Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: Fired On Mars

Imagine having taken a life changing trip to Mars, only to be fired from your job there shortly after the expedition has been established.

That unthinkable situation is the premise of the animated dark comedy short film Fired On Mars (FOM).

Written by Nick Vokey and Nate Sherman, FOM tells the story of Jeff (voiced by Sean Wing), who has just been informed his position as a graphic designer has been "re-evaluated," and he is advised to "hold tight" while his corporate headquarters "figures out the next steps."

It doesn't take long for Jeff to realize he has been fired from his job on Mars - with no way to return to earth.

This poignantly written and sharply satirical short mines dark comedy from Jeff's incredulity at being fired from an expedition whose staff includes: a man who is being paid to remain in suspended animation, a bevy of bathroom attendants, and even a music director!

Anyone who has ever been pink slipped will relate to the emotional maelstrom of disillusionment, anger, sadness and depression Jeff experiences.

Update: 03/29/24: The original Fired on Mars short film has been adapted into an original animated series on the MAX streaming service.

Learn more here: Fired ON Mars On Max

Here is the series trailer: Fired On Mars Trailer:

Fired On Mars manages to excavate dark humor from one of life's most unpleasant events, while also issuing a scathing indictment on the inanity and callousness of American corporate culture.

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'The Few' - Witness The Rise Of Superheroes In Modern London

Superheroes have arrived! Their place of origin? London, England.

This is the premise behind the new British sci-fi web series The Few.

Created by Sam Benjamin (Peaky Blinders) and Sam Bradford (Double Cross), the series follows a young police detective (Benjamin) intent on stopping a jaded university graduate (Rachael Holoway) and a embittered veteran (Vincent Jerome), who are using their nascent superpowers to follow a dark path.

However, if the detective has any hope of succeeding, he must seek out and convince another superhuman to join his cause.

Watch the debut episode of The Few ...

This series is brimming with promise, and after watching the engaging first episode, I feel audiences will be in for an exhilarating ride.

Yes superhero-themed tv series and movies are in vogue right now. But what sets The Few apart is the vision of its creators.

First, the series is based and filmed in London, England.  

This is a very import distinction, because most mainstream superhero sagas are based in the United States. More specifically, the majority are set in New York - or fictional analogs to the big apple.

Having The Few set in Britain breaks away from this worn-out genre trope.

Next, given the important conversations regarding inclusion and representation of marginalized groups in Hollywood, The Few's producers must be lauded for creating a world that closely mirrors reality in terms of diversity.

With the release of its debut episode, the series is off to an auspicious start, and is certain to become a standout by defying the standard conventions of the superhero genre.

Watch The Few on its official channel on YouTube.

UPDATE: 03/29/24:

The Few is no longer available for public viewing at this time. Should its status change, this space will be updated.

PLUS - We interview actor Sam Benjamin, the co-creator, co-producer, and star of The Few on our new EYE ON SCI-FI PODCAST. Sam discusses plans for season 2, and his career - including his role in the Justice League film!

Listen here: EYE ON SCI-FI PODCAST EPISODE 22 FEATURING SAM BENJAMIN

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: HOSHINO - A STAR WARS Fan Film

As Jedi Knight Ko Hoshino begins constructing her first lightsaber, she reminisces about a pivotal turning point in her training as a young padawan.

Headstrong and impatient, she implored her mentor, Jedi Master Jaan-Xu, to teach her lightsaber combat very early in her training. Instead, she became increasingly frustrated with his admonishments over her impatience and lack of focus.

He reminded her a Jedi's true strength lies not in fighting prowess, but in resisting darkness by serving and protecting others. 

As Jedi Hoshino completes her lightsaber's construction and prepares to confront evil, she recollects her fateful mistake as a padawan that allowed her to see the truth of Master Jaan-Xu's teachings.

Watch HOSHINO here ...

Written by Eric Carrasco and directed by Stephen Vitale, HOSHINO is a sensational unofficial Star Wars fan film.

Like Rouge One, and KARA, another extraordinary Star Wars fan film,  this short has a dynamic woman at the center of its narrative.   

Youtube star Anna Akana is pitch perfect as the impetuous Ko Hoshino, who learns the nuances of the light side of the force at a high personal cost.

Similar to A New Hope, it is the student-teacher relationship between her and Tim McKernan (Master Jaan-Xu) that powers the short's dramatic direction.

In addition, HOSHINO'S overall production is impressive.

Everything from its costume design, visual effects, audio cues (it is always a thrill to hear the iconic buzz of a lightsaber), music score, and even scene transitions impeccably mimic those of the iconic Star Wars films..

The cinematography is electric, with many scenes shot in gorgeous locations. Vitale's direction is engaging and feels intimate, yet it also lends the short a sense of majestic scope synonymous with Star Wars.

However, it is Carrasco's poignant and affecting story of a young woman fully come into her own as a Jedi Knight that is the film's major hallmark.

HOSHINO is further proof the mythology of Star Wars is rich and fertile ground for compelling stories of all kinds.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: ARCHITECTS OF CRIME

In the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, a jaded vice cop employs fringe science to help a city councilman embroiled in scandal retrieve his memory of the event.

What she uncovers is a far-reaching and deadly conspiracy of political corruption.

ARCHITECTS OF CRIME is the latest effort by award winning filmmakers The Derrick Brothers, whose short film F*ck You, Pay Me!, won Best Short in the 2007 Hollywood Black Film Festival, and Best Short in the 2008 Africa in the Picture Film Festival.

The brothers have cast their cinematic magic again, with this thoroughly engaging sci-fi noir.

Watch ARCHITECTS OF CRIME here ...

Chief among the short's many highlights is its charismatic and diverse cast, most notably featuring a woman of color as the lead protagonist.

A casting choice that remains far too rare in genre film.

Rhona Bennett is magnetic as Roxanne, a L.A. vice cop with a shadowy past.  Also captivating is David DeSantos as embattled city councilman Diego. 

Rounding out the terrific ensemble is:

•  Peter Lucas as Dr. Atkinson, a defrocked genius whose dangerous memory technology is key to unraveling the mystery

• Anna Zimhart as Jazmeen, a mysterious and deadly Russian assassin

The short also boasts exceptional cinematography.

Being filmed on location in the City of Angels gives the project dynamism and lends verisimilitude to its heightened, yet gritty, reality.

ARCHITECTS OF CRIME is just further proof The Derrick Brothers are among an exciting and visionary new vanguard of filmmakers to watch.

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RED ORIGINS - A Groundbreaking All-Ages Web Comic Steeped In West African Mysticism

When it comes to original ideas, Hollywood isn't what immediately comes to mind.

For example, Disney is now resorting to adapting its animated films into live-action versions (see Cinderella, Beauty & The Beast, and The Jungle Book).

In terms of movies and television series taken from speculative fiction, most remain overwhelmingly based on Western culture, philosophy, and traditions.

The grand result is an uninspired, homogenized cavalcade of narratives many of us have seen in various iterations countless times before. All this in service to Tinseltown's addled fervor to produce the next blockbuster.

It was out of this frustration that led Nigerian-American brothers Obi Ubeh and Onyi Ubeh to found Kolanut Productions, an independent animation, comic, and gaming studio. 

The studio's mandate is to produce media from emerging, untapped markets, including the rich traditions of African mysticism.

Enter the all-ages web comic RED ORIGINS, Kolanut's inaugural project.

Image Property of Kolanut Productions

RED ORIGINS is about the exploits of three young friends, Obi, Temi, and Jon, who find themselves transported to neo-Africa in the year 2070.

Upon their arrival, the trio is conscripted into a magical peacekeeping force, and each is granted unique powers based on juju magic.

In order to return home, the three friends must navigate a new world where war between Ancestral Africa and Neo-Technological Africa is about to explode.

Watch the RED ORIGINS teaser trailer ...

You can view each installment of the web comic, and listen to its accompanying soundtrack available here.

New installments are scheduled to be released each week, so please make sure to signup for the webcomic's newsletter to stay informed.

The Ubeh Brothers have stated their end goal is to have Red Origins adapted into an animated series. Check out their successful crowdfunding campaign here: Red Origins Kickstarter.

I sincerely hope they succeed, because this engaging story is perfect for animation, and would most definitely infuse the animated world with much needed originality and diversity.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: RESET

A young girl named Sofie (Wilma Hedberg) resides with her mother (Cecilia Milocco) on a vast, isolated farm at the turn of the 20th century.

To ease Sofie's loneliness, her mother reads to her letters she receives daily from her beloved absentee father.

One fateful day, Sofie discovers a shocking secret about her family and farm that will change her reality forever.

RESET is a gripping sci-fi mystery with a mind-bending twist you won't see coming.

Created by Swedish filmmaking duo Fredrik Akerström and Marcus Kryler, the short is also beautifully acted and gorgeously shot.

In fact, the vivid and lush pastoral setting is effectively juxtaposed with the film's dark and forbidding narrative, creating a churning undercurrent of suspense that pulls you in within the first five minutes.

Watch the short film (with English subtitles) here ...

RESET is a completely enthralling sci-fi mystery with a provocative twist that will leave you wanting more.

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Visit A Restaurant Serving Souls In Transit To The Afterlife - 'Here We Wait' The Sci-Fi Webseries

In the intriguing sci-fi webseries Here We Wait, purgatory is a mysterious restaurant named "Here," a way station where souls of the newly deceased assemble before transiting  to their eternal destiny.

The focus of the 20-episode webseries is on the interpersonal relationships between Here's staff - souls from all walks of life, time periods, and ideologies - whose true purpose is to ease their spectral patrons' transition into the afterlife.

However, an unknown element has been introduced to Here, throwing the cosmic scales dangerously out of balance.

The staff must investigate the cause of this imbalance before catastrophe strikes.

Unlike dense, impenetrable sci-fi dramas that explore similar themes like Lost, The OA, and The Leftovers, Here We Wait is refreshingly straightforward and accessible.

There is no byzantine mythology to navigate, no murky plot twists and red herrings introduced in an attempt to seem pretentiously profound.

Here is purgatory; its staff are deceased souls ruminating on their previous lives while confronting an unknown future. 

Series co-creators Olivia Baptista and Diane Chen have populated their project with compelling and fascinating characters portrayed by a cast of  talented, charismatic young actors.

Watch the premiere episode entitled Siv:

As of this writing, 10 out of 20 episodes have been released, with new installments due each Tuesday.

You can watch Here We Wait using this link: herewewait.com

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Top Indie Sci-Fi And Fantasy Webseries Of 2016

Last year was one of the most robust we've ever seen in terms of the production and release of independent genre webseries.

Our 2015 list of top webseries contained a sampling of projects diverse in tone, theme,  perspective, and scope.

However, 2016 has proven to have been a challenging one for many webseries creators.  

Raising production funding, creating public awareness, determining appropriate distribution, and figuring out sustainable monetization models has been a daunting challenge.

As a result, this year saw a more subdued production and release schedule.

The medium is still in its adolescence, and experiencing growing pains. Despite these hurdles, art always finds a way.

 In 2016, we covered some truly remarkable - and in some cases - groundbreaking sci-fi and fantasy webseries.

This list presents projects we feel are among the best SF&F webseries of 2016:

(Click on each image or title to view the selection and read our original review)

NORTHBOUND

This six-part post-apocalyptic webseries is set a year after a mysterious catastrophe has decimated the world's population.

During the height of winter, while trekking through a frozen wilderness, an unnamed man must battle disease, the elements, and hostile fellow survivors while seeking a final sanctuary.

NORTHBOUND was filmed during the winter on location in the scenic Upper Peninsula region of Michigan. In fact, the breathtaking landscape is a major character in the story.

Against this backdrop, this modern retelling of the classic "man vs man, man vs nature" narrative holds unexpected power and resonance. 

DAGGER KISS

Billed by creator Tucky Williams as a "girl Lord Of The Rings meets The Highlander," this webseries breaks new ground as a feminist, sword-and-sorcery fantasy featuring lesbian protagonists.

DAGGER KISS tells the story of Arden, a powerful sorceress from an alternate dimension, who travels to earth to exact revenge on the dark wizard who murdered her lover. 

After arriving on earth, Arden's life is saved by the mysterious Katia.  The two women form an alliance in order to track down the wizard both are hunting.

DAGGER KISS is a refreshing change from the overwhelmingly heteronormative, cis male centered narratives that comprise the bulk of the fantasy genre.

REN: THE GIRL WITH THE MARK

Set on the medieval-like world of Alathia, the titular Ren is a self-possessed young woman who is curious about the world outside her tiny village.

After a fateful encounter in the woods near her home, Ren discovers she has been marked by a powerful spirit..

Ostracized by her community, she sets out to discover her true destiny.

REN is among a growing number of dynamic genre projects centering charismatic women as compelling, complex and nuanced protagonists.

THE RECORD KEEPER

Witness a cosmic battle between the eternal forces of good and evil, set against the backdrop of a highly realized steampunk-inspired world.

THE RECORD KEEPER tells the story of Raina,  a high-ranking angel who has been tasked with recording and collecting detailed accounts of the war from combatants on both sides.

After eons of unwavering devotion to her duties, Raina falls into despair over the toll the conflict is taking on her brothers and sisters.

She must ultimately confront betrayal, fear, doubt and loss in order to restore her faith.

THE RECORD KEEPER is extraordinary in terms of its ambition, narrative, aesthetic, scope, and  production.   

NINA UNLOCKED

NINA UNLOCKED is the inaugural web series produced by new sci-fi digital video platform RECURSOR.TV.

Nina (portrayed by YouTube star Lana McKissack) is a sophisticated android assassin with one big problem - she has lost her memories.

In order to uncover her identity and true purpose, Nina embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

She interviews top experts from multiple disciplines, including: robotics, science, medicine, education, film, law, etc., to gain insight not only into her nature, but humanity's as well.

NINA UNLOCKED is a sci-fi comedy that follows in the tradition of similarly themed projects such as WestWorld, Humans, and Ex Machina.

INHUMAN CONDITION

Set in a world where supernatural beings such as zombies, werewolves, and vampires not only exist, but the general public is aware of them.

Enter Doctor Michelle Kessler (Tori Higginson, Stargate Atlantis), an accomplished therapist who specializes in treating members of the paranormal community.

Dr. Kessler becomes consumed with helping three of her most troubled patients:

• Tamar, an emotionally fragile young woman who possesses incomprehensible power

• Linc, a jaded werewolf who is fighting against the systemic oppression of his people

• Clara, a depressed woman who is coping with her inexorable transformation into a zombie

While the project's production is exemplary on every level, it's the writing and acting that places this webseries in a category all by itself.

Written by RJ Lackie,  INHUMAN CONDITION is a brilliantly written, astute exploration into the complexity and beauty of the human experience.

 If you enjoyed our selections for best SF&F webseries of 2016, make sure to check out our picks from 2015.

Also, we have compiled a list of the top SF&F short films of 2016.

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16 Of The Best Indie Sci-Fi And Fantasy Short Films of 2016

From the troubling and disturbing political developments in Washington, D.C., to the rise of bigotry, racism, and intolerance here in the United States, to say 2016 has been a difficult year for many would be quite an understatement.   

Thankfully, one of the bright spots of this year has been in the arena of independent genre film.

2016 saw an explosion of science fiction and fantasy short films that pushes the envelope in every area of production, including theme, visual effects, art design, and scale.

So, we are pleased to present our picks for the best genre short films of 2016. Note: these terrific selections are listed in no particular order or ranking. Ranking them would be harder than keeping a mogwai dry!

(Click on each image or title to view the selection and read our original review)

UFO Diary

During World War II, what if women officers in the United States army were instrumental in stopping an alien invasion?

That tantalizing question forms the premise of UFO Diary, an exceptional period piece and sci-fi adventure that celebrates the heroic contributions of the women who serve in the armed services.

RAIN

The X-Men are some of the most popular comic book characters  ever created.

Among them, one of the most iconic is Storm, a Kenyan princess with the power to control the weather itself.

Storm in the comics is a intelligent, bold, compassionate, powerful, and dynamic woman. 

Unfortunately, the character's charisma and personality were almost non-existent in the film adaptations of The X-Men.

Enter Maya Glick, a renaissance woman who wanted to bring to screen a more accurate portrayal of one of her favorite characters.

After conducting a successful crowdfunding campaign, Glick succeeded in producing RAIN, a short film that shows the world an electrifying Storm never before seen onscreen.

SHADOWS

This dark dystopian short set in the year 2037 depicts a London under the control of a fascist regime.

Due to terrorist attacks, civil liberties are things of the past.  The government spies on its citizenry with a fleet of weaponized drones, and spyware that can infiltrate any electronic device.

Welcome to a totalitarian nightmare that may be closer to reality than we would like to imagine.

TRIAL

During a near-future military conflict, a soldier is grievously wounded in battle.

Due to high mortality and low recruitment rates, fringe science is used to heal and rejuvenate the injured solider - but at a terrible price.

This sizzling sci-fi thriller has it all - mystery, charismatic leads, and dynamic action sequences.

GROW

In the year 2083, climate change has irreparably damaged the earth's ecology.

Air pollution has made the atmosphere incapable of sustaining human life.  

The only means of obtaining precious oxygen is by purchasing it from the major corporations that control it.

GROW is a grim and startling cautionary tale about the kind of future our children may inherit due to our ecological malfeasance. 

GEAR

Set in the back allies of a sprawling futuristic metropolis, GEAR chronicles the adventures of a precocious street urchin named Mazzy.

Surviving on her own, Mazzy is intelligent, resourceful, brave, and most determined to rescue a most unlikely ally from a shadowy cabal.

GEAR is an exciting sci-fi adventure that introduces a captivating young heroine.

LILITU

A woman with a special psychic gift is enlisted to help a priest fight an ancient, unspeakable evil.

This unnerving and atmospheric horror short is reminiscent of classics such as Rosemary's Baby and The Haunting.

EMPSILLNES

Four years in the making, this animated masterpiece depicts a lone astronaut's struggle for survival aboard a gigantic space station adrift at the edge of the solar system.

The brainchild of animator Jakob Grygier, this short film boasts a eye-popping mix of CGI and 3D animation that creates a breathtaking portrait of space.

SAURORA

Beneath the ocean of a distant planet, two divers desperately work to rescue a injured colleague.

Reminiscent of James Cameron's sci-fi groundbreaker The Abyss, SAURORA is a tense thriller with spectacular visual effects that convincingly create an ethereal and dangerous alien underwater environment.

UNCANNY VALLEY

Welcome to a future where virtual reality technology has become so immersive, its environments are indistinguishable from the real world.

As a result, people have become addicted to using the technology at the expense of their physical well-being and personal relationships.

With virtual reality potentially causing a paradigm shift in the way we interact with technology, filmmaker Frederico Heller has imagined a future that feels disturbingly prescient.

ZELOS

(Caution: Contains MATURE themes)

Maria is a woman living a charmed life.

She has a devoted husband, two beautiful children, a thriving career, and a gorgeous home.

But when her competition with a seemingly perfect rival ratchets up, Maria orders a clone of herself to help her manage her numerous responsibilities. 

She may have just made the biggest mistake of her life.

This provocative short film explores how technology meant to connect us, can actually have quite the opposite affect.

TEMPLE

This explosive cyberpunk thriller by director Nguyen-Anh Nguyen and starring Osric Chau (Supernatural) is set in a future where cybernetic enhancements to the human body have become commonplace.

Oz (Chau) is on a quest to find a unique cybernetic organ that can save a loved one from death by a deadly virus.

With its combination of impressive visual effects and exciting fight choreography, TEMPLE is a high-octane thrill ride from start to finish.

DARKWAVE: EDGE OF THE STORM

One hundred years into the future, humanity has finally expanded out among the stars.

On a distant world, Sarah, along with her husband Ben and young son, are fleeing from their repressive government.

During their flight, the family makes a discovery that could alter the course of human destiny.

DARKWAVE achieves a cinematic sense of size and scope due to its exceptional production on every level.

KARA

With the highly-anticipated releases of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: Rogue One, George Lucas' iconic space opera has been cemented as the preeminent science fiction franchise in the world.

Part of the beauty of Star Wars is its universe is vast enough to include intriguing stories featuring fascinating tertiary characters.

The unofficial indie film KARA is a brilliant example of such storytelling.

The short focuses on the titular Kara, a young woman with a extraordinary secret that could alter the outcome of the galactic war.

The Adept

Ben and Maddy are a married team of scientists engrossed in solving a vexing problem with their research.

During the course of their work, they encounter a mysterious force that seems like ... magic.

This thoroughly entertaining short film raises fascinating questions about our perceptions of reality.

DUST

On a verdant world, a deadly plague is decimating the citizens of an enormous fortified city.

One man possesses the arcane knowledge to find and eliminate the source of the scourge.

Unfortunately, he must also overcome personal tragedy and a crisis of faith if his world has any hope to survive.

Filmed in Japan, DUST by Ember Lab is one of the most extraordinary SF&F short films we've ever seen.

Its combination of lush cinematography, East Asian inspired art design, compelling narrative, and phenomenal visual effects easily makes this short film among the very best we have seen this year.

If you enjoyed these short films, make sure to check out our picks for the top SF&F WEBSERIES of 2016. 

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: LOST BOY

LOST BOY is the latest sci-fi short film from PostPanic Pictures, the same visionary team who produced the acclaimed genre short SUNDAYS.

Directed by Ash Thorp and Anthony Scott Burns, the short opens onto an expansive and desolate alien landscape.

Across mountainous crags, a cyborg cyclops is relentlessly pursuing the possessor of a vast secret.

LOST BOY is a showcase of stylish design, cutting-edge visual effects, and dynamic cinematography that hurls viewers into the heart of the action.

The producers were influenced by classic '80s American sci-fi/action films, as well as Japanese samurai movies.

The result is a visual flair and sensibility that announces the auspicious arrival of a new vanguard of filmmakers.

LOST BOY is another feather-in-the-cap for PostPanic Pictures, a studio blazing a new trail in exciting cinematic storytelling.

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Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: ENTROPY

Every so often, a film is released  that breaks with traditional filmmaking conventions, and manages to provide a completely captivating viewing experience.

The dialogue-free sci-fi short film ENTROPY by Tim Cahn is just such an example.

The three and a half minute, digitally animated short depicts a lone spaceship departing the earth. Traveling past the moon and planets, the vessel arrives at an enormous space station at the edge of  our solar system.

There, a portal opens enabling the ship to continue its mysterious voyage into the cosmos.

Who built the spaceship?  

What circumstances led the ship to be launched in the first place?

Where is its final destination?

How far in the future are the events depicted taking place?

These are a few of the questions the short leaves unanswered, only adding to the tantalizing allure of this gorgeously animated film. 

Make no mistake, the visuals are the star of this short. 

The jaw-dropping digital renderings of celestial bodies conjure up the breathtaking majesty of the heavens.

Watch ENTROPY here ...

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Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

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Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: ECHO TORCH

In the dazzling sci-fi short film ECHO TORCH, a inventor perfects a mysterious machine that has the ability to illuminate specters from the past.

Bathed in the machine's cerulean light, the inventor (James Fitzgerald) embarks on an odyssey through the past, encountering entities that are familiar, unearthly, and deeply personal.

ECHO TORCH is the latest flight of fancy from filmmaker Chris Preksta, whose retro-cool sci-fi web series The Mercury Men is an outstanding example of the best the medium has to offer.

With his latest project, Preksta once again demonstrates his uncanny ability to craft compelling speculative narratives using the nostalgia evoked by eras gone by.

Watch ECHO TORCH here ...

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Enjoy over 30 hours of outstanding sci-fi, horror, and fantasy short films by downloading our film guide, 200 Best Online Sci-Fi Short Films.

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