"It is the courage of our questions, not the answers, that defines us."

SIGNIFICANCE is a sci-fi thriller set on an isolated observatory in the English countryside.

Miles (Joel Gillman) is an amateur astronomer who passionately searches the heavens each night seeking ... something, anything.

On a clear and cold winter night, he makes a startling discovery while scanning a nearby star system.

After summoning his skeptical former mentor Andrew (Adrian Schiller) to the observatory, a mysterious encounter convinces Miles his discovery has serious implications for the entire world.

SIGNIFICANCE is the epitome of provocative, cerebral, more substantive science fiction, rather than special and visual effects extravaganzas.

The films draws its narrative power from ruminations about our place within the incomprehensibly vast cosmos.

In fact, the short was inspired by the iconic Pale Blue Dot photograph taken over 25 years ago by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, at the behest of famed astronomer Carl Sagan.

Written by Jack Pirie - who also co-directed with Alex Hylands - the short is an intimate yet compelling piece beautifully shot, directed, and acted.

Watch SIGNIFICANCE in its entirety here ...

Forty years since its launch, Nasa's renowned Voyager One Spacecraft has now reached interstellar space, traveling farther from Earth than anything in history. It was only after Carl Sagan persuaded engineers to turn the cameras around that we were gifted the famous Pale Blue Dot photograph, showing our planet at a distance never seen previously. But what did this humble "dot" teach us about our own place in the universe? Significance is a short science-fiction thriller from London directors Jack Pirie & Alex Hylands-White, set in a remote, regional observatory. When an amateur astronomer makes an incredible discovery one evening, something with irreversible consequences, he is soon forced to reflect upon his place on the pale blue dot we call home. Broadcast on Shorts TV International London Short Film Festival 2016 London Independent Film Festival 2016 Aesthetica Film Festival 2016 Winchester Film Festival 2016 (Nominated “Best British Film”) Portsmouth Film Festival 2016 (Nominated “Best British Film”) Directed by Jack Pirie & Alex Hylands-White (info@wearehalcyon.co.uk) Written by Jack Pirie www.wearehalcyon.co.uk Produced by Beki Henderson DOP - Phil Wood Edited by Ellie Johnson Original music by Alan Myson Miles: Joel Gillman Andrew: Adrian Schiller, Christina: Alexa Brown Sound - Christian Bourne Prod Design/Costume - Gini Godwin, Sophia Stocco Make Up Artist - Nicole Stafford Gaffer - Tom Nowell Assistant Director - Daniel Bliss Production Manager - Victoria Eyton 1st AC - Domenico Palomba/Marek Polaszewski 2nd AC - Adam Green/Richard Simkins Spark - Sebastian Nowell Prod Design Assistant - Maisie Todd Runner - Joseph Kurian Sound Designer - Spesh Maloney Visual Effects - Christian Mann Sound Mixer - Nicholas Ashe Colourist - Toby Tomkins THANKS TO IdeasTap Mark Gallaway Bayfordbury Observatory, University of Hertfordshire. Pixi Pixel & all those who supported the production. ABOUT: Jack Pirie & Alex Hylands-White are two London-based filmmakers. As music video & commercial directors they have made films for clients including Google, Sony, Atlantic Records and The Royal Opera House. Their latest short film “THE SUPERMAN” (2016), a sci-fi inspired short documentary about a lone freediver, was acquired by National Geographic and awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick.

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