The inaugural Other Worlds Austin scifi film festival starts this Thursday, December 4 at the Galaxy Highland Theater. The 3 day event features 11 full length films and a variety of shorts. Not terribly surprising to anyone who regularly follows my writings, I’m covering the festival.
Over the next three days, I will preview the 11 features.
The Perfect 46
Brett Ryan Bonowicz | USA | 97 min
Writer: Brett Ryan Bonowicz
Producers: Brett Ryan Bonowicz, Sheldon Coolman, Marco Cordero, Whit Hertford, Thomas Campbell Jackson, John Seabright
Cast: Whit Hertford, Keston John, James Kyson, Robyn Cohen, and Don McManus
A geneticist creates a website that pairs an individual with their ideal genetic partner for children.
This ‘science factual’ film has been lauded by MIT Technology Review, Scientific American, Science, and the London Evening Standard as “a worryingly believable cautionary tale.” What if you could have the perfect child?
Saturday, 3:10
Capsule
Djie Han Thung | Netherlands | 85 min
Writer: Gerson Oratmangoen
Producers: Christine Anderton, Stefany Rietkerk
Cast: Anouk Kleykamp, Michael Schnörr, Orlando do Brito, Jet Kragt, Inge Snijders
Radiation threatens life on earth. With the end of the world imminent, behavioral scientist Ichigo conducts interviews to select 900 souls who can survive for one year in a capsule. Practical skills are less important for this than the ability to love. While candidates for the capsule struggle with their daily life, there is growing doubt about the integrity of Ichigo, who is accused of taking advantage of the spreading insecurity.
Saturday, 3:10
The Reconstruction of William Zero
Dan Bush | USA | 97 min
Writers: Dan Bush, Conal Byrne
Producers: Linda Burns, Dan Bush, Conal Byrne, Clay Floren, Michael McReynolds, Alexander Motlagh, Aimee Shieh
Cast: Conal Byrne, Amy Seimetz, Tim Habeger, Adam Fristoe, Scott Poythress, Lake Roberts, Melissa McBride, Jeff Rose
William Blakely, a cutting-edge geneticist, wakes up from a mysterious accident with fragmented memories and must re-learn his identity from his twin brother. But as William digs deeper, he realizes the shocking truth: This is not his life at all. A gripping drama full of moral quandaries we are mere years from facing, The Reconstruction of William Zero features a phenomenal cast and an emotional core seldom seen in science fiction.
Saturday, 8:15
Apt 3D (World Premiere!)
Zack Imbrogno, Horst Dieter Baum (co-director) | USA | 80 min
Writer: Zack Imbrogno
Producers: Maxxe Sternbaum, Zack Imbrogno
Cast: Maxxe Sternbaum, Zack Imbrogno, Jordan Lewis
Erin and Ben move to New York City in the dead of winter to find themselves psychologically and physically imprisoned in their apartment by their enigmatic neighbors. Battling fears and their own concerns they might be imagining things, the couple’s relationship starts to fracture. However, as they look further into what happened to Ben’s sister, former resident of this apartment, they begin to wonder if the other residents of this complex might have it out for them.
Saturday, 10:30
The Phoenix Project
Tyler Pavey | USA | 92 min
Writer: Tyler Pavey
Producers: Nikhil Jassawalla, Mike Mo, Orson Ossman, Tyler Pavey
Cast: Corey Rieger, Andrew Simpson, David Pesta, Orson Ossman
Four scientists move into a house with one goal, to craft a machine to raise the dead. With dwindling resources, the crew must contain their ulterior motives in order to realize the daunting task ahead of them. On the brink of success, the team begins to unravel, secrets and lies undercutting their groundbreaking work. A modern day Frankenstein, The Phoenix Project is less about the technology and more about the pioneers pursuing it.
Saturday, 10:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xjmV9YhJHU