The 2024 SYDNEY SCIENCE FICTION FILM FESTIVAL promises not only epic journeys across vast starfields and new discoveries on distant worlds, but also vivid and profound new examinations of the complexities of our own humanity through the prism of speculative cinema.
Australia’s largest celebration of local and global sci-fi and fantasy film culture, the fifth annual event offers a program unlike any that has gone before, rich in stunning artistry and truly independent narrative visions from eleven countries amongst the 30 films in competition this year.
“We thought it was appropriate in 2024 to use the lens of sci-fi/fantasy cinema to focus on who we are and what we may become as a society,” says Festival Director Simon Foster. “The films we offer this year are unapologetically introspective; dramatic works that address such themes as dysfunctional family dynamics, toxic masculinity, companionship, dark sexuality, the bond created amongst unique and diverse personalities. The line-up combines the anxiety of modern living, the prevalence of new technologies and the dreams we have for the future.”
The Opening Night has officially “gone to the dogs”, with a canine-themed double feature that includes the World Premiere of Thomas Fairchild’s moving Australian film HEEL, the story of the loss of a man’s best friend and the time-travel technology that may help them reconnect, and the Australasian Premiere of Jason Sheedy’s award-winning UK thriller THE RECLAIMERS.
There is further furry fun, with a 45th Anniversary screening of the robo-dog family romp, C.H.O.M.P.S., director Don Chaffey’s beloved story of a boy, his girl and their lovable ‘Canine Home Protection System’. This session will be co-presented by the festival’s charity partner, Pets of the Homeless, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit that helps pets and their owners in times of need.
The feature film roster spans the globe in its representation of dystopian futures, alternate worlds and speculative settings. From Estonia comes INFINITE SUMMER, a thriller set in the world of cyber-dating and immersive app technologies and the new work from visionary filmmaker Miguel Llanso; direct from its World Premiere at the prestigious Fantasia International Film Festival comes the most challenging and controversial film the festival has ever screened, New York-based agitator Scooter Macrae’s sex-android morality tale, BLACK EYED SUSAN; and, following a blockbuster run in its Scandi homeland, UFO SWEDEN brings all it’s ‘80s Amblin energy to the very Spielbergian story of a teenage girl searching for her alien-abductee father.
From US indie maverick Pete Ohs (Jethika, 2022) comes LOVE AND WORK, a bittersweet monochromatic charmer set in an alternate reality where work is outlawed and only true rebels want a 9-to-5 career; Italian visionary Fabio D’Orta reveals a secret society at the service of visiting alien predators in the breathtakingly beautiful nightmare, THE COMPLEX FORMS; and from the Canadian sector, Alexander Lasheras’ wilderness-set pod-people drama THE BEEHIVE and Ryan Ward’s father-and-daughter supernatural road trip saga DAUGHTER OF THE SUN.
And in a major coup for the festival, the Closing Night film will feature the World Premiere of the one-take subterranean thriller SCURRY, the new film from Australian director Luke Sparke (Occupation, 2018; Occupation Rainfall, 2020; Bring Him to Me, 2023) and starring one of Australia’s hottest young talents, actress Emalia (Paramount+’s Paper Dolls series).
One of the most popular sessions of past years returns, with the AUSTRALIAN SHORTS SHOWCASE highlighting eight of the finest short-form sci-fi films from local filmmakers. Screening amongst the 19 shorts premiering at the festival are stunning new short films from China (the dazzling deep-space animation LIMIT); Austria (the philosophical documentary THE MUSINGS OF THE MECHATRONIC MISTRESS); Spain (the life-and-death planet surface drama, CHRYSANTHEMUM); and the U.S. (hilarious animation, COLESLAW CRISIS).
The 2024 SYDNEY SCIENCE FICTION FILM FESTIVAL will launch September 20-22 at EVENT Cinemas George Street.
Full details regarding the 2024 program can be found at:
