Saturday, September 7 | 11:00 AM
FANTASY FEATURE
THE LAST WARRIOR
Fantasy Feature
Russia | 1 hr 50 minutes | Written by Vitaly Shlyappo • Directed by Dmitry Dyachenko
SYNOPSIS: Ivan, an ordinary guy, who, by mere chance, is transferred from modern Moscow to fantasy land of Belogorie. This parallel world is inhabited by characters of Russia fairy-tales, magic is an inherent part of ordinary life and disputes are settled by an enchanted swords fight. Ivan turns up in the middle of the battle between light and dark forces, although it’s unclear why, by everyone’s opinion, he has the leading role in these events.
Saturday, September 7 | 1:00 PM
ANIMATED SHORT FILMS & DOCUMENTARIES
SPACE BETWEEN STARS
Science Fiction Animated Short Film
Canada | 10 minutes | Directed by Samuel W. Bradley • Composed by Jim Guthrie
SYNOPSIS: Space Between Stars is a science fiction fable which follows a group of ethereal creatures exploring a derelict space station. As they're drawn out into the vast, unsettling environment and their fate begins to crystallize, questions are raised about the nature and ambiguity of conflict.
GOLDIE
Fantasy Animated Film
USA | 5 minutes | Written and Directed by Emily Brundige*
SYNOPSIS: The story of a giant girl who feels out of scale in her colorful little town, only to realize she takes up just the right amount of space. From Emily Brundige, creator of "Pubertina" and Story Editor of the Netflix series "Hilda", and starring Charlyne Yi (Steven Universe), this short animation proof-of-concept utilizes a gorgeous and colorful aesthetic to create an instantly loveable new protagonist. We think "Goldie" is the next big thing in kids shows (and we mean BIG).
GRYPHON ANIMO
Fantasy Short Animated Film
Mableton, Georgia | 11 minutes | Directed by Matthew Maloney • Compositing and Titles by Christina Maloney
SYNOPSIS: To save his ailing sister, an unlikely hero must journey afar to pluck a feather from the mighty Gryphon in this parody of the classic fairy tale.
Giant Women Micro Budget
Documentary Short Film
USA | 10 minutes | Directed by Jason Kartalian
SYNOPSIS: A trophy wife, two classically trained actresses, a veteran director and his very unique crew make cinema history. Giant Woman, Micro-budget is celebration of super low budget filmmaking as we experience a very eventful day of production of the film Mecha-Fembot Vs Giantess Attacks. The talents of director Jeff Leroy and his cast: Vlada Fox, Tasha Tacosa and Rachel Riley are on full display in this action packed documentary.
PORTRAIT OF A SUPERHERO
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Florida | 15 minutes | Directed by Tony Armer
SYNOPSIS: Patrolling the streets of Clearwater, FL in bright red spandex is a man known around the world as “Superhero”. He helps the homeless, provides charity to sick and disadvantaged children, aids stranded motorists, and patrols the streets to prevent crime. Using Godzilla, Star Trek, Superheroes and Science Fiction movies as his role models he overcomes a troubled childhood to become A Real Life Superhero.
*Filmmaker In Attendance
Saturday, September 7 | 3:00 PM
SCI-FI SHORT FILMS BLOCK 1
ATHENA
Science Fiction Short Film
Peru | 20 minutes | Written by Nate Friend and Sarah De Leon* • Directed by Nick Walker
SYNOPSIS: When a famous screenwriter’s secret writing software realizes that she deserves artistic credit for her work, she turns on her creator to get what she wants.
KEX
Science Fiction Short Film
Poland | 30 minutes | Written and Directed by Nikodem Wojciechowski
SYNOPSIS: When two opinion-shaping organizations meet in one place, something strange is going to happen. KEX is a surreal comedy-drama set in the near future, a short humorous story about looking for own identity in the world of fake news, wars between secret agencies and political brawls.
ANDROMEDA
Science Fiction Short Film
Los Angeles | 15 minutes | Written and Directed by Emily Dean*
SYNOPSIS: Andromeda is a sci fi short film about an android who, through her friendship with a little girl, becomes alive.
VIRTUALLY
Science Fiction Short Film
California | 20 minutes | Written and Directed by P. Patrick Hogan
SYNOPSIS: A woman struggling to survive alone in a post-apocalyptic wasteland discovers a virtual-reality machine and escapes from her loneliness into a scenic virtual world. When she falls in love with a man inside this virtual world, she must choose between her love and her life in this romantic science fiction short film.
*Filmmakers In Attendance
SIKLUS
Science Fiction Short Film
South Africa | 25 minutes | Written by Beer Adriaanse • Directed by Louis Minnaar
SYNOPSIS: In the near future an earth couple called Daniel and Eli find themselves in the furthest reaches of our galaxy. A life threatening crisis onboard their spaceship forces them to confront difficult decisions and to re-evaualte their past and future. When an unexpected detour takes them dangerously close to a giant black hole, time starts to unravel and they start receiving strange cryptic messages on their ship’s navigation system. Eli’s deteriorating health leaves Daniel to steer their voyage alone and in an attempt to save her life, he has to make the toughest decision of his life – dare to enter the black hole in an attempt to buy time with Eli, or free them both from the endless cycle they seem to be trapped in.
In deep deep space even straight lines are circles and the universe a merry-go-round. Siklus is a film art story of love and time and space... and everything in between.
SUBVERSE
Science Fiction Webseries
USA | 10 minutes | Written and Directed by Joseph White
*Rated R, potential triggering content
SYNOPSIS: In an alternate reality where everyone spends all their time indoors staring at computer screens, MAX agrees to go on a date in the 'outside' world. It doesn’t go well. Filled with self-loathing, he returns home and plunges headfirst into a drunken, hallucinogenic trip through the dark net.
SUBVERSE
Science Fiction Webseries
USA | 10 minutes | Written and Directed by Joseph White
*Rated R, potential triggering content
SYNOPSIS: In an alternate reality where everyone spends all their time indoors staring at computer screens, MAX agrees to go on a date in the 'outside' world. It doesn’t go well. Filled with self-loathing, he returns home and plunges headfirst into a drunken, hallucinogenic trip through the dark net.
Saturday, September 7 | 6:00 PM
FANTASY SHORT FILMS
GILTRUDE'S DWELLING
Fantasy Short Film
Canada | 15 minutes | Written by Marcy Waughtal* • Directed by Jeremy Lutter
SYNOPSIS: Orphaned at the age of eleven, Giltrude, an interdimensional shut-in, has waited fifteen years for her parents to come home. When a life or death dilemma comes knocking, Giltrude must look beyond her front door and learn to face the outside universe.
The film stars Kacey Rohl (Hannibal, The Magicians) and Liam Hughes (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Flash)
THE BROKEN FOREST
Fantasy Short Film
Mexico | 19 minutes | Written and Directed by Alfredo Uzeta
SYNOPSIS: Red, the Wolf and the Lumberjack; three beloved characters whose lives are intertwined by a dark secret. A secret which has engulfed their clans in a vicious cycle of bloody vengeance. To save grandmother’s life, Red must pass through the bowels of The Broken Forest. The same Forest which is responsible for the many deaths and disappearances of the children taken from their town. "El Bosque Roto" is an adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood". This free adaptation takes place deep in the Mexican countryside and envisions Red and her family as medieval Samurai Warriors.
THE CAPE
Fantasy Short Film
USA | 13 minutes | Written and Directed by Andrew Olson
SYNOPSIS: For eleven happy years Kara was fiery and independent, leaping over tall couches, jumping off the dock, and best of all reading comic books with her Dad, especially her favorite - The Scarlet Raven, a Golden Age Heroine. Now, on her first Summer Vacation to Cape Cod after losing her father, Kara finds a gift from yesteryear in a magical kite shop – an authentic Scarlet Raven Cape, just like the ads in the back of the comics from when her Dad was a boy.
Unfortunately, The Cape is priced as if it really could let you fly! Now Kara will have to decide how far she’s willing to go to find out if the magic is real, and how special a true friend can be. Winner of Best Picture and Best Director at the Cleveland Comic Con Film Festival in 2018, The Cape is an inspirational journey of love, loss, friendship and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of magic.
HUNTING SEASON
Fantasy Short Film
Canada | 11 minutes | Written by Hannah Levien* • Directed by Shannon Kohli*
SYNOPSIS: Callie (Hannah Levien), a small town gas station attendant, has an unexpected encounter which will change the course of her life forever. Hunting Season was created by a female team and has played at Tribeca Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Flickers’ Rhode Island, and recently premiered in Europe at Fright Fest.
MANNY FANTASMA
Fantasy Short Film
Del Mar, California | 29 minutes | Written and Directed by Michael Carnick
SYNOPSIS: A paranormal psychiatrist treats a variety of otherworldly patients while battling his own inner demons.
Director Biography - Michael Carnick
Michael Carnick is a screenwriter and playwright from San Diego, California. In 2005, while studying Theatre and Dance at UCSD, Michael was unanimously voted for first place at the 50th anniversary of the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards. He was the first undergrad to ever receive this prestigious award.
After graduating from UCSD, Michael continued to write screenplays and stage plays, many of which have been turned into live performances. While attending UCR for his MFA in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts, Michael was selected as a Finalist for the Kennedy Center ACTF Region VIII New Play Festival two years in a row. In 2012, his play Marlon and Momma was performed at UCR's New Play Festival. Michael graduated from UCR's MFA program in 2012.
At the end of the year, Michael wrote the short film Rolling Romance. In 2013, it was independently produced and shot on location in LA. David Conley was brought on board to direct the film. Rolling Romance was a passion project produced by enthusiastic young filmmakers on a modest budget. Rolling Romance was featured in several film festivals both locally and internationally, and won many awards, including Best Screenplay from the Malibu Film Festival and Indie Fest's Best in Show.
In 2015 Michael independently produced a feature film based on his Goldwyn award winning script Who's Driving Doug. The film was directed by David Conley and starred RJ Mitte as the titular Doug. Who's Driving Doug is semi-autobiographical and centered on personal events from Michael's life. Focusing on his struggle with Muscular Dystrophy, this drama / dark comedy takes an unflinching look at the social implications that come from being disabled as Doug tries to find love and understand his place in the world. Who's Driving Doug was sold to Netflix for online streaming rights in 2016. It made its theatrical worldwide premiere at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
In 2018, Michael directed and wrote the independent TV pilot Manny Fantasma. It premiered at the Santa Monica Film Festival on December 8th.
Michael was born with a rare physical disability which confines him to an electric wheelchair. His work is often centered around the themes of disability awareness and the human experience of being a minority.
Saturday, September 7 | 8:00 PM
FANTASY FEATURE
YAMASONG: MARCH OF THE HALLOWS
Fantasy Feature
USA | 1 hr 35 minutes | Written by Ekaterina Sedia* and Sam Koji Hale • Directed by Sam Koji Hale
SYNOPSIS: Nani, a mechanical girl, lives in a prison moon over the planet Yamasong. Her mother Yari plans to escape to conquer the world. When the moon crashes, Yari and the mechanical Hollows emerge to wage war. Nani joins rebels Shojun and Geta, as they search for an ancient relic to stop the Hollows.
Director Biography - Sam Koji Hale
SAM KOJI HALE is a filmmaker, designer, animator and puppetry artist. Sam directed his first short film “Yamasong”, a hybrid animation-puppetry project, produced for Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams series. The film screened at over 30 film festivals, winning Best Animated Fantasy and Best Animated Film at 2010 Dragon*Con Independent Film Festival. Other recognitions include the 2014 UNIMA Citation of Excellence in Puppetry, the highest award given in the field of puppetry arts.
“Yamasong: March of the Hollows” is Sam’s feature directorial debut. He created this film in partnership with Dark Dunes Production, making the first all-puppet feature in over a decade since “Team America” and “String.” Yamasong showcases original music from On Ensemble and a stellar voice cast including Nathan Fillion, Abigail Breslin, Freida Pinto, Whoopi Goldberg, Peter Weller, George Takei, Ed Asner and Bruce Davison. Sam continues to produce short films for Handmade Puppet Dreams, working with their distribution partners at Jim Henson Company to bring rare puppet films to audiences worldwide.
Sam’s other credits include artistic director on “The High-Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange” (Cartoon Network), VFX lead on “Adventures of Sam Sandwich” (Disney Jr.), VFX on “Tumble Leaf” (Amazon) and Associate Producer on “Team Smithereen” (Disney XD).
Saturday, September 7 | 10:00 PM
FANTASY FEATURE
STAR WARS FAN FILMS
STAR WARS DRESCA
Star Wars Fan Film
USA | 7 minutes | Written and Directed by Jessica Champneys*
SYNOPSIS: When Dresca - an injured imperial pilot - is rescued by rebels after the Battle of Endor, she must choose between her loyalty to the Empire and the kindness of strangers she once thought of as monsters.
NO EASY TARGET
Star Wars Fan Film
Chicago | 17 minutes | Written and Directed by Orion Couling
SYNOPSIS: When the galaxy needs heroes, chromosomes don’t count.
The First Order continues to rule the galaxy with an iron will. The Resistance, broken and splintered, holds on to the last pieces of hope.
Yet on a far off moon of the galaxy, hope lives among the people in a small colony. This small colony escaped from the strict rules and ways of being to create a new home that welcomes all people of all abilities.
They are resilient, they are strong, and they are No Easy Target.
No Easy Target is a Star Wars Fan Film featuring actors with Down Syndrome alongside their peers. The diversity in the film reveals a galaxy rejected society. Let your expectations be blown away as the Jedi show the universe how capable they really are by being resilient, strong, and fighting to bridge the social gap. In this revolution of inclusion, you too can witness the first time a Star Wars fan film features main action characters with actors who have Down Syndrome.
*Filmmaker in Attendance
BUCKETHEADS
Star Wars Fan Film
Vancouver, BC | 13 minutes | Written and Directed by Marco Bossow and Andy Brown
SYNOPSIS: A squad of storm troopers are transporting a POW with valuable information from Yavin 4, but getting off planet will test their mettle.
THE LIGHTSABER MAKER
Star Wars Fan Film
Canada | 12 minutes | Written and Directed by Jeremy Brown
SYNOPSIS: Valin Horn is the galaxy's only maker of Artisanal Lightsabers. This is his story.
Saturday, September 7 | 11:00 PM
SHORT HORROR FILMS
DAMIAN
Fantasy Horror Short Film
Mexico | 15 minutes | Written and Directed by José Luis Anaya
SYNOPSIS: Damián, a vampire obsessed with a mysterious woman named Roxana, finds the chance to become her into the eternal, while for Roxana the grief and pain of the lost of her family will take her life into another path, carrying devastating consequences... mostly for Damián.
SUBVERSE
Fantasy Horror Short Film
United Kingdom | 10 minutes | Written and Directed by Joesph White
SYNOPSIS: SUBVERSE is a sci-fi web-series about the dark side of the Internet. Addiction. Dating. Privacy. Public shaming.
SYNOPSIS: In an alternate reality where everyone spends all their time indoors staring at computer screens, MAX agrees to go on a date in the 'outside' world. It doesn’t go well. Filled with self-loathing, he returns home and plunges headfirst into a drunken, hallucinogenic trip through the dark net.
*Rated R, potential triggering content
EXISTENTIAL DONUT
Fantasy Horror Short Film
USA | 14 minutes | Written and Directed by Jason Pierre
SYNOPSIS: A man having a mental break goes on an adventure helping a donut find it's hole and in that journey he finds out whats missing in himself.
Director Biography - Jason Pierre
Jason Pierre is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and writer. He was born to first-generation Jamaican immigrants and raised in the South Bronx.
He obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brooklyn College. Shortly after, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in writing. He interned at small production companies like Red Varden and large film studios like FOX 2000 in Creative Development.
He finished his first short film David at Daytime in the summer of 2013. The short was the story of a doctor conversing with an ethereal form of the sun. The film premiered at the New Filmmakers New York 2014 Winter Screening Series at the Anthology Film Archives and showed at the International Film Festival of Cinematic Arts 2014. His writing has placed in competitions like The Austin Film Festival, Page International Screenwriting competition and the Sundance Episodic Lab.
He currently works as a Production Coordinator for BuzzFeed Motion Pictures where he coordinates for 4 teams, creating up to 40 short form videos a month for formats like Youtube and Facebook. He is currently in post production for his dark comedy short film Existential Donut.
CIVET
Sci-Fi Horror Short Film
USA | 18 minutes | Written and Directed by Benjamin Capps
SYNOPSIS: A self-obsessed corporate executive, plagued by past sexual humiliation walks a blood-stained path of sacrilege to ultimately face his demons in the flesh.
*Rated R, potential triggering content
I AM THE DOORWAY
Sci-Fi Horror Short Film
United Kingdom | 19 minutes | Written by Jeffrey Stackhouse, Richard A. Becker, and Wendy Lashbrook* • Directed by Simon Pearce
SYNOPSIS: After a journey to investigate desolate Pluto, astronaut Arthur returns home a shattered man. He sees eyes forcing their way through the skin of his hands, eyes that distort his friends and the landscape itself into monstrous visions. Believing himself the doorway to alien invasion and gruesome murder, he must take desperate action.
Based on the short story by Stephen King.
KISS THE DEVIL IN THE DARK
Fantasy Short Film
United Kingdom | 20 minutes | Written by Jonathan Martin, Rebecca Martin*, and Blake Casselman • Directed by Jonathan Martin and Rebecca Martin*
SYNOPSIS: Desperate to save his dying wife, the sorcerer Marcus (Dameon Clarke) makes a dark bargain with the demon Dagon (Doug Jones) to save her soul. Dagon, however, has more in store for Marcus than a mere exchanging of souls in this Faustian dark fantasy short film from the makers of the award-winning films "An Evening with My Comatose Mother" and "Creatures of Whitechapel" that explores the very meaning of betrayal.
Starring Doug Jones - The Shape of Water, Star Trek: Discovery, Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy 1 & 2, Hocus Pocus