International Science-Fiction Short Film Showcase 2023
Seven films. Five countries. Worlds of vision. Fantasia’s annual showcase of next-level sci-fi shorts returns.
South Africa brings us Diana Mills Smith’s MY PROTECTOR (North American Premiere) where ferocious machines hunting the last-remaining humans force a young girl to prove herself as a protector for her family. A striking dose of high-concept sci-fi/action that blasts off the screen. Sweden represents with Farhad Bakhtiarikish’s RIFT (Canadian Premiere), in which an unhappily married man desperate to find meaningful love, meets a woman in a virtual dating app. A clever and surprising film, steeped in feeling. Britain delivers Vasco Alexandre’s provocative TEN WITH A FLAG (North American Premiere), a future-set tale about expecting parents in a society that rates citizen’s value by way of a social ranking system. Their unborn child has already ranked a perfect 10. Albeit with a very particular flag.
Actor Alex Lawther (THE IMITATION GAME) steps behind the camera as writer/director for the haunting FOR PEOPLE IN TROUBLE (Canadian Premiere), a chilling vision of a plausible tomorrow that sees two people meet, fall in love and break apart as society crumbles. Built on engrossing performances from Emma D'Arcy (HOUSE OF THE DRAGON) and Archie Madekwe (MIDSOMMAR). From the USA, Jennifer Zhang’s AUTOPILOT (International Premiere) explores the nature of consciousness through a suspenseful blast of sci-fi/horror where a space pilot alone on a vessel finds herself in a frightening power struggle with her virtual assistant. A grieving mother with expertise in neuroscience brings her deceased daughter back as a hologram with retained memories and a sentient state of being in Geoffrey Prather’s A MIND CANNOT TOUCH (Canadian Premiere). A moving tragedy that explores loss with imagination and heart. Norway’s Tess Quatri captivates with FINAL FOREVER (International Premiere), a tale of ageless love in senior years as an elderly lesbian couple dealing with increasing frailties refuse to lose their agency or each other. They work to finish a homemade rocket that might allow them to leave this Earth together. A beautiful and compelling film that just may have you in tears. – Mitch Davis
Rift
Farhad Bakhtiarikish
An unhappily married man, desperate to find meaningful love, meets a woman in a virtual dating app. A clever and surprising film, steeped in feeling with exquisite world-building.
Ten With a Flag
Vasco Alexandre
In a near-future, society rates citizens’ value by way of a social rating system. A couple learn that their unborn child has already ranked a perfect 10, granting them new opportunities in life.
A Mind Cannot Touch
Geoffrey Prather
A grieving mother with expertise in neuroscience brings her deceased daughter back as a hologram with fully retained memories and a sentient state of being.
For people in trouble
Alex Lawther
Two people meet, fall in love, and see their relationship crumble as society breaks apart. A chilling vision of an upsettingly plausible tomorrow, written and directed by actor Alex Lawther.
Final Forever
Tess Quatri
An elderly couple dealing with increasing frailties work to finish a homemade rocket that might allow them to leave this earth together. A compelling film that just may have you in tears.
Autopilot
Jennifer Zhang
A space pilot alone on a returning vessel finds herself in a frightening power struggle when her holographic virtual assistant suddenly begins to oppose its programming.
My Protector
Diana Mills Smith
Ferocious machines (“BESKERMERS”) hunt the last remaining humans, forcing a young girl to prove herself as a protector for her family in this striking dose of high-concept South African sci-fi/action.