ABOUT – Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest

THE MISSION

Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest is now in its 5th Year and after a difficult 2020 for all filmmakers and festival curators, we are still here. Our aim is to offer a platform for independent sci-fi Filmmakers to present their work on the big screen and to a live audience in one of the most beautiful and world-famous cinemas in Berlin – The Babylon, where in 1927 Metropolis had its first screening.

2020 saw us expand our horizons due to COVID pandemic. The first online Virtual Theatre was screened through XERB.TV. It proved to be a success and our plan is to run it in sync with the live festival. Our aim is always to make the festival more interesting, more international and more film-maker friendly. Over the last few years, we have been delighted by over 400 films from more than 38 different countries.

Our festival is the first genre-specific sci-fi film festival in Germany. We are passionate about film making and are interested in all things Sci-fi from geek interest, documentary, web-series, narrative, animation, music, experimental, fan-films, in fact, as long as it is Science Fiction – we love it!

Our festival is evolving, we are adding more events and attractions as we go. Our aim is a Sci-fi fun-fest that takes place at the end of November. We believe we have something for every science fiction fan.

LOCATION

Our first festival launched on the 17th and 18th November 2017 at the Babylon Cinema. The cinema first opened in 1929 for silent movies, it had an orchestra pit and a cinema organ which is still used today. It has three screening areas. The main theatre for 500 people and the smaller Salle 2 and 3 for 70 and 45 respectively.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 festival at the Babylon is scheduled for the end of November, confirmation will be made in due course.

Our first festival Virutal Theatre launched on 27th November 2020 on XERB.TV. It proved to be a success and kept the festival alive. In 2021, we want to look at ways of growing with the organisation and making it an even better experience for the filmmakers.

What The Filmmakers Said

I was thrilled and delighted to have been selected for this year’s event and was very impressed with the communications, website and streaming service you guys put together.
Mike Hay (Dir: Even the Rats)

I’ve been meaning to write to tell you what a great time I had with the Berlin Sci-Fi Film Festival. I’ve been involved in a number of film festivals this year – but by far, I had the most fun with yours.
Wade Chitwood (Dir: The Prospector)

I think you and the whole team did a great job adapting to the on-line version and trying to get us filmmakers involved and connecting with each other and the audiences.
Borja Torres (Dir: Dark Lights)

FESTIVAL TEAM

Alexander Pfander – Festival Director

I am a scriptwriter, director & creator of films and series, with a strong interest in storytelling and new world creating. My media experience includes editing and post-production. I am the creator of the award-winning Sci-fi Web series, Mission Backup Earth. I’m always looking for new adventures in the media world and as a Sci-fi fan, I want to connect filmmakers and audiences by showcasing work from around the world that celebrates the Sci-fi genre. WEBSITE

Anthony Straeger – Festival Director

I’ve been in the business for over 30 years, both as an actor, filmmaker and writer. With a passion for horror and Sci-fi, I’ve written many short and feature scripts including: Between the Walls, (optioned in the UK) and The Kamenka Experiment, which has won four screen writing awards. I recent co-wrote Fotoautomat Man, which premiered in June 2020. It’s a joy to be part of Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest, and I really believe we are building something for the future. WEBSITE

Isabella Hermann – Festival Director

I’m a political scientist by training and a science-fiction fan by passion. Holding a PhD in International Relations, I talk and write about how science-fiction interacts with world politics and mirrors societal challenges. In this way, science-fiction shows us not only alternative futures but makes us think about what kind of future we want to live in. WEBSITE

BERLIN SCI-FI JURY

We are delighted and honoured to have a great team of jurists.

Judith Mercer:

Born in France, 1980, I studied English and French philology in Germany, specialising in fantastic short stories and science-fiction. This path led me to take up a PhD in comparative literature focusing on ghost stories in the European short story cycle alongside an outlook on the future of science-fiction. Currently residing in Berlin, my passion for the genre has remained unaltered, carried by authors like Philipp K.Dick, Ray Bradbury, Orson Scott Card and William Gibson. I have a soft spot for fanfiction films and comic spin-offs and anything dystopian.

Marcus Hanisch:

Marcus was born 1984 in Hoyerswerda on the backseat of a Trabi and grew up in a prefabricated building in Dresden. In his travels, he has driven in a race from Berlin to Moscow in old Mercedes, paddled down the Mississippi on a raft, shot with well-known musicians and influencers in Barcelona, Iceland & Bangkok. He took part in the top qualification program TP2 Talent Pool, studied directing at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin and directed music videos, commercials and short films. Some of his films have been shown at over 100 festivals, including Breath Dodging, Flying, Love Note & Q: Ghostly remote effect. In 2020 he became a member of the Berlin Sci-fi and in June 2020 started his biggest project as he became a father to daughter. WEBSITE

Patricia von Papstein:

Is a business lady, a clinical and organizational psychologist and an admirer of technology, the arts – and science-fiction. As a mentor for global start-ups in the business sectors of education, health care, mobility, safety and smart materials, she knows how the abyss between intended business mission and business reality looks and feels like. In the section called „zeitsprung“ of her German podcast series „bliss to business!“, she lets out her own power of imagination by inventing utopian company profiles that beat the optimization madness of our times.WEBSITE

Wenzel Mehnert:

Works at the Berlin University of the Arts on experimental methods of future studies where science meets art. In his research and teaching, he focuses on the intersection between Speculative Fictions (e.g. Science-Fiction Literature, Speculative Design, Design Fictions, Speculative Performances) and the assessment of New and Emerging Science and Technologies (e.g. A.I., SynBio, Internet of Things, etc.). WEBSITE

Maximilian Reich:

Has been working as producer, cinematographer and editor in various media productions including film, documentary, event, theater and art exhibitions since 2006. Proceeding from interdisciplinary studies in “Culture, Technology and Philosophy” at TU Berlin, the often intertwined worlds of technology, language, literature, fine arts and digital media fascinate and invite him to explore new topics and discuss their social and digital tendencies.

Iwan Romanow:

Hails from the Ukraine, but has now resided in Berlin for several years. He has studied media and met Alex Pfander on the set of Mission Backup Earth where he was involved in the sound department and then subsequently worked with Anthony Straeger on his production of Fotoautomat Man. Iwan said: I love science fiction. Whether pure science fiction or fantasy, it is always one more book, one more film and as a science fiction addiction, it is a wonderful way to relax.

Rene von Bodisco:

Was born in 1974, his cinematic work starting early in the 90s. He’s worked on many productions like ALPHA 0.7 (Sci-fi series ARD) & Emmy award-winning GENERATION WAR/ UNSERE MÜTTER, UNSERE VÄTER. In 1998 he produced/directed/VFX’d his Star Trek Fan Feature film, ‘BORG WAR 3 – ATLANTIS. When he was allowed to shoot in the Command Center of ESA (Darmstadt). He also writes for the Official German Star Trek website. Conducting interviews with the creators of the Star Trek Picard series and Star Trek Discovery.

WANT TO BE ON THE JURY?

We are always on the look out for people who would like to be on the jury. Whether you are an industry professional or not, all you need is time and a love of sci-fi. CONTACT US for more information.