Despite a year marred by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing outcries for racial and social justice, political malfeasance, and economic turmoil, one bright spot was the release of some remarkable genre short films and web series.

Each of the following projects illustrates the indomitable will of independent filmmakers to create art - even in the most challenging of times. These projects stand out due to their stellar production value, engaging narratives, diverse perspectives, and insightful commentary on modern life.

BINGE WATCHING

In the near future, a bored, affluent London housewife attempts to distract herself by using a highly-advanced, Netflix-like entertainment system. While channel surfing, she stumbles upon a program allowing her to see the world through the eyes of a young Black man as he endures a fateful encounter with the police.

BINGE WATCHING is uncompromising, which makes it a powerful viewing experience because of the harsh realities it reflects.

GOLD FROM THE SKY

In the year 2067, the world is under the totalitarian control of a mysterious organization known only as The Global Order.

GOLD FROM THE SKY is a compelling, five-episode web series about a near-future that feels almost inevitable. With its courageous protagonist and gritty worldbuilding, this tense, unsettling dystopian saga is one not to miss.

ESTATE

Based on the work of the same title by famed author China Miéville, ESTATE is the story of a struggling community in the United Kingdom.

Due to economic and social stressors, citizens begin taking out their frustrations on the local wildlife. When a prodigal son returns to the estate, his arrival heralds an assault by an animal kingdom weary of humanity’s constant disrespect and abuse.

This remarkable short film features Dominique Tipper (Naomi Nagata, The Expanse) and Samuel Anderson (Danny Pink, Doctor Who) as the main leads.

BUBBLY BROWN SUGAR

BUBBLY BROWN SUGAR is an intensely appealing supernatural dramedy about two soul mates who are destined to meet. It centers Black and Brown people in a way still far too rare in media: as complex, multi-faceted, and aspiring human beings seeking love and friendship just the same as everyone else.

And in the tumultuous year that was 2020, this delightful confection arrived right on time.

THE SPEED OF TIME

If you are a fan of cheesy, bombastic action films - especially those from the 80s - then THE SPEED OF TIME is your ride at the fair.

Every trope from films that made huge action stars of celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jean-Claude Van Damme are not spared the lambast in this smile-inducing homage.

KINETIC

The second genre short film by director Kylie Eaton is an engaging feminist take on the superhero origin story.

Being an avid fan of superhero movies herself, Eaton noticed many of them give the relationships between fathers and sons - or fathers and daughters - prominent spotlight, but few give the same attention to mother-daughter dynamics.

KINETIC is Eaton’s inspired answer to that deficient.

ASYMPTOMATIC (ASINTOMÁTICO)

ASYMPTOMATIC is an atmospheric and intense short film that directly addresses the pandemic in an organic way germane to its narrative. It offers a disturbing prognostication about a future which may come to pass if the world does not remain vigilant and hold its leaders accountable.

INVASION

Stories about invading alien beings are a dime a dozen in sci-fi. INVASION, by filmmaker Pete Majarich, re-frames the trope in a beautiful, unique, and haunting way.

If you believe you have seen every possible iteration of an alien invasion story that can be told… think again.

HAPPY HUNTING

This provocative short reveals a far future where a popular internet personality on a distant world hunts down other humans infected with an alien contagion, broadcasting the event to his followers for fame and notoriety.

HAPPY HUNTING is a sobering and scathing indictment of the extremes individuals will go in order to become “internet-famous” and viral sensations.

INTO THE SILENT SEA

INTO THE SILENT SEA is a poignant story about a lone Russian cosmonaut who becomes stranded in orbit during a covert mission at height of the Cold War.

This beautifully shot and acted short film gives an unflinching look at the backroom politics that shaped the earliest days of the space race. It also pays respect to the courage and enormous sacrifice of those who risk it all to travel into space.

CROSSOVER POINT

Written and directed by acclaimed author Antony Johnston (Deadspace, Atomic Blonde), CROSSOVER POINT is the second short on this list reflecting our new reality of necessary pandemic lockdowns and remote work.

A renowned physicist tries to convince a very skeptical reporter of his discovery of a parallel earth. However, the scientist is unaware his discovery is placing him in grave danger.

CROSSOVER POINT succeeds in being a tense, sc-fi thriller with terrific cast performances and a storytelling device many of us have become all-too familiar with this year.

GILL

In GILL, a scientist is testing a prototype teleportation suit when it begins to malfunction.

Teleporting from disparate locations with no means of control, the scientist must decide between letting the co-creator of the suit take remote control, or saving herself by relying on her own intelligence and skill.

GILL is a stunning sci-fi saga about relationships and the struggle for control and power incumbent in all of them.

CUPID’S PARADISE

If you think dating is tough now… well, visit the dystopian future as envisioned by the short CUPID’S PARADISE.

In this reality, every person is assigned a “hotness” score based on the most superficial of criteria. Single individuals must find a love match within a hundred attempts.

The consequences are severe for anyone who fails to find their love match in time.

CUPID’S PARADISE is a subversive look at how technology contributes to the challenges of modern dating.

WHO AMONG US

WHO AMONG US depicts a future in which a television game show of the same name is the most popular in the world. With over four billion viewers watcing its finale, the game show Who Among Us demands six contestants prove who in their group is not human, but an android duplicate. The winner takes home a literal fortune in cash.

WHO AMONG US is one of the most bizarre and intriguing sci-fi short films released this year. With its slick visual style and offbeat sensibility, it satirizes our society’s fascination with both reality television and game shows, while also exploring existential questions concerning what defines us as human.

SKY FIGHTER

In the 26th century, humanity is engaged in a war with hostile aliens in deep space. A fighter pilot awakens aboard his spaceship with amnesia; the only other person aboard claims to be his co-pilot, but can he trust her - or is he being manipulated by the enemy?

SKY FIGHTER adds an additional layer of depth to the typical action-packed space opera with its tense story about identity loss and loss of trust among comrades.

AMERICAN QUARTET

The last short film we covered for the year provides a warm balm to the tsunami of turmoil that was 2020.

Set in the year 2037, AMERICAN QUARTET is a very unconventional sci-fi drama about an immigrant confronting the bigotry and prejudice of the small town where she resides. What makes storytelling in this short so remarkable is not a word of dialogue is spoken by the entire cast.

Instead, the drama of the story is translated by the actors’ facial expressions, body language, and the gorgeous music of composer Antonín Dvorák as performed by the Dover Quartet.

The end result is a stirring, magnificent story about the overcoming power of empathy and hope in the face of hatred and division.

Thank you for checking out our picks for the best science fiction and fantasy short films and web series of the past year. Make sure to explore our selections for best sci-fi short films of 2019 to discover more exceptional works.

Experience our official podcast Eye On Sci-Fi. Join host and The 7th Matrix founder Rod T. Faulkner as he spotlights terrific indie SFF short films and web series.

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