The Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival celebrated its sixth year in 2023. The goal of the fest is to shine a light on talented, hungry, and up-and-coming filmmakers who are trying to get their name out in the world. The ASFFF shines a light on noteworthy (or otherworldly?) short films from directors/creatives who have something special to say. These creatives can use the short from format as vehicles for TV pilots, proof of concept, or a chapter/snapshot in a larger story.
The fun part about Science Fiction is that anything goes, and things are never one-note. Bits of this and that are thrown into the mix in whatever amount the writer wants. The result of which can run the gamut in fictional science – from implied to very sly to an all-out effect fest with aliens, robots and lasers.
This year we were asked to be one of the judges, and the opportunity was met with unfettered enthusiasm. But once we were tasked with choosing the “best” of the short films, that’s when things got difficult. The candidates in 2023 were offering up exceptional work. Vastly different, wildly imaginative, expertly produced, and each had the one element necessary to make these stories hit: connection to humanity.
These were all steeped in technology, but they showed the effect they had on the characters. Some were heartwarming (The Golden Record), some a cautionary tale (Sentence), and some that truly made us laugh (Gary Internet). You could tell the filmmakers had a lot of fun making these even the ones that hit hard like Dark Cell, Keep/Delete, The Things I Feel and the crowd-pleasing OldMen Rule.
In this episode of the podcast, we speak to winners of the best shorts in different categories. Everything selected in this year’s fest was a high watermark for the creatives behind the short films, but also the level of talent out there wanting to tell stories. So allow us to introduce you to Best Director winner Ryan Kennedy (Clone), Best Picture winner Sam Siske (Departure), 48-Hour Challenge winner Aaron Bryan (A.I. – Artificial Invitation), and the head of the film festival herself, Amanda Ray.
The mission of the Atlanta Sci-fi Film Festival is to provide screens for the finest independent sci-fi films locally and internationally, increase cultural diversity and interest in the genre, and inspires the local sci-fi community by cultivating engaging art.
Creating independent sci-fi films is becoming easier with today’s rapid-paced technological development. ASCIFFF nurtures new talent and supports concepts that are not often presented in mainstream media or studio films. The festival was founded in 2015 by Amanda Ray with the goal of fostering rich science fiction storytelling and challenging perceptions of the intersection between technology and art.
