The Best Indie SFF Short Films & Web Series

The Best In Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Films, Web Series, and Othe Closely-Related Media

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DarkLegacyLogo

Witness The Birth Of A Sith Lord In The Arresting Star Wars Fan Film 'Dark Legacy'

July 12, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

"The Force is balance. For light to exist there must also be darkness."

Set on a forsaken world shrouded in shadow and ruin, the Star Wars fan film Dark Legacy is the story of a young woman named Kia (Erin Wu), who is the coerced apprentice of a powerful and mysterious Sith lord (Fabien Garcia, voiced by David Thomas).

In order to complete her "training," Kia must vanquish her sinister Sith master in a duel to the death.

Written and directed by Anthony Pietromonaco, Dark Legacy is a rare Star Wars story told from the perspective of the Sith - the enigmatic Dark Side worshipers who are the archenemies of the Jedi order.

In spirit, the short is the mirror image of another terrific fan film, HOSHINO, which chronicles the ascendance of a young woman from padawan to Jedi Knight.

Dark Legacy also continues the most welcome tradition began by The Force Awakens and Rogue One of centering Star Wars narratives around women protagonists. 

The short is forbidding, gorgeous and alluring, boasting impressive production, including:

  • electrifying fight choreography by Phil Tan ( Pirates Of The Caribbean, Dragon Ball Z - Light Of Hope)

  • stunning special effects by Jaramy Aiello, and Mo Meinhart (Star Trek, The Walking Dead)

  • a deeply compelling narrative by Pietromonaco 

  • mesmerizing use of light and shadow by director of photography Alex Chinnici

However, special mention must be made about Erin Wu's charismatic performance as Kia.

It takes an actor of rare ability to be able to convey intent and emotion without dialogue, but Wu succeeds in making Kia a very sympathetic character whose plight you quickly become invested in.

By the end of the short, you will want to find out more Kia, and where her fateful destiny will ultimately lead.

Watch Dark Legacy here ...


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July 12, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
star wars dark legacy fan film, dark legacy erin wu, dark legacy anthony pietromonaco
Science Fiction, Short Film
DAWNOFTHEDEAF LOGO

'DAWN OF THE DEAF': Groundbreaking Horror Short Centers Deaf Protagonists

June 28, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Horror, Short Film

After a mysterious audio pulse engulfs the planet, everyone who hears it is struck dead, leaving only the deaf untouched. 

Reeling after this apocalyptic event, a small band of deaf survivors soon realize the true horror is just beginning.

Written and directed by Rob Savage, the British short film DAWN OF THE DEAF is a groundbreaking take on the zombie apocalypse.

In an interview with video streaming platform Vimeo, Savage stated he is a fan of the iconic zombie films of George A. Romero. He also bemoaned how derivative and trite subsequent zombie stories have become in the years since Romero's classic films were released.

Seeking to inject originality and a unique perspective into a zombie story, he and collaborator Jed Shepherd decided to focus on the pivotal events in the lives of six deaf protagonists in the moments right before "the pulse" destroys civilization as we know it.

In order to engage British hearing and deaf viewers, dialogue is spoken in English along with British Sign Language and English subtitles.

The result is a mesmerizing, gripping, gory, and disturbing zombie short that is an important breakthrough in the onscreen representation of people with disabilities - a marginalized group often ignored and neglected in many conversations about more inclusive representation in the media.

Watch DAWN OF THE DEAF here ...

(WARNING: This short film contains adult themes and situations, and is suitable for MATURE audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised.)


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June 28, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
dawn of the deaf horror short film, dawn of the deaf rob savage, dawn of the deaf jed shepherd
Horror, Short Film
Image property of BME Films

Image property of BME Films

In The Sci-Fi Short NANO, Law Enforcement Has The Disturbing Ability To Paralyze Anyone Via An App

June 20, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

How much of your individual freedoms would you be willing to give up for technology promising to make your life more convenient and secure?

In the cyberpunk short film NANO, a dystopia is revealed where everyone has been injected with nanites controlled by apps on their futuristic smartphones.

Using these apps, individuals can command their nanites to alter the functioning and appearance of their physical bodies.

Want to change your hair and eye color? Done. Want to enhance your sexual pleasure? No problem. Activate or deactivate birth control?

There's an app for that.

However, a federal government mandated upgrade of the technology gives law enforcement officers the disturbing ability to instantly paralyze criminal suspects by co-opting their nanites.

This revelation causes much public consternation, inciting resistance by a group of brilliant hackers intent on sabotaging the new upgrade.

From the sleek, we-are-almost-there technology such as holographic television screens and transparent smartphones, to its cinematic style and atmosphere, NANO looks like the product of a multi-million dollar Hollywood production.

Co-written and directed by Mike Manning for BME Films, what is most impressive about the short is not its professional polish, but its timely and provocative themes. 

It is an unsettling cautionary tale, asking us to ponder exactly how much of our privacy and civil liberties are we willing to sacrifice for convenience, and a feeling of security.

Watch NANO here ...


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June 20, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
NANO scifi short film, NANO mike manning, NANO BME films
Science Fiction, Short Film
RakkaLogo

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: RAKKA By Neill Blomkamp Starring Sigourney Weaver

June 15, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

RAKKA is the first, highly-anticipated project from director Neill BlomKamp's (District 9, Chappie) new production studio/idea incubator Oats Studios.

Co-written by Blomkamp and Thomas Sweterlitsch, RAKKA is set in Texas in the year 2020.

The earth has been invaded by sinister reptilian-like extraterrestrials.

We lost.

The planet is now under full occupation. The aliens have begun destroying earth's ecology in order to make the planet more habitable for them. 

The world has become a blasted ruin with humanity on the brink of extinction.

The aliens also perform obscene experiments on captive humans such as vivisection, breeding, being used as living incubators, and mind control.

Listen to our EYE ON SCI-FI podcast episode featuring RAKKA!

A rag-tag resistance - led by military commander Jasper (Sigourney Weaver) - desperately seeks any advantage against the invaders, including working with Nosh (Brandon Auret), an unstable bomb-maker and pyromaniac.

However, the key to the resistance's ultimate success lies with Amir (Eugene Khumbanyiwa), a rare survivor of the alien experimentation.

While alien invasion has been a recurring theme in science fiction since, well, forever, RAKKA stands out due to the distinct vision Blomkamp brings to the genre.

Similar to District 9, this short film features a sci-fi setting not sleek and pristine in any way.

Instead, RAKKA is an extremely dark, disturbing, gritty, gory, and unsanitary spectacle. It is the stuff of nightmares.

It is also completely mesmerizing.

The bleakness works to lend the short film a kind of verisimilitude.  If advanced hostile aliens were to invade our world, it would probably look far more like the one RAKKA depicts instead of Independence Day.

In an interview, Blomkamp revealed one of his main motivations for creating Oats Studios: to foster more maverick filmmaking, unfettered by the constraints of commercial productions.

If more creative, out-of-the-box genre films like RAKKA are the result, I sincerely hope Oats Studios is a smashing success.

Watch RAKKA in its entirety here ...

Here is a brief video of Oats Studios employees describing the firm and what it's like to work there ...

Visit the official Oats Studios website to discover more about this intriguing new venture, and how you can support its mission.


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June 15, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
rakka neill blomkamp, rakka oats studios, rakka steam, steam oats studios, rakka sigourney weaver
Science Fiction, Short Film
Augmented Screen Shot

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: AUGMENTED

June 12, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

What if you could use advanced technology to alter the appearance of parts of your body you feel are unattractive?

In the sci-fi short film AUGMENTED, written by Ben Shillito and Ross Peacock (who also directed), we visit a near-future where one cosmetics company has pioneered the use of nanites to allow users to alter their physical appearance to others.

While the short does have its fair quotient of intrigue, the majority of its run time is spent with two characters engaging in a fascinating discussion about the staggering implications of the technology.

AUGMENTED uses its premise to pose some unsettling and provocative questions about the extent we are allowing technology - and in turn, the powerful corporations that control it - to influence and pervade our daily lives.

Watch AUGMENTED in its entirety here ...


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June 12, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
Augmented sci-fi short film, Augmented ben shillito, Augmented ross peacock
Science Fiction, Short Film
TheNostalgistLogo2.JPG

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: THE NOSTALGIST

May 12, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

Imagine a future where virtual reality technology is so advanced, it is able to create any kind of paradise you can dream of - worlds indistinguishable from reality.

Written and directed by Giacomo Cimini based on a short story by Robopocalypse author Daniel H. Wilson, THE NOSTALGIST is a futuristic short film about a man (Lambert Wilson) who has created a sumptuous Victorian-era world straight out of a Jules Verne novel. There, he spends all of his time with his beloved son (Samuel Joslin).

After a hardware failure threatens to unveil his harsh reality, the man goes on a perilous quest to replace the malfunctioning part before his son discovers the devastating truth.

While on the surface THE NOSTALGIST may seem to be yet another speculative tale about the future of virtual reality, at its core it is a poignant and affecting rumination on the extremes we will go to protect the ones we love.

Watch THE NOSTALGIST here ...


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May 12, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
the nostalgist sci-fi short film, the nostalgist giacomo cimini, the nostalgist daniel h wilson, the nostalgist robopocalypse
Science Fiction, Short Film
Tomorrow Calling Airship

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: TOMORROW CALLING Starring Colin Salmon

May 09, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

TOMORROW CALLING is a 1993 made-for-tv science fiction short film adaptation of William Gibson's short story The Gernsback Continuum.

Produced and directed by Tim Leandro, the film stars veteran British character actor Colin Salmon (very early in his career) as Bill, a photographer disillusioned with the more commercial side of his craft.

Seeking a more fulfilling outlet for his creativity, he accepts a job offer from a book publisher named Dialta Downes (Toyah Willcox). 

Downes commissions Bill to photograph architecture and relics that exemplify the future as imagined by 1930-1950's America. A future comprised of Art Deco constructs and sculpted white marble.

A future where sleek airships large enough to hold grand ballrooms and squash courts tour the bluest of skies.

During his assignment, Bill begins to have visions of an alternate world where the retro-future he is seeking to document did become reality.

Even though TOMORROW CALLING was produced in 1993, the short holds up remarkably well. Much of the credit for this falls on the caliber of the cast assembled. 

Colin Salmon

Colin Salmon never fails to give less than a stellar performance. This early role is indicative of the distinguished career he would go on to have.

Toyah Willcox, another accomplished British actor, is magnetic as Dialta Downes, a woman obsessed with the future as predicted by early 20th century pop culture Americana.

Also notable among the cast is the late Don Henderson as Bill's seedy confidant Meryvn Kihn. Henderson portrays Kihn with just the right amount of world-weariness to help ground the more fantastical elements of the story.

Check out TOMORROW CALLING here ...


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May 09, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
tomorrow calling sci-fi short film, tomorrow calling colin salmon, william gibson the gernsback continuum
Science Fiction, Short Film
SIGNIFICANCE logo

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: SIGNIFICANCE

May 06, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

"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 ...


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May 06, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
Significance science fiction short film, significance jack pirie alex hylands, pale blue dot photograph
Science Fiction, Short Film
RISE Anton Yelchin

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: RISE Featuring The Late Anton Yelchin

April 19, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

RISE is a breathtaking dystopian saga featuring one of the final onscreen performances of late actor Anton Yelchin.

Created and directed by filmmaker David Karlak, the short film depicts a future where androids have gained consciousness, as well as emotional cognition. They become known as "sentients."

Fearful of their rapid evolution, humanity ostracizes the sentients. Tension erupts into all out war after a sentient kills a human being in self-defense.

"Technology stepped over the line."

A sentient leader named Basil (Yelchin) is captured by human military forces led by a Colonel Briggs (portrayed by veteran character actor Rufus Sewell). 

Despite Basil's assertions to the contrary, Briggs believes the sentients are not truly alive, and must be eliminated due to the threat he perceives they pose to humanity.

However, Basil issues a dire proclamation to Briggs: the sentients will not be easy targets for eradication.

RISE is gorgeous and gripping from beginning to end. Watching it, you feel swept into a fully realized, dark world of technological wonders, paranoia, and danger. 

What makes this such an impressive feat is the short's total run time is slightly under five minutes!

Within that brief time frame, the visual effects and stunning cinematography lend the project a sense of immensity and scope usually reserved for big-budget, blockbuster movies.

It was not surprising to learn RISE was created as proof-of-concept for a full-length feature. Given what is already on display, I would love to revisit this world in a movie version or TV series in order to see its themes painted on a much larger canvas.

However, any such iteration would feel somewhat incomplete due to the tragic loss of star Anton Yelchin. Watching him as Basil knowing it is one of his final performances is very bittersweet.

Yelchin was a brilliant young actor, and this performance cements his legacy as being a singular talent and presence.  He is dearly missed.

Rufus Sewell is another highlight. He brings his trademark mix of charisma and menace to the role of Colonel Briggs.  

His dynamic with Yelchin is electric, providing the short with an undeniable gravitas and fiery emotional core.

Watch RISE in its entirety here ...

RISE is a striking, ambitious, and compelling dystopian saga that will leave its searing impression on you long after it ends.


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April 19, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
RISE sci-fi short film, RISE anton yelchin, RISE rufus sewell, RISE david karlak
Science Fiction, Short Film
Remanence

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: REMANENCE

April 05, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

REMANENCE  is a quiet and thoughtful short film that proves a multi-million dollar production budget is not necessary for telling a engaging science fiction story.

Written by David Hudson and Jono Seneff, the short opens in a college classroom where the students are being lectured by their professor.

The topic is an interesting one: how we tend to make devastating natural occurrences - such as volcanic eruptions and hurricanes -  seem like relatable characters by giving them human names.

The danger in this, the professor posits, is we lose a healthy respect for the awesome forces of nature we all are subject to.

The more speculative aspect of the short film comes at the end in the form of a great, apropos twist. 

Suffice to say the short's title is a very subtle hint as to what the twist is.

Watch REMANENCE here ...


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April 05, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
remanence scifi short film
Science Fiction, Short Film
LookoutsLogo

Fantasy Short Film Spotlight: LOOKOUTS

March 31, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Fantasy, Short Film, Special Feature

Deep in the heart of an ancient woodland, one boy must confront a terrible creature born from legend.

Produced by RedGate Films from the 2009 Penny Arcade comic of the same name, LOOKOUTS is story of Pehn (Kelton Roney), who along with his village's boy scout troop, is hunting a terrifying, winged Basilisk.

Tragically, the hunters become the hunted, and Pehn must confront the Basilisk alone in the heart of the forbidding Eyrewood forest.

LOOKOUTS was brought to life by director David Bousquet and producer Kristin Bousquet, who were inspired by the fantasy films of their youth, as well as the iconic creature effects work of the legendary Jim Henson.

The filmmaker's devotion paid off because this film is among the most gorgeous fantasy shorts I've ever seen so far.

Everything from the meticulously detailed props and costume designs, to the impressive creature effects testify to the overall cinematic superiority of practical effects over CGI.

Another significant character in the film is its setting.

Shot on location in California's Mendocino Forests, the majestic Redwood trees and verdant foliage makes it seem as if the viewer has been transported to a fabled land, home to living myths.

Watch LOOKOUTS the fantasy short film here ...

To get an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the making of LOOKOUTS, visit the film's official site LookOutsShortFilm.com


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March 31, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
lookouts fantasy short film, lookouts fantasy film, redgate films
Fantasy, Short Film, Special Feature
Image property of TK2 Films

Image property of TK2 Films

Sci-Fi Short Film Spotlight: RUNAWAY

March 11, 2017 by Rod T. Faulkner in Science Fiction, Short Film

From films such as The Terminator and The Matrix, to television series Battlestar Galactica, Westworld and Humans, science fiction seems to have an endless fascination with the creation of true artificial intelligence/life, as well as what implications such an event would mean for the future of humanity.

In the sci-fi western short RUNAWAY by TK2 Films, the year is 2065. Sophisticated androids called "synthetics" have become a new servant class.

Incidentally, two years prior, the synthetics became fully self-aware in a event dubbed "the awakening."

As a result of becoming sentient, synthetics now desire freedom and the same rights as human beings. Driven by the fear of being supplanted as the dominant species on earth, human society begins a brutal, violent pushback.

Deadly bounty hunters known as "darkcoats" have been assigned to apprehend fugitive synthetics alive or dead.

One darkcoat named Renzler (Rico E. Anderson) views his duties as nothing more than a way to earn an income. However, his partner Barrett (Paul Lang) has a far more militant view.

He hates synthetics. Believing they are "the devil's work," he wants to rid the world of them.

Image Property Of TK2 Films

Image Property Of TK2 Films

After encountering a fugitive synthetic named Maria (Callie Bussell), along with synthetic sympathizers Mason (Ed Trucco) and his companion Louise (Caroline Rankin), Renzler is forced to reconsider his beliefs regarding the plight of the artificial humans. This strains his already tenuous partnership with Barrett

When the two bounty hunters finally catch Maria, a fateful turn of events leads to an explosive reckoning.

RUNAWAY, written and co-directed by Harrison Heller, is not  just another sci-fi tale about self-aware androids. It is also a scathing commentary on the disturbing rise of racism, xenophobia, and extreme nationalism throughout the world.

"Check out our in-depth interview with RUNAWAY writer and co-director Harrison Heller here."

The synthetics are feared because they are different, and society, particularly those in power, perceive them as a threat to the status quo.

The short makes these observations strictly within the natural flow of the narrative - not with obnoxious, heavy-handed sermonizing. This is where the writing and cast shine. 

The dialogue feels naturalistic, delivered by actors who provide nuanced, compelling performances that are irresistibly engaging.

RUNAWAY is extremely well produced, with an overall aesthetic that is an intriguing mix of western and steampunk stylings juxtaposed with futuristic technology.

The end result is a gripping sci-fi short with visual flair that makes immersion into the story an effortless endeavor.

Watch RUNAWAY in its entirety here ...

Make sure to check out our fascinating interview with writer and co-director Harrison Heller here.


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March 11, 2017 /Rod T. Faulkner
runaway sci-fi western short film, TK2 films, sci-fi western, artificial intelligence
Science Fiction, Short Film
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