The Guardian’s Tale: fairy-tale conventions upturned in clever sci-fi fantasy short
Gordy Higgins, Ryan Zujic, Christoffer Klungerbo, “The Guardian’s Tale” (2012) Told as a delightful fairy tale in the style of “Beauty and the Beast”, this animated…
Horror
academy: a tale of a post-apocalyptic utopia practising and teaching a flawed code of ethics
Ian Salazar, “academy” (2020) In the not too distant future, when Western civilisation has collapsed and Western culture has regressed to the point where Christian fundamentalism…
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Quiet: outer space as metaphor for inner space in a film of duality and opposites
Radheya Jegavetha, “The Quiet” (2020) Created entirely by director Radheya Jegavetha and his father Jay Jay Jegathesan who co-wrote and co-produced the short and provided the…
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…
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…
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…
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 (“……
Alien Infinity: futuristic SF noir meets monsters
Darkus Marque, “Alien Infinity” (2015) Made during his spare time between January and August 2015, “Alien Infinity” from graphic designer (and aspiring film-maker at the time)…