THE MISSION
We celebrate the Sci-fi genre and its filmmakers who seek out new life and new civilizations, boldly going where no man has gone before. The second edition of this festival is open for submissions until 30th September.
THE LOCATION
Our first festival launchesd on the 17th and 18th November 2017 in Germany’s wonderful capital, Berlin. And we were pleased to announce that the screenings took place at Berlins’ world famous Babylon. 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. You can find out more here: BABYLON Wikipedia
Tickets for the this years festval can be found at BABYLON BERLIN
ENTRIES
Entires for 2017 are closed. We will be opening submissions for 2018 1st March 2018.
FESTIVAL TEAM
Alexander Pfander – Festival Director/Co-ordinator
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 and am the creator of the award winning Sci-fi Webseries, 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 & Head of Jury
I have been in the business for over 30 years, both as an actor and filmmaker. It’s a joy to be part of the launch of this festival. I have a love of both Horror and Sci-Fi movies and with the development of technology it is truly astounding the quality that people are now producing on virtually no budgets. My first feature Call of the Hunter was a low budget, but relatively successful movie. Since then I have been involved in writing and producing a number of projects. WEBSITE
Jack O’Shea – Festival Director & Accounts
Has worked in the film industry over a number of years and had the pleasure of working as the 1st AD on Mission Backup Earth, where I met Alex Pfander. Like everything undertaking building a festival like the BSFF is a long and hard one. But we believe we have put an excellent team together that will deliver an exciting weekends entertainment.
WEBSITE
Reginald Grünenberg – PR and Jury
In 2002 I was CEO and co-founded the German company Audiantis where we developed interactive streaming. In 2007 I opened its subsidiary Audiantis Japan K.K. in Tokyo. Recently a historical novel Shiboruto about a German physician who went to Japan in 1823 and introduced western sciences to the Japanese intellectuals. I am fascinated by science fiction and science fact.
FESTIVAL FRIENDS
For our first festival we felt it was important not just to have industry professionals and members of the BSFF team, but Sci-fi Fans as members of the Jury. There are many hours of footage to sit through, digest and judge, it is not an easy process, but is one of the most important parts of the festival.
We are happy to welcome back Iwan Romanov a sound recordist and film fanatic, Rick McLeod found er of Celtic Storm Productions (UK)
2018 JURY MEMBERS:
This year as last we have not only our Berlin Sci-fi Team on the Jury but a selected Jury of guests.
Isabella Hermann:
Isabella Hermann is a political scientist by training and a science-fiction fan by passion. She holds a PhD in International Relations and talk and write about how the science-fiction genre interacts with world politics and mirrors societal challenges. In this sense, science-fiction shows us not only different possible futures, but also that it is in our hands right now to create the future we want to live in. Website: www.popular-political-science.org
Rick McLeod:
Rick McLeod is a director, writer, producer and sometimes actor, depending on his mood. He is also a BAFTA crew registered director of photography and cinematography and is currently attached to 2 independent European features as well as his own companies productions currently in development. Rick has no genres specific preferences, but is looking forward to viewing and being part of the berlin Sci-fi Filmfest Jury. Rick enjoys the creativity of film making with his company Celtic Storm Films.
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.
Caprice Crawford:
Caprice Crawford is an American Talent Agent, producer and actress based in Berlin. She began working as a photographer, creating beautiful head shots for creative talents, including many celebrity actors. In addition to her photography work, she began working as a film producer and talent scout for new faces. Caprice has been running Crawford Talents International Agency since 2016 and is pleased to be the Panel Judge for BEST ACTOR & BEST ACTRESS and is awarding a total prize on behalf of the agency of 500 dollars.
David Desmond:
David has worked with numerous arts festivals in Ireland over the past ten years, including Dublin International Film Festival and Cork Film Festival. He started Dublin Sci-Fi Film Festival out of a love for the genre and in the hope of bringing a greater wealth of international and Irish sci-fi to the big screen in Dublin. He’s pleased to reciprocate the AUTOMATIC SELECTION AWARD with Berlin Scifi Filmfest
