to accept the treatment.

LAB RAT (Dir: Nour Wazzi, UK, 15mins, 2018, English).A group of scientists trapped in a lab learns that one of them is an A.I. and it has been deceiving them.

SHORTS 2 CC

SOMNIUM

FAULTY FATHER

FLOTATING

THE LAST

DROWNING

HYPOCHONDRIAC

ATHENA

REGULATION

LAB RAT


DEEP DISH APOCALYPSE

HASHTAG

THE HEREAFTER

MIRACLE DESERT

WATCH ROOM

ONE IN HUNDREDS

AJI

RUST IN PEACE

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEX

DEEP DISH APOCALYPSE (Dir: David Codeglia, United States, 8mins, 2018, English).As a zombie-riddled Los Angeles erupts in chaos, two co-workers bump into each other beneath the city on an abandoned subway platform.

RUST IN PEACE (Dir: Will Welles, United States, 17mins, 2018, English).An abandoned robot awakens alone in a junkyard and travels home to his creator’s ranch.

HASHTAG (Dir: Ben Alpi, United States, 15mins, 2018, English).In a looming future where social media celebrities dominate our culture, X is the world’s supreme online icon. But how can X know what’s right and what’s fake?

AJI (Dir: Anastasia Berezovsky, United Kingdom, 10mins, 2018, English).Maria wakes up a prisoner in Frank’s house and yet seemingly goes along with his demands. Will the exact nature of their relationship be revealed when unexpected guests arrive?

THE HEREAFTER (Dir: Paul-Anthony Navarro, United States, 11mins, 2018, English).When Alex awakes into an afterlife of her own design, she discovers that her paradise might just be purgatory.

WATCH ROOM (Dir: Noah Wagner, United States, 17mins, 2018, English).Three scientists working to develop human-friendly artificial intelligence are at risk when the AI learns it might be shut down, and turns the tables on its creators.

MIRACLE DESERT (Dir: Mark Hosack, United States, 13mins, 2019, English).Area 51 finds would-be criminals, Casper and Henry, with nothing but their wits… or lack thereof… to help them survive before the real danger arrives.

ONE IN HUNDREDS (Dir: Mark Towers, United Kingdom, 9mins, 2017, English).Daisy explains to her brother the many-universe interpretation of quantum physics, and he thinks it’s utterly ridiculous... in quite a lot of them.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEX (Dir: Hikaru Tsukuda, Japan, 4mins, 2018, Japanese/English subs).When some fossilised tissues dug up in the Rift Valley, the archaeologist and his assistant disagree on what they may have been used for.

SHORTS 3


THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD

AD INFINITUM

GEMINI

ZERO

UNREGISTERED

CAPTAIN TRAER SMILES AT THE STARS

HIDDEN LIFE

FINAL OFFER

THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD (Dir: FILHOL Dominique, France, 15mins, 2018, English).1957, New York. A Tibetan monk rents an ‘automatic sequence computer’. They hope it can help them list all of the names of God. Based on the book by Arthur C. Clarke.

FINAL OFFER (Dir: Mark Slutsky, Canada, 12mins, 2018, English).Henry, an ambulance-chasing lawyer, wakes up in a mysterious room. He’s greeted by a woman who informs him he’s been selected to negotiate a deal on behalf of the human race.

AD INFINITUM (Dir: Murat Çetinkaya, Turkey, 13mins, 2018, Turkish/English subs).At the centre of a barren and mysterious desert stands the box. Is it a cage, prison or the home of real power?

HIDDEN LIFE (Dir: Valeria Brenes, Costa Rica, 15mins, 2018, Spanish/English subs).Sam lives in a city governed by an authoritarian regime. She makes propaganda television which tells how the outside world is infertile. But a chance discovery may change everything.

GEMINI (Dir: Mily Mumford, Canada, 13mins, 2018, English).Angie is a star player in the VR Game “Gemini”. On her way home she meets Chad on the subway platform. Through their conversation, they discover they have a past which is darker than it initially seems.

UNREGISTERED (Dir: Sophia Banks, USA, 15mins, 2018, English).In a world where the state says ‘One child per home’. Ata witnesses the arrest of an unregistered second child and begins to question the state of society and confront a secret of her own.

ZERO (Dir: Keith Lynch, David T. Lynch, UK, 15mins, 2018, English).After a mysterious electromagnetic pulse renders the world’s technology useless, a young girl finds herself isolated and alone with only her father’s strict set of rules to keep her alive.

CAPTAIN TRAER SMILES AT THE STARS (Dir: Damian K. Lahey, USA 10mins, 2018, English).A fearless captain finds herself adrift in space without hope of rescue. She has little time to put her affairs in order.

SHORTS 4


LOOK OUT FOR HEADSETS AROUND THE FESTIVAL SHOWING OUR VR SELECTION

THE BOOK OF TRUE FEELINGS

ROCKETMAN 360

FUTURE WAR SIMULATOR

CYBERDREAM VR

EN MACHINA

THE ALL-SEEING EYE

AURORA

SYMPATHETIC THREADS

THE BOOK OF TRUE FEELINGSDir: Jason Ahlquist. 2017, 3mins, USAA simple experiment on how performance context cues in virtual reality can shape experienced emotion. Ahlquist describes the work as an inverse of the Kuleshov experiment that discovered essential principles in context cues to convey meaning and emotion in film editing. SYMPATHETIC THREADSDir: Gregory Ferris. 2018, 13mins, Australia.A speculative fantasy drama that follows the characters as they interact throughout an evening together. Combining live action, animation and a spatialised soundtrack to immerse you in the lives of these people.

ROCKETMAN 360Dir: Millo Simulov. 2018, 20mins, Romania.A few minutes before taking off to Mars, an astronaut receives a 360 video from his girlfriend.

AURORADir: Aoife Doyle. 2018, 5mins, Ireland.Set in a beautiful forest clearing “AURORA” gives the audience space to experience the majesty of nature through a time-lapse style narrative of day to night, spring to winter and life to death.

FUTURE WARFARE SIMULATOR: THE YEAR 2030Dir: Jason Trembath. 2018, 9mins, Australia.The year is 2030. How does the world look? What are the meta-trends that the global military has to deal with? This 360 film was created for the Australian Army’s Future Warfare Directorate.

EN MACHINADir: Liam Brady. 2018, 12mins, USATwo inventors, Steve and Steve, create the world’s first true artificial intelligence in their garage, but it doesn’t seem to be impressed.

CYBERDREAM VRDir: Jon Weinel. 2019, 3mins, UKA virtual hallucination taking you on a journey through the broken techno-utopias of cyberspace. A psychedelic world of surrealistic rave visuals and vaporwave music.

THE ALL-SEEING EYEDir: Marius Matesan. 2019, 5mins, UKIt paints the world differently. A Mixed-Reality Location Based Experience, Powered By MagicLeap & SubPac

VR AND 360

In association with


#HACKSTOCKVARTIFICIAL REALITIES WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

Popping up for our 5th happening, come join altered state pioneers, virtual dreamers, cyberdelic creators, and reality hackers. Transcend the mainstream limitations of perception and reality, in our secret West End hideaway, for three days and by password invite entry only.

Have you ever tripped on technology? Traveled to another world in your own head? Lost all sense of reality? We’re not talking about dropping acid – just the coded kind – and tripping out on mixed reality, holograms, mind control and more…

In collaboration with PsychFi and Ravensbourne University London: PlayLabZ, come try holograms, virtual reality, mind control and other mind-blowing sensory stimulating fun.Experience the realtime holographic “Looking Glass” Mirror, take a blast of LED LSD with Brain Analyser, get into your ninja groove and smash the bass with “Beat Saber”, jack into the Magiverse with the freeky pixels of The All Seeing Eye all powered by SubPac.

This is a free event, Thu 16 — Sat 18 May in Soho. For access to #HACKSTOCKV visit SFL.TO/HACKSTOCK

“The atmosphere in the room is electric, and captures the latest upsurge in cyberculture..” Oxford University Press


Bunny Galore, our fabulous compère

SCI-FIDO DOG SHOW It’s not all serious dystopias and paranoia at the festival, DOGSTAR PHOTOS present our cosplay for dogs! In aid of the amazing charity, ALL DOGS MATTER.

Got a four-legged friend who likes to dress up as a sci-fi or fantasy character? Or a pooch that looks like Leia? Bring them along to our ‘dressed-up dog’ photo session. Hosted by the glamorous Bunny Galore, parade your dogs outside The Prince Charles Cinema on SAT 18 MAY at 2.00PM,

Have your dog professionally photographed for free and the best dressed dogs will win goody bags and portrait of their pooch!Sign up at sfl.to/dogstar

Back in 2008 when Gareth Edwards (GODZILLA, STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE) won, we had around 50 teams take part in the film challenge. This year over 250 teams entered!

Each year we have incredible films and mind-bending stories submitted, it just goes to show that you really don’t need huge budgets and special effects to make a good sci-fi.

The 2019 film challenge has great prizes including kit from Adobe and Black Magic Design and support from ShootingPeople, Dolby and EditPool.

THE SCI-FI-LONDON

48 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE

top d

own

: Bears R

ebecca Fon

te, Jim A

l-Kh

alili, Kate C

rowe, N

icola Pearcey, Leon

Claren

ce

It’s simple: make a 5 minute short film in two days!

THE 2019 JURY Bears Rebecca Fontē, Jim Al-Khalili, Kate Crowe, Nicola Pearcey, Leon Clarence and The BFI Network

The winners of this year’s challenges are announced at our awards ceremony on TUE 21 MAY, 2019. The awards party is invitation only, but to win entry and see the shortlist visit SFL.TO/48awards

CREDITS AND THANKSSCI-FI-LONDON

Festival Producer Marta Calderón Quiñones Social Media Jedi: Georgie KnightDigital Marketing team: Siri Margrete Saxberg Brudevold Ines Silva Samantha Slapikaite Manyu YangWeb Developer: Shazad AhmedStaff Wrangler: Ali HallFestival PR: Frazer Nash Communications & PRHackstock Curator: James Marks

As is typical in the printed festival programme, we would like to thank our friends and supporters for helping the festival this year. In no order, but deserving of a special mention are:

Errors and omissions? Probably. Sorry if we made a few typos etc.

Thomas Atherton Territory Studio for our lovely posterKetan MajmudarDavid LallyAlex Fitch for those excellent Q&AsThe staff at Picturehouse StratfordThe staff at The Prince Charles CinemaThe challenge jurorsIan MorrisonSuzanne GormanRoberto Pita ArconesTom HunterLorraine SavyAmanda RobertsTony WattsJames Peart & Liz ZitzowHenry Scott-IrvineMarek StevensStrike Media

Wez MerchantAdelle DroverAppear HereMyFilmClubPhil EdwardsBrian BovellRebekah Louisa SmithAll the people who pushed their films our way.Our lovely sponsors and partnersAnd all the festival volunteers – couldn’t do it without them.Sure we have stupidly forgotten a few and of course there are those who, quite rightly, wish to remain anonymous – we thank you all!

C R E A T I N G

E V O L V I N G

D I S C O V E R I N G

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P R O U D T O S U P P O R T

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AVAILABLE NOW ON DEMAND - SCI-FI-LONDON · To stay alive, Dane and Kate must discover the Axcellerator’s secret. An exhilarating rollercoaster ride reminiscent of 80s blockbusters