Actuary: terse sci-fi psychological drama on technology and determinism
Matt Hill, “Actuary” (2020) In the not so distant future, an insurance company develops an artificial intelligence algorithm in the form of Benson (Chase Fein) that…
DUST
Eldritch Code: sci-fi horror short on corporate exploitation of workers
Ivan Radovic, “Eldritch Code” (2017) Partly told in a world-weary voice-over narration by the main character, this sci-fi horror short brings the Lovecraft universe into a…
German and German-language Films
Monju Hunters of Sofugan Island: carrying a warning of environmental devastation and human folly
Karim Eich and Dirk Wachsmuth, “Monju Hunters of Sofugan Island” (2017) An unexpectedly deep and melancholy short film, this sci-fi short is set in a not…
Clones: short sci-fi sketch on the nature of identity
Rafael Bolliger, “Clones” (2015) In amongst a busy schedule making films, TV films and TV series, and lending his voice to videogames, Dutch actor Rutger Hauer…
French and French-language Films
Résistance: an allegory of rebellion against a police state regime
Alex Chauvet, Anna Le Danois, Quentin Foulon, Fabien Glasse, Juliette Jean, Julie Narat, “Résistance” (2016) Made by student animators, this short video plays like a parable…
Checkpoint: a polished fantasy exploring the purpose of existence
Jason Sheedy, “Checkpoint” (2021) Here comes a 10-minute number that initially looks like a virtual reality game being played by several avatars of the same player…
Latin American Films (Spanish language), North American Films
El Camino: a film of sci-fi / horror alienation and existentialism
Fernando Campos and Jaime Jasso, “El Camino” (2020) A well made and visually gorgeous film, “El Camino” happens to be the culmination of five years of…
The Gate: elegant and polished sci-fi body horror critical of politics and neoliberal capitalism
Matt Westrup, “The Gate” (2011) Deriving its title from a couple of lines in the seventh chapter in the Book of Matthew in the Bible (“……
Ryoko’s Qubit Summer: a human-AI romance culminating in transformation
Yuichi Kondo, “Ryoko’S Qubit Summer” (2018) Here is a sweet film about an unusual love affair between an AI researcher and an AI creation. In the…
CTRL Z: gentle romantic time-travel comedy with a sting in its tail
James Kennedy, “CTRL Z” (2017) Cats may have nine lives but the characters in this very funny sci-fi romantic comedy end up having nearly 4,800 lives…