By Travis Johnson
Luke Scott’s steely, speculative thriller, Morgan, will close out the 2016 Sci-Fi Film Festival. Starring Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rose Leslie, Paul Giamatti, Toby Jones, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Michelle Yeoh, Morgan is a chilly, provocative, cerebral combination of science fiction and horror that proves that fist time feature director, Scott, has the same genre chops as his famous father, Sir Ridley Scott.
Also just announced is a special 2K remastered screening of director Nicholas Meyer’s cut of the immortal Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Long acknowledged as the best of all the Star Trek films, Wrath of Khan reinvigorated the moribund franchise and is arguably the key work responsible for the continued popularity of the Star Trek brand today. In a nice bit of synchronicity, Star Trek II screens immediately after For the Love of Spock, Adam Nimoy’s touching documentary about the life and influence of his late father Leonard, better known as Star Trek’s Mr Spock.
The 2016 Festival is also hosting two very special free events at The AFTRS Theatre on Saturday, October 22. First, “The Upcoming Australian Film Showcase” lets fans engage with the creators of three upcoming Australian SF films: The Osiris Child: Science Fiction Volume One, Blue World Order, and Space/Time. Filmmakers will screen clips from their works and particpate in an audience Q&A session. Following that is an early advanced look at Cerulean, a boundary-pushing comic book, TV series, and feature film, from concept illustrator, Tani Kunitake (The Matrix, Avengers, Star Wars) and performer, Dani Swan.
The festival has also announced the two short film festival programs which will run on Saturday and Sunday, bringing together the brightest and newest explorations of the possible from around the world.
SCI-FI SHORT FILM SESSION 1
Lockbox 1:26mins (UK)
A loving mechanical puppet looks for a way to save his makers business through the ultimate sacrifice. Director: Peter Cotter
Voyager 9:30mins (France)
Sent in 1977, the Voyager Golden Record was intended to introduce humanity to possible beings in outer space. But centuries later, Voyager is back on Earth. A little girl who lives alone in a destroyed town finds the space probe, uncovering music, pictures of nature, and past humanity. Director: Loic Magar, Roman Veiga
Worlds Apart 17:00mins (Australia)
A World War Two English soldier wakes from a coma to find a mysterious old man sharing his hospital room. Director: Timothy Wade
Signature Tune 5:57mins (Australia)
There is nowhere to hide from despair when the heartbreak of reality breaks the barrier to the dream-world, in this exploration of a tortured subconscious. Director: Josef Arbiv
Lazyboy 11:30mins (Australia)
Ray discovers his La-Z-Boy recliner is a one-minute time machine. Will he learn from his mistakes, or is he destined to repeat them forever? Director: Dave Redman
Can You Decide 4:55mins (Italy)
This is the official music video of the track “Can You Decide” written by the Manchester (UK) singer/songwriter, Jon Kenzie. The video tells a story of a lonely robot musician who is struggling between the desire to travel and play music throughout the galaxy or go back home to be with the one he loves. Director: Lu Pulici
Dimensions 4:40mins (UK)
A large scale adventure through alternate dimensions featuring a grumpy scientist, his hyperactive daughter, and a gormless chicken. Director: Andy James
IM Perfect 6:36mins (Hungary)
In 2046, a young woman dates a handsome guy who has some weird plans with their hands. Director: Zsuzsanna Koszti
Chronos 11:00mins (Slovakia)
A troubled old businessman finds himself looking at the world upside down through a hotel room where time runs backwards. Director: Martin Kasimir
True Copy 11:11mins (Russian Federation)
Igor’s uncontrolled transformations into other people force him to turn to the only person able to stop this… Director: Olga Belva
Sanctioned 17:51mins (Cyprus)
In a dystopian future, it is legal to murder someone providing that you have legally applied to The Ministry Of Sanctioned Homicide to be given legal authorisation to do so. Elias visits the Ministry to apply to kill one of his parents. Director: Harry Ayiotis
SCI-FI SHORT FILM SESSION 2
The Light Eater 12:00mins (Luxembourg)
Today is Light Eater’s very first day of school. Light Eater has to sort things out on his own. Since his father passed away, his mother hasn’t been able to overcome her sorrow and has turned away from her son. Since this day, Light Eater has been burdened by a curse: when he opens his mouth to speak, he swallows the light around him. But, Light Eater also has a gift: he loves to draw and his drawings are full of bright colors that brighten his existence. Having only just arrived at school, Light Eater is the victim of a bully who tears up his drawing. Which of his sides will take over, light or dark? Director: Sean McCormack
The Last Journey of the Enigmatic Paul W.R. 18:00mins (France)
The red moon threatens our existence on earth. Our only hope is the enigmatic Paul WR, the most talented astronaut of its generation. But few hours before the start of the Great mission, Paul disappeared. The one that the whole world considers as a hero hides in fact a terrible secret: since his youngest age, Paul W.R hears our thoughts. The consequence of this strange gift: Paul W.R doesn’t support us anymore. If he accepted the Mission without return, it’s not by heroism. It’s to find, finally, the peace of mind of a perfect silence. Far from our thoughts. Director: Quirot Romain
ZONA-84 15:25mins (Spain)
ZONA-84 is a futurist short movie set in a post-apocalyptic Barcelona. The mood of social criticism is related to the abuse of power which controls the earth essential resources. Director: Lonan Garcia
Waste Of Time 7:00mins (Australia)
John hasn’t left his bedroom in 10 years. Today he could, in a Time Machine. Director: Ben Nicholas
F Meat 17:20mins (Australia)
When The CEO of a synthetic meat empire reveals his product is secretly grown from human flesh, he must use extreme measures to persuade his morally opposed successor to save his legacy and the starving masses. Director: Sean Bell
Midnight Snack 2:00mins (Australia)
A book of spells and a late night craving. What could possibly go wrong? Director: Jeremy Kelly-Bakker
The Garden 13:36mins (USA)
In the Garden, humans get converted into A.I. constructs to survive. But Luc – a rebellious ballerina – would rather die than conform. When in 2089 humans become an out-of-date concept, the only way to survive is to integrate into A.I. constructs. Yet Luc—a rebellious ballerina—would rather die than conform. But when she meets an odd robot Azul, the idea of integrating into a better version of herself suddenly sounds tempting. Director: Natalia Lyudin
Johnny Clegg – Take My Heart Away 5:20mins (South Africa)
The story follows a young South African boy, Lindo, who lives in an informal settlement that borders an international spaceflight launch site. Lindo is infatuated with space travel, his hideout in-between is filled with articles and old books on space travel, as well as drawings and pictures of rockets and spaceships. His dream is to fly amongst the stars, far away from his destitute township life. One day, Lindo sees an opportunity to sneak on board a space shuttle as a stowaway. Director: Jaron Clegg
Reversal 15:30mins (USA)
An aging inventor with questionable sanity is determined to prevent his wife’s murder. His method: a 16mm film projector. Director: Michael Lippert
The 2016 Sci-Fi Film Festival runs at the Ritz Randwick from October 19 – 23. For tickets and session times, head through to the official site. To Purchase a special VIP AAA Pass for the entire festival, click here.
