Category Archives: Space films and videos

Winners of the Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival awards

A report on the recent Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival held in NY City:

The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Announces
Fourth Year Award Winners

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NYC’s Only Sci-Fi Film Festival Honored Superb Independent Filmmaking.
Record 80 Films From Over 20 Countries Screened At Four-Day Gathering.

(New York City, N.Y.) January 19, 2016 — The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the award winners of its fourth annual event which took place from January 14-17, 2016. Among the festival’s extraordinary 80 film lineup, twelve films rose as shining examples of independent cinema enriched with distinctive styles, daring narratives, stunning visuals and powerhouse performances all culminating into a thrilling experience for the science fiction genre’s legions of fans.

Festival founder and director Daniel Abella presented the coveted honors to filmmakers for their superb achievement. This year the festival welcomed three award-winning and highly respected individuals to its judging board including scientist and science fiction writer David Brin; science fiction writer, media personality and professor Paul Levinson and science fiction editor and administrator of the Philip K. Dick Award, David G. Hartwell, a colleague and editor of the late author. On opening night, Hartwell commented on the festival’s mission to serve as a platform in providing sensational independent films in honor of Philip K. Dick. “He was an impressive man,” said Hartwell. “The idea of a festival devoted to him would have astonished him.”

The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival congratulates the 2016 award winners:

Best Philip K. Dick Feature: The Incident (2015) directed by Isaac Ezban

Best Science Fiction Feature: Counter Clockwise (2015) directed by George Moïse

Best Horror/Supernatural Feature: Chatter (2015) directed by Matthew Solomon

Best Documentary: Travis: The Travis Walton Story (2015) directed by Jennifer Stein

Best Web Series: Milgram And The Fastwalkers (2015) directed by Richard Cutting

Best Philip K. Dick Short: Chronos (2015) directed by Martin Kazimir

Best Horror/Supernatural Short: The Mill at Calder’s End (2015) directed by Kevin McTurk

Best African American, Latino and Any Other Person of Color Science Fiction Film: The Art of Human Salvage (2015) directed by Dempsey Tillman

Best Singularity, Eschaton and Beyond: Enfilade (2014) directed by David Coyle

Best Animation: The Looking Planet (2014) directed by Eric Law Anderson

Best New Media: Californium (2015) designed by Noam Roubah [Arstechnica article]

Best Trailer: Caihong City (2015) directed by Florina Titz

The four-day festival screened at Village East Cinema (181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003) with several events at Lovecraft Bar NYC (50 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009) including a pre-reception on January 13. The night headlined a special Skype conversation with Blade Runner actress Joanna Cassidy and the world premiere of the Golden Globe Award winner’s short film What Might Have Been: Snake Dance (2012).

While speaking about her decision to create a never-filmed scene from the popular movie, the actress recalled reading Philip K. Dick’s original book. “When I got married when I was 18-years-old and I was driving across the country with my then husband, we both loved science fiction and we had a stack of the old paperback books,” she said. “And one of them was Philip K. Dick’s book [Do Android’s Dream of Electric Sheep?] and I’m reading this book going ‘This is incredible. They have to make a movie about this. This is amazing.’ And look what happened.”

About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival: The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival is New York City’s first and only festival of its kind and is organized by individuals and filmmakers who understand the difficulties and challenges of telling a unique story in a corporate environment. With successful 2012-2015 festivals, international festivals in Lille, France (2013, 2015) and Łódź, Poland (2015) and numerous event screenings the festival is only beginning its vision of honoring the legacy of the great Philip K. Dick. The festival has received media attention from The New York Times, CBS New York, The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, Discover Magazine, Time Out New York, Gothamist, Metro New York, Chelsea Now, The Villager, East Villager, Downtown Express, MassLive.com, DNA Info, Flavorpill, Broadway World, Fangoria, Examiner and a January 13, 2015 primetime segment on NBC New York/COZI TV’s News 4 New York at 7 with anchor Roseanne Colletti (viewed at nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/288485941.html). From organizers, programmers, directors, writers, producers and industry professionals who best represent the goals of the festival to the original voices and enhanced visions in works submitted, this is a festival created for filmmakers by filmmakers.

About The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival Sponsors:
OMNI Reboot: OMNI Reboot is the intersection of science, technology, art, culture, design, and metaphysics. It is an experience, as well as an environment for both the informed and the information seeker. It’s a quest for truth, learning from yesterday and speculating about tomorrow, uncovering hidden realities, and living to make readers dream and wonder a free-rolling resource in a terrifying, wonderful, metamorphosing world. A true glimpse into the future. For more information, visit omnireboot.com.

Evolve and Ascend: Where the Library of Alexandria meets Andy Warhol’s Factory, Evolve and Ascend is all about growth through dialogue and sharing. The blog started with the firm belief that individuals can truly unlock their full potential through communicating and getting exposed to new ideas and insights that could change their outlook on life. This is a virtual crossroads where artists, entrepreneurs, (forward) thinkers and visionaries can converge into one place and start something unique. For more information, visit evolveandascend.com.

About Philip K. Dick: “Reality is whatever refuses to go away when I stop believing in it.” – Philip K. Dick Philip K. Dick (1928-1982) was one of the 20th century’s most profound novelists and writers within the science fiction community. His exploration, analysis and beliefs led to the publishings of 44 novels and 121 short stories. Dick’s enormous library of works led to several film and television adaptations including Blade Runner (1982), Total Recall (1990), Minority Report (2002), Paycheck (2003), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Radio Free Albemuth (2010), The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Total Recall (2012), FOX’s Minority Report (2015) and Amazon’s critically acclaimed series The Man in the High Castle (2015). Dick’s enormously effective views comprised of fictional universes, virtual realities, dystopian worlds and human mutation foresaw a sensational version of the current state of government and contemporary life. Though he is gone in the physical form his philosophies live on in the techniques applied to modern narratives, films and ideals and generate large displays of appreciation and understanding.

Connect With Us:
Website: thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com
Twitter: twitter.com/PhilipKDickFest (tweet the hashtag #PKDFestNYC)
Facebook: facebook.com/ThePhilipKDickFilmFestival
Meetup: meetup.com/The-Philip-K-Dick-science-fiction-Film-Festival

Cinespace short film competition invites submissions for 2016

I recently highlighted the 2015 winners in the CineSpace short-film competition sponsored by NASA and the Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS). NASA officially opened the 2016 competition this week:

‘CineSpace’ Short Film Competition Returns for 2016

NASA and the Houston Cinema Arts Society once again will offer filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by — and using — actual NASA imagery through “CineSpace,” a short-film competition.

The inaugural year of CineSpace drew 194 entries from 22 countries and 32 U.S. states. Sixteen finalists premiered their films at Houston Cinema Arts Festival’s CineSpace Day at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Filmmakers brought new visions to life using real-life space imagery from NASA telescopes and robotic spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond, to sights captured on the International Space Station where men and women have been working off the Earth, for the Earth for more than 15 years.

Films featuring NASA-captured imagery and video collected throughout the agency’s 50-year history will be judged on creativity, innovation and attention to detail: the same hallmarks of spaceflight. Works submitted to CineSpace will compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to be shown to audiences both on and off Earth.

In addition to being screened at the CineSpace awards ceremony during the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, winners and finalists may be screened at other film festivals across the country, as well as on NASA TV and even on the International Space Station.

The competition is open to all filmmakers, both professional and aspiring. Submissions of all genres, including narrative, documentary, comedy, drama, animation, experimental and others, up to 10 minutes running time, will be accepted. Entries must use at least 10 percent publically available NASA imagery.

Academy Award-nominated director Richard Linklater once again will serve as the judge in selecting the finalists.

The submission period opens June 1, 2016, and closes July 31, 2016. Finalists and winners will be announced at a CineSpace event during the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in November. Entries will be competing for $26,000 in prizes with cash awards going to the top three submissions as well as the two films that best demonstrate the themes “Benefits of Space to Humanity” and “Future Space Exploration.”

NASA’s journeys into air and space continue to power inspiration that encourages future generations to explore, learn and build a better future. Humanity has used the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. The next decade of exploration will be a time of rapid technological advancement and innovation as humanity stands poised to make the journey to Mars.

The Houston Cinema Arts Society is a nonprofit organization created in 2008 that organizes and hosts the annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival, a groundbreaking and innovative arts festival featuring films and new media by and about artists in the visual, performing and literary arts. The Eighth Annual Houston Cinema Arts Festival will take place from Nov. 10-17, 2016.

For more information on CineSpace, competition guidelines and the submission process, and to view the 2015 winners and finalists, visit: www.cinespace16.org

To browse NASA video and imagery, visit: www.nasa.gov/content/download-nasa-videos-for-cinespace

For more information about the Houston Cinema Arts Society, visit: www.cinemartsociety.org

For more information about the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, visit: houstoncinemaartsfestival.org/

Fourth Annual Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival – Jan.14-17 in NYC

The Philip K. Dick Film Festival opens soon:

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Great sci-fi is steadily approaching as The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival returns to New York City for its fourth annual event from January 14-17, 2016. The four-day festival, screening at the magnificent Village East Cinemas (181-189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003), has announced its full schedule of events which includes a record 80 films from over 20 countries and several film premieres. The event is the city’s first and only science fiction film festival so make sure to experience every bit of the thrill ride there is to offer.

Highlights from the exciting lineup include Clones starring Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner); Genghis Khan Conquers the Moon starring Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle); The Mill at Calder’s End starring Barbara Steele (Black Sunday); the NYC premiere of Chatter starring Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica); The Art of Human Salvage starring Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner); The Future Perfect starring Zachary Quinto (Star Trek); the NYC premiere of The Incident starring Raúl Méndez (Netflix’s Narcos); the world premiere of Dean Philips’ short film Tap Tap Tap; the USA premiere of The Worlds of Philip K. Dick documentary and the NYC premieres of documentaries Sympathy For The Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgment featuring George Clinton and Travis: The True Story of Travis Walton.


Philip K. Dick Film Festival 2016 Trailer from The Philip K Dick Film Festival on Vimeo.

The festival (visit thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com) is excited for another year in offering the very best of independent science fiction film while celebrating the enduring legacy of Philip K. Dick, the most visionary and prolific author of the modern era.

Videos: CineSpace 2015 winners

The CineSpace project is a short film competition sponsored by NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS). The framework for the contest is that the films must inspired by and use actual NASA imagery. The first competition took place in 2015 and you can find the winning films and all the entries at CINESPACE 2015 Winners – Houston Cinema Arts Festival.

Below are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Here is an article about the competition: Space Never Looked So Good In These NASA Collab Short Films – MTV

Details for entering the 2016 competition can be found on the CineSpace website.

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1st Place
Higher Ground
Mary Magsamen and Stephen Hillerbrand
Houston, TX

2nd Place
Mission Avante
Fernando Dueñas Peña
Bogota Colombia

3rd Place
Le Voyage
Alexandre B. Lampron
Laval, Quebec

New space elevator magazine and a new documentary available on line

The International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) just released its latest newsletter: ISEC eNewsletter – December 2015.

Included is an announcement about their new magazine: Via Ad Astra – The Space Elevator Magazine –

Volume 1 / Number 1 of Via Ad Astra (Road to the Stars), the new Space Elevator Magazine from the International Space Elevator Consortium is now available!

This magazine contains an interview with Yuri Artsutanov (the Russian engineer credited with inventing the modern day concept of the space elevator), a reprint of an article by Jerome Pearson (the American engineer who independently proposed the modern day concept of the space elevator), articles on the Space Elevator Games, International Law & the Space Elevator and much, much more.

Print copies of this magazine are now available from the ISEC Store for only $11.99 as well as pdf versions, available for only $1.99.

The newsletter also points to a Kickstarter funded documentary about space elevators. The 74 minute long feature Sky Line was released in November and is available for purchase on line: Space Elevator Docu ‘Sky Line’ Hits Vod November 20; THX Hires New CEO – Deadline.

In 1979, Arthur C. Clarke wrote a novel about an elevator that goes to outer space. SKYLINE is the story of the people who intend to build it. From scientific gatherings to NASA’s high-stakes Space Elevator Games, the film follows the major players working to make the concept a reality. Some believe it will solve the energy crisis; some want easier access to raw materials in space; some just want to gaze down upon the Earth. For all of them, the space elevator is more than just science fiction: it’s an achievable goal.

Here is the trailer: