PopHorror Let's Get Scared
The 2019 Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival has announced the award winners for its seventh annual event. The festival featured a lineup of screenings, premieres, panels, and virtual reality held in honor of acclaimed novelist, Philip K. Dick and was held as a bi-coastal gathering in New York and California. In 2019, eleven films recognized for their distinctive filmmaking styles and quality storytelling.
Read all about the full list of winners below!
BEST PHILIP K. DICK FEATURE – Volition (2018) — World Premiere
Director: Tony Dean Smith
Volition Synopsis
Blending genres, this mind-bending sci-fi thriller about a man afflicted with clairvoyance who tries to change his fate when a series of events leads to a vision of his own imminent murder. But as he sets out to avoid his certain death, he comes to see that his pre-sentient condition is not quite what it seems. Starring Adrian Glynn McMorran (Arrow), Magda Apanowicz (The Green Inferno) and Aleks Paunovic (Van Helsing).
Run Time/Country: 101 min, Canada
BEST SCIENCE FICTION FEATURETTE – Destroyer of Worlds (2018)
Director: Samual Dawes
Destroyer of Worlds Synopsis
A precocious teenager must reluctantly leave his life in 1954 behind when his father makes the most devastating discovery to date: Leap Theory.
Run Time/Country: 44 min, UK
BEST HORROR FEATURE – The Dark Red (2018)
Director: Dan Bush
The Dark Red Synopsis
A young woman is committed to a psychiatric hospital and claims her newborn was stolen by a dark cult.
Run Time/Country: 101 min, USA
BEST PHILIP K. DICK SHORT ADAPTATION – Beyond the Door (2018)
Director: Em Johnson
Beyond The Door Synopsis
A mother brings home a cuckoo clock to decorate the baby’s room, unbeknownst that the cuckoo clock has the ability to love and hate just like humans. The cuckoo clock tests the couple’s love by mimicking the presence of their deceased son.
Run Time/Country: 20 min, USA
BEST SCIENCE FICTION SHORT – I Am the Doorway (2018)
Director: Simon Pearce
I Am The Doorway Synopsis
After a journey to investigate desolate Pluto, an astronaut returns home a shattered man. He sees eyes forcing their way through the skin of his hands, eyes that distort his friends and the landscape itself into monstrous visions. Believing himself the doorway to alien invasion and gruesome murder, he must take desperate action. Based on the short story by Stephen King.
Run Time/Country: 20 min, UK
BEST ESCHATON, SINGULARITY AND BEYOND SHORT – Mise En Abyme (2018)
Director: Edoardo Smerill
Mise En Abyme Synopsis
An eccentric and aristocratic gentleman devotes most of his time to a bizarre activity. Obsessed by beauty, he wanders everyday in the wood nearby the city, hunting the most rare butterflies. Once captured, he frames them and put in a massive and disturbing collection. He will soon realize to be himself part of a bigger collection.
Run Time/Country: 11 min, Italy
BEST PERSON OF COLOR SCI-FI SHORT – Sereget (2018)
Director: Dempsey Tillman
Sereget Synopsis
An emotionally detached husband (with a child on the way) gets a rude awakening when aliens invade his home and target his family.
Run Time/Country: 13 min, USA
BEST HORROR SHORT – Post Mortem Mary (2017)
Director: Joshua Long
Post Mortem Mary Synopsis
A girl and her mother run a post mortem photography business in 1840’s Australia.
Run Time/Country: 10 min, Australia
BEST DOCUMENTARY – Nobody Dies in Longyearbyen (2017)
Director: David Freid
Nobody Dies in Longyearbyen Synopsis
Permafrost in a northern island of Norway is affecting Global Seed Vault, infectious diseases like anthrax, influenza and global warming.
Run Time/Country: 9 min, Norway
BEST ANIMATION – Uncle Griot (2018)
Director: Paul Charisse
Uncle Griot Synopsis
A young girl takes her uncle for a walk.
Run Time/Country: 6 min, UK
BEST TRAILER – Tatu (2018)
Director: Garcerón Alejo
Tatu Synopsis
Monster robots in a car junkyard battle it out.
Run Time/Country: 2 min, Argentina
Final Thoughts
Cool stuff! Lots of films I need to check out. I’ve always loved King’s I Am The Doorway. It will be interesting to see that come to life on the screen. Post Mortem Mary and The Dark Red also sound very promising.
What do you think? Which award winner do you want to see most? Tell us in the comments!
