The Best In Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Films, Web Series, and Othe Closely-Related Media
TOUCH is a gorgeous and enigmatic sci-fi short film that poses provocative questions concerning technology’s increasingly complicated role in our pursuit of happiness and the attainment of that which we desire. Starring Tanya Fear (Kick-Ass 2, Doctor Who).
Read MoreIn the gripping sci-fi short ZERO, a young girl must use her late father’s training to survive alone and secluded after the world is devastated by a mysterious attack. Starring Bella Ramsey (Lyanna Mormont, Game Of Thrones).
Read MoreViral superhero fan film STATIC by David Kirkman is based on the Milestone Comics character of the same name. Teenager Virgil Hawkins struggles to balance his family life and school while fighting crime as the superhero known as Static.
Read More“Memories make us who we are. Change them and… who do we become?”
In the poignant sci-fi short Remembrance, a researcher uses experimental technology to relive her last memory of her mother. But when she attempts to use the unstable technology to alter her past, she may be required to pay a very high price.
Read More
When J.J. Abrams’ Cloverfield made its theatrical debut in 2008, no one could have predicted his creature feature would spawn a cinematic universe currently spanning three movies with a rumored fourth planned.
Enter the award-winning sci-fi short film MEGAN, co-written and directed by visual effects (VFX) master Greg Strasz.
Strasz, who was VFX supervisor for Independence Day: Resurgence and VFX art director for White House Down, conceived the short as an unofficial adjunct to J.J. Abrams’ “Cloververse.”
MEGAN stars Matilda Lutz as the same character referred to but never seen in the film 10 Cloverfield Lane. She is the daughter of character Howard Stampler (John Goodman), a troubled man obsessed by conspiracy theories involving the end of the world.
In the short film, Megan is aboard a military Black Hawk helicopter sent to investigate a strange phenomenon affecting her city. Onboard with her is Ganu Yoshida (Garret Sato), a mysterious civilian observer.
Matilda Lutz as Megan.
When her helicopter crashes, Megan discovers she and Yoshida may be the only survivors. When another enigmatic figure (Ralf Moeller) arrives at the crash site, she realizes a global conspiracy is at work.
In attempting to describe MEGAN, two adjectives come to mind: cinematic and spectacular. This short looks as good as the Cloverfield movies it pays homage to.
Given the pedigree of its production team, this is not surprising.
‘MEGAN’ director Greg Strasz (center) on set.
Director and co-writer Greg Strasz has an illustrious career in the VFX industry, having worked on many notable television series and films, such as 2012 and The Triangle.
Co-written by Strasz, Giuseppe Mercadante, and Jean de Meuron, the short’s brief narrative is tightly woven and laced with mystery, tension, and nods to the Cloverfield universe.
Director of Photography Markus Förderer in collaboration with VFX Supervisors Olcun Tan and Strasz bring their distinct visions to bear on the project - resulting in making you feel the world of MEGAN has enveloped you and snatched you along on its journey.
The music score by Iris Wallner and kinetic editing of Zimo Huang combine with the rest of the exemplary production team’s efforts to create a vivid and darkly alluring world.
It’s important to note, VFX studio Gradient Effects - the firm behind effects for Stranger Things and Thor: Ragnarok - used the latest in cutting-edge software to make the short 8K resolution ready.
This also accounts for why MEGAN is such a singular viewing experience.
Please check out our interview with director and co-writer Greg Strasz, and watch MEGAN in all its stunning spectacle here…
MEGAN is a filmmaking achievement and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production house should consider folding it into official Cloverfield canon.
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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THE SHAMAN is a sci-fi short film bursting from the seams with cinematic spectacle.
Set in the year 2204, the short tells the dark story of a world devastated by 73 years of continuous war.
In midst of war, a spiritual dogma is rediscovered centering on the belief that everyone and every object has a soul.
A sect of mystics known as shamans have the ability to spirituality enter a “Netherworld” where they can affect the souls of people or objects.
During the war, shamans use their powers to cross into the Netherworld to convert the souls of the enemy’s massive war machines.
Danny Shaylar as The Shaman
The short centers on a shaman (Danny Shaylar) who is attempting to subvert the soul of a war machine threatening his people. Unfortunately, he is wrestling with a tragic secret from his past - one the enemy is aware of.
When he attempts to conquer the soul of the machine, he discovers his foe is prepared and waiting.
Bottom line: THE SHAMAN looks as though a Hollywood studio spent millions to create the latest sci-fi blockbuster.
In just under 17 minutes, you are given a passport to an outrageously realized world where skyscraper-tall, A.I.-controlled, mobile machines wage an incessant war on humanity.
Writer and director Marco Kalantari deserves the too-often-used moniker visionary.
Every element of production, including the cast, production design, visual effects, sound design, and musical score fuse together to create a remarkable sci-fi short film enormously ambitious in scale and scope.
The short was released online in 2015 and frankly, it boggles my mind as to why some Hollywood studio, network, or major streaming platform has yet to snap up this short film for further development.
I know I want to know more about this intriguing world and the people caught up in its dramatic conflict.
Experience the gripping world of THE SHAMAN…
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The sci-fi short film AERANGER begins with a spaceship crashing into the side of a mountain.
The only survivor is Kallelle (Bobbie Breckenridge), an elfish-like being.
Critically wounded, Kallelle desperately searches for and retrieves a precious piece of cargo from the ship's wreckage.
This cargo is vital to Kallelle completing a mysterious mission of enormous importance to her people.
Watch AERANGER here…
AERANGER is the latest project by filmmaker Anthony Ferraro, whose award-winning sci-fi comedy web series GALACTIC GALAXY is a favorite we covered here on The 7th Matrix.
With AERANGER, Ferraro changes tones and creates a compelling, straight-up sci-fi adventure.
This story about a wounded ranger who is determined to succeed in her mission out of love for her family and her people is resonant and brimming with emotional sophistication.
Breckenridge laces her affecting performance as Kallelle with steely determination and aching vulnerability. As a viewer, you become immediately invested in her.
AERANGER is gorgeous. Its scenic setting serves as another character in the story.
Written, produced, and directed by Ferraro, the filmmaker is also responsible for the visual effects and props.
This impressive multi-tasking is a testament to Ferraro's skill as a filmmaker and deep love for the genre.
I would be remiss if I did not call out this micro-budgeted short's terrific production and costume design, special effects makeup, and music score, which all combine to give AERANGER a polish comparable to projects with much larger budgets.
Incidentally, Ferraro shares his filmmaking techniques and experiences on his CREATE SCI-FI YouTube channel. There, he covers the filmmaking process from scriptwriting to providing advice on crowdfunding.
Aspiring filmmakers - or anyone interested in the filmmaking process - should check out the treasure trove of information contained in Ferraro's extensive video tutorials.
AERANGER is a solid, straightforward sci-fi adventure story with a beating heart.
Listen to our interview with AERANGER writer, producer, and director Anthony Ferraro on our EYE ON SCI-FI podcast!
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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Sometimes we are late to the party.
With so many sci-fi short gems floating out in the ether, we occasionally discover one years after its initial release.
But better late than never is our unofficial motto and the sci-fi short ODESSA, by writer-director Cidney Hue, possesses an evergreen charm.
The short chronicles the last night on earth for astronaut Shannon (Cat Walleck). She is about to embark on a historic space flight to a nearby exoplanet scientists believe is capable of sustaining life.
The journey to the exoplanet will take 67. 5 years each way. Shannon will be placed in suspended animation on the trip to and from the exoplanet. It also means she will be returning to an earth drastically changed and bereft of everyone she knows.
Desiring a quiet and contemplative last night on earth, Shannon has a very awkward meeting with a stranger (Ken Fuller) at a local bar, resulting in the pair experiencing a mini-odyssey on the streets of New York City. Their adventure reveals the inexorable power and magic of human connection.
Oh yeah, there is also a great nod to The Wizard Of Oz apropos to the theme of the short.
ODESSA is gorgeously shot and beautifully acted with an emotional intelligence highlighted by the adroit writing and direction of Cidney Hue.
Watch ODESSA here…
Listen to our EYE ON SCI-FI podcast interview with ODESSA writer and director, Cidney Hue!
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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The first thing you notice about the Greek sci-fi short film iCON is it is GORGEOUS.
Shot in HD, the short was filmed on scenic Kefalonia Island.
Written by Yiannis Liolios and directed by Konstantina Papadopoulou, iCON is the story of Orpheus (Alexandros Koch) and his wife Daphni (Maria Sefanidou) as they live a typical day in their quaint and rustic cottage.
It is evident Orpheus is a man who loves nature as he passionately maintains the cottage’s grounds and garden.
Also apparent is the deep affection he and his wife share for each other. But after Orpheus has an encounter with a wild dog, a pall of melancholy reveals itself in him.
By now you may be thinking: “Okay, this sounds like an interesting slice-of-life piece, but isn’t this short supposed to be sci-fi?”
Trust me, it is, but the short film’s true speculative identity does not emerge until halfway through. But when it does arrive, the payoff will be worth the wait.
The short delivers on all fronts - the story, direction, acting, cinematography, and production design are skillfully, beautifully executed.
iCON is poignant and affecting with a theme apropos for our modern age.
Watch the short film in its entirety below (DISCLAIMER: Due to a brief scene of nudity and sexuality, this short film is not safe for work or appropriate for all ages. Viewer and parental discretion is advised.):
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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INVADERS is a short film that merges two themes usually not associated together: Christmas and science fiction.
Written and directed by Daniel Prince, INVADERS takes place on Christmas Eve when a trio of minuscule UFOs fall from the late night sky into a chimney of a family’s home.
There, the three tiny alien entities have amusing “first encounters” with the festive decorations adorning the house. Eventually, one of the trio has a fateful interaction with one of the personifications of the holiday, and Christmas will never be the same again!
INVADERS is a homage to classic genre films of the ‘80s, such as Gremlins, Short Circuit, Batteries Not Included, and Flight Of The Navigator.
Genre films of that era are notable for centering otherworldly, though often very childlike, beings whose curiosity about our world leads to inevitable misadventures.
INVADERS most definitely follows that template, succeeding in generating a tale of whimsy perfect for the holiday season.
The short also pokes gentle fun at popular UFO urban legends. Watch for comical nods to crop circles and alien abductions.
At the production level, the designs for the three tiny UFOs are highly detailed and almost resemble toy models - which perfectly complements the short’s holiday theme.
The animation and visual effects are also very impressive and helps to make the film a very engaging viewing experience.
Watch INVADERS in its entirety below, but you may want to avoid mentioning the film to Santa and his elves:
Make sure to check out our 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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In the science fiction short film NEW, an elderly couple is resurrected from cryogenic preservation by the advanced technology of the distant future.
Hugh (Jared Abrahamson) and Candace (Joslyn Jensen) decide to have their remains cryogenically frozen in 2012 in the hopes the future will possess the technology to revive them.
Their gambit pays off.
Not only is the couple resurrected in the unspecified distant future, but their bodies have been healed of all prior injuries and medical ailments. Also, their bodies have been rejuvenated to their youthful prime.
As they have a joyful reunion, Hugh and Candice soon realize the future they now inhabit has very little in common with their past life.
All their children, family, and friends are now long deceased. The couple must acclimate to a world transformed, including new technology, the evolution of the language, and different social mores.
While they are treated with kindness by their doting guide Noelle (Jennifer Lafleur), they recognize the world sees them as hallowed artifacts from a bygone era.
Soon Hugh and Candice must deal with the strains on their marriage their new circumstance is causing.
The idea of an individual awakening into a distant future after being cryogenically frozen or placed in suspended animation is an extremely common trope in science fiction.
Written and directed by John Harden, NEW is remarkable due to it not glossing over the very real culture shock a person would most likely experience.
Instead, the short is an emotionally engaging, poignant look at one couple struggling to find their place in a world that is familiar, yet not.
WATCH NEW in its entirety here…
Make sure to check out our 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.
We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!
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DARKEN: Before The Dark (DBTD) is the intriguing 33-minute sequel short film to the forthcoming full-length sci-fi thriller DARKEN.
Directed by Audrey Cummings, DBTD is the story of Darken, a peculiar otherworldly dimension ruled by a mysterious entity known as “Mother Darken” (Laura Nordin).
The denizens of Darken are all individuals transported there after suffering severe physical and/or emotional trauma.
Once they arrive, all memories of their trauma - and their lives in the outside world - vanish. Armed with only the memory of their names, citizens of Darken discover they no longer age, feel hunger, temperature extremes, or pain.
In Darken, they are free to explore the endless labyrinthine halls and rooms that make up the realm.
However, when a new arrival named Kim (Annie Briggs) comes to Darken, cracks in this odd paradise begin to show.
Greeting Kim is Olive (Jodelle Ferland, Dark Matter), a young woman whose role is to initiate newcomers to the traditions of Darken.
Olive sees Mother Darken as a benevolent deity whose only desire is to protect her charges within her realm.
Other key citizens of Darken are soon revealed, including:
Artemis (Emmanuel Kabongo), a man mistrustful of Mother Darken’s motives
Martin (Ari Millen) who has lived in Darken the longest of anyone and now serves as the realm’s historian
Wren (Paul Amos), a true believer in Mother Darken’s teachings
Lucian (John Tench), the newest and most problematic arrival to the world of Darken
However, the most divisive of Darken’s citizens is Clarity (Christine Horne), a mercurial woman who, unlike Olive, believes Mother Darken is not a benevolent deity, but instead a god who must be feared and obeyed without question.
When a catastrophic event shakes Darken to its core, a civil war erupts between those who subscribe to Olive’s interpretation of Mother Darken’s nature and those who do not.
As a prequel, DBTD succeeds in introducing viewers to the odd and mysterious realm of Darken and its key players; it also introduces many questions that beg to be answered in a future installment.
Questions such as who or what is Mother Darken? What exactly is Darken? Is it an afterlife? A parallel dimension? A bizarre experiment?
Director Audrey Cummings has created a paradise-nightmare world with aesthetics drawn from a mish-mash of genre properties, chief among them the haunted house vibe of the Silent Hill video game franchise.
The project’s inclusive cast is what also places DBTD solidly in the “must-see” column. It is always refreshing to see the richness of humanity reflected onscreen
Pictured left to right: Jodelle Ferland as Olive, Annie Briggs as Kim, Emmanuel Kabongo as Artemis, Paul Amos as Wren
Dark Matter alum Jodelle Ferland heads an impressive coterie of actors from many notable Canadian sci-fi television series. These talented actors sell the promise of DARKEN with their superb portrayals of people caught up in a surreal supernatural mystery.
What this reviewer also admires about DBTD is what it says about the dangers accompanying the arrival of charismatic leaders - especially those with religious or spiritual pedigrees.
Cult of personalities form around such individuals - with blind faith in their personas and manifestos often morphing into zealotry.
The secretive Mother Darken is the fictional avatar for such leaders, and it will be interesting to see how the jihad forming among her people plays out in the feature film.
Watch DARKEN: Before The DARK prequel here…
With its eerie world brought to life by a visionary woman filmmaker and talented, inclusive cast, DARKEN: Before The Dark earns our highest recommendation.
Pre-orders for the forthcoming film continuation are available now.
Please visit DarkenProvides.com to discover how to get your copy of the feature film when it is released - along with many cool extra features.
Make sure to check out our 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.
We are proud of the fact The 7th Matrix has been operating AD-FREE since its inception in 2013. Please help us continue. Thank you!
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